Comparative analysis of hydraulic fracturing wastewater practices in unconventional shale development: Water sourcing, treatment and disposal practices

Alessi, Daniel S.; Zolfaghari, Ashkan; Kletke, Stefanie; Gehman, Joel; Allen, Diana M.; Goss, Greg G.

doi:10.1080/07011784.2016.1238782

Cited by 79 publications

(50 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…In the province of Alberta, Canada, an estimated 2500 FPW spills occurred from 2005 to 2012, with more than 113 of those spills entering directly into freshwater lakes and streams11. Thus, an understanding of the toxicological properties and effects of FPW is critical for establishing best management practices, proper risk assessment, spill response and remediation of FPW spill sites.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of hydraulic flowback and produced water on gill morphology, oxidative stress and antioxidant response in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Blewett

Weinrauch

Delompré

et al. 2017

Sci Rep

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Hydraulic fracturing fluid are complex mixtures containing high concentrations of salts (up to 330,000 ppm), organic, and metal contaminants. However, little data exist on the potential mechanisms of toxicity of these flowback and produced wastewaters (FPW) on aquatic biota. Juvenile rainbow trout were exposed to either control, FPW (2.5 or 7.5%), FPW that had been treated with activated charcoal (AC), or a custom salt-matched control (SW; replicating only the salt content of FPW) for 48 hours. Gill histology revealed decreases in interlamellar cell mass (ILCM) and mean lamellar length in all treatments (FPW, AC and SW) compared to control, indicative of hyperosmotic stress. Liver CYP1A1 activity was significantly elevated by 7.5-fold in the FPW 7.5% treatment only, indicative of Phase I metabolism. Superoxide dismutase activity significantly decreased in the gills to all treatments with the lowest activity occurring in the 7.5% FPW group. Catalase activity increased in liver with the highest values noted in fish exposed to 7.5% FPW. No changes were observed with respect to glutathione-S-transferase, while increased lipid peroxidation was only observed in both FPW treatments (2.5, 7.5%). These data suggest a characteristic signature of FPW impact which may help in risk assessment and biomonitoring of FPW spills.

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confidence: 99%

The effect of hydraulic flowback and produced water on gill morphology, oxidative stress and antioxidant response in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Blewett

Weinrauch

Delompré

et al. 2017

Sci Rep

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“…sealed) wells (Alessi et al . ). Methane contamination can also occur, as exemplified most vividly in the 2010 documentary, Gasland .…”

Section: Research Settingmentioning

confidence: 97%

Opaque transparency: How material affordances shape intermediary work

Avidan

Etzion

Gehman

2018

Regulation & Governance

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How do the material aspects of intermediary work affect regulators, targets, and beneficiaries? To shed light on this question, we studied an information intermediary in the form of a website and the organizations who founded it. Specifically, we analyzed FracFocus, a self‐regulatory initiative with strong industry ties, charged with disclosing data pertaining to the chemicals used in oil and gas wells completed using hydraulic fracturing technology (fracking) in the United States and Canada. We found that between 2010 and mid‐2017, the vast majority of legislation in states and provinces where fracking actively occurred was updated to mandate or encourage disclosure via FracFocus, meaning that it had a considerable effect on the trajectory of official regulation on fracking disclosure. We also found that FracFocus disclosed important data but did so in a manner that limited accessibility and reduced the comprehensibility of environmental and public health risks to beneficiaries. Our analysis suggests that the public's experience of such a device is one of opaque transparency, in which the line between official and non‐official regulation is blurred. We traced these outcomes to the material affordances created by FracFocus.

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“…This region has experienced a significant increase in water use since 2012 because of exploration and development of shale-gas plays in the Duvernay Fm. (Foundry Spatial 2014;Alessi et al 2017), primarily near the Town of Fox Creek, Alberta.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hydraulic properties of the Paskapoo Formation in west-central Alberta

Hughes

Smerdon²,

Alessi

2017

Can. J. Earth Sci.

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In an effort to better understand the hydraulic properties of the Paskapoo Formation, hydraulic conductivity and porosity were evaluated for a region in west-central Alberta. Whereas previous studies have focused mainly on sandstone units in the lower portion of the Paskapoo Formation, in southern and central parts of the province, this study focuses on the middle to upper portions. Hydraulic conductivity values were determined by air permeametry for seven drill cores from the area between Hinton and Fox Creek, Alberta. Thin-section petrology and porosity analyses using photomicrographs were also conducted for three of the seven drill cores. Results confirm previous findings that the Paskapoo Formation has heterogeneous hydraulic properties, with horizontal hydraulic conductivity values ranging from 10−10 to 10−5 m/s (determined by air permeametry) and porosity values ranging from 0.02% to 15.3%. The first measurements for the upper sandstone units are provided (1.1 × 10−9 – 2.6 × 10−5 m/s and 0.08%–15.3%) and numerous measurements of the middle siltstone–mudstone unit (1.1 × 10−10 – 4.9 × 10−8 m/s and 0.02%–1.8%) for the northwestern portion of the Paskapoo Formation. Qualitative petrologic analysis suggests that the degree of cementation, rather than grain size, is the dominant control on the hydraulic properties of this portion of the formation. This study determined primary hydraulic properties for both the highly conductive units often considered as aquifers and the low-conductivity units considered as aquitards or confining layers. When combined with previous findings, this study helps expand the understanding of the Paskapoo Formation and provides critical data for assessing groundwater resources.

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Comparative analysis of hydraulic fracturing wastewater practices in unconventional shale development: Water sourcing, treatment and disposal practices

Cited by 79 publications

References 48 publications

The effect of hydraulic flowback and produced water on gill morphology, oxidative stress and antioxidant response in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

The effect of hydraulic flowback and produced water on gill morphology, oxidative stress and antioxidant response in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Opaque transparency: How material affordances shape intermediary work

Hydraulic properties of the Paskapoo Formation in west-central Alberta

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