Analysis of Frack WaterBy Kiersten Briggs and Schuyler Mincemoyer

Objective

An organic analysis of the effects of hydraulic fracturing on well water through GC-MS and FT-IR.

After GC-MS and FT-IR results were found, we also proceeded to run an XRF analysis to determine the metal and alloy makeup of the frack water.

What is Hydraulic Fracturing? Drilling technique widely utilized for

collecting Natural Gas

Energy from injecting highly-pressurized fracking fluid cracks rocks to release gas

Drilling occurs ~6,200 ft below the surface

Can produce fracturing at least 1,000-1,500 ft away from the initial pressurization point

What is Hydraulic Fracturing?

What is Frack Water?

Caused by Hydraulic Fracturing for Natural Gas

Well water speculated to be contaminated by fracking fluid byproducts

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZe1AeH0Qz8

Suspected Contaminants

We are testing for 5 out of a possible 353 dangerous components of fracking fluid

(632 total components)

Xylene

Benzene

Ethylbenzene

Naphthalene

Toluene

Procedure

Extract components from water using Separatory Funnel and Hexane

Also attempted using Methylene Chloride for extraction

Run organic layer through the GC-MS and FT-IR

Standard Samples were mixed with hexane and run through each instrument as a reference point

Results

GC-MS and FT-IR showed no benzene, ethyl benzene, toluene, xylene, or naphthalene present.

An XRF analysis showed that of the metals/alloys in the water, 60% was Sulfur. The other 40% was Silica.

Conclusions

The benzene derivatives we tested for were not present. Probable causes:

Present in extremely low concentrations

Did not have a good water sample for testing

Gas samples may have left the sample before testing

Conclusions

The XRF showed a surprising result with 60% sulfur contents within the Frack Water.

Sulfur is present in the shale they fracture during hydraulic fracturing

Sulfur and CO2 are a byproducts of processing natural gas

For further studies

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LBjSXWQRV8

Shows the breaks in the water from the tap system where the fire lights. Leads to a question of a gas trapped in the pipes, rather than a contaminant of the water itself.

Questions?