Source and Fate of Hydraulic Fracturing Water in the Barnett Shale: A Historical Perspective

Abstract

Considerable controversy continues about water availability for and potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing (HF) of hydrocarbon assets on water resources. Our objective was to quantify HF water volume in terms of source, reuse, and disposal, using the Barnett Shale in Texas as a case study. Data were obtained from commercial and state databases, river authorities, groundwater conservation districts, and operators. Cumulative water use from ∼ 18,000 (mostly horizontal) wells since 1981 through 2012 totaled ∼ 170,000 AF (210 Mm(3)); ∼ 26 000 AF (32 Mm(3)) in 2011, representing 32% of Texas HF water use and ∼ 0.2% of 2011 state water consumption. Increase in water use per well by 60% (from 3 to 5 Mgal/well; 0.011-0.019 Mm(3)) since the mid-2000s reflects the near-doubling of horizontal-well lengths (2000-3800 ft), offset by a reduction in water-use intensity by 40% (2000-1200 gal/ft; 2.5-1.5 m(3)/m). Water sources include fresh surface water and groundwater in approximately equal amounts. Produced water amount is inversely related to gas production, exceeds HF water volume, and is mostly disposed in injection wells. Understanding the historical evolution of water use in the longest-producing shale play is invaluable for assessing its water footprint for energy production.

Slip-corrected liquid permeability and its effect on hydraulic fracturing and fluid loss in shale

“…The solid line is the fitted model (Eqs. (1) and (3)) to determine slip length (b). All experiments were carried out at room temperature (296 K).…”

“…Fluid losses of as much http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2015.08.017 0016-2361/Ó 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. as 90% have been reported in shale strata [1,2]. Major loss of injected hydraulic fracture fluid in shale raises important technical, economical, and environmental concerns [3,4].…”

“…1 illustrates fracture fluid injection, flowback, recycling, and disposal. The usage of water for hydraulic fracturing is small compared with other water usage [1,2], but because the lost water leaves the ecosystem on a local and global scale, any attempt to understand the process and minimize the loss is of great interest. It is therefore desirable to flowback all the injected fluid from the fractures and reuse it for another fracturing job.…”

On the cost of electrodialysis for the desalination of high salinity feeds

“…The initial rate at which produced water flows to the surface (e.g. within the first 10 days) also influences the viability of reuse as low initial produced water volume flow rates making the logistics of reuse more difficult [3,5].…”

Evaluation of Environmental Hazard During Shale Gas Exploration Process in Poland in the Years 2012-2014

“…vibrations and seismic tremors that may affect the existing infrastructure and stability of morphological elements), − grounds and soils and their mechanical properties, organic matter content and biophilic substances and potential contamination, − surface waters and groundwater, taking into account hazards related to excessive depletion of available resources and deterioration of water condition, consequently the contamination with substances from the surface or migrating with technological and reservoir fluids from the geological formations and possible aftermath of such changes to water-dependent ecosystems ( Table 1). Field works were preceeded by a detailed analysis of geological and hydrogeological conditions of particular research areas, taking into account the degree of confinement of potential reservoir rocks and identification of possible migration pathways of technological and reservoir fluids to usable/fresh groundwater horizons and land surface [18,[25][26][27]. The full cycle of research has been conducted in following sequences: 1. identification of the local conditions and field studies planning, 2. examination of the baseline status of the environment prior to the commencement of exploration, 3. studies while drilling vertical/directional wells, 4. studies during hydraulic fracture stimulation and gas flow testing, 5. examination of the status of the environment on completion of drill site operations, 6. monitoring of the status of the environment after the completion of downhole operations.…”