hydraulic fracturing and groundwater quality keith b. hall louisiana state university law school...
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Hydraulic Fracturing and Groundwater Quality
Keith B. Hall
Louisiana State University Law SchoolBaton Rouge, Louisiana
United States+1 (225) 578-8709
IUCNAEL ColloquiumTarragona, Spain *** July 2, 2014
Surface Drill site
well bore
drainage
Hydraulic Fracturing
Surface Drill site
well bore
fractures
U.S. Natural Gas Producti on
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U.S. Crude Oil Producti on
5
Main environmental concerns
1. Water use and source for water
2. Groundwater contamination fears
3. Disposal of wastewater (flowback)
4. Air issues (venting of natural gas)
5. Local inconvenience issues
6. Induced seismic activity
Debate Over Fracturing
• Public’s biggest concern is groundwater quality
• Debate is highly polarized
• Focus of debate is not on differing opinions regarding how to balance economic development vs. environmental protection
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Debate Over Fracturing
• Focus of debate is whether hydraulic fracturing poses much risk to groundwater.
• Supporters of process say there is very little risk
• Some opponents say there is substantial risk
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Two Questi ons
• Why does disagreement about level of risk persist?
• What can be done about it?
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Two Questi ons
• Why does disagreement about level of risk persist?• Different terminology• Lack of data
• What can be done about it?
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Terminology
• Hydraulic fracturing is one step in the process of drilling and completing some oil and gas wells • But some people use “hydraulic
fracturing” or “fracking” to refer to the entirety of oil & gas exploration and development process• This use of terms is incorrect, it
causes confusion, and should be avoided.
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What is the “lack of data” issue?
• Hydraulic fracturing was developed in late 1940s
• Since then, more than one million wells have been hydraulically fractured
• There are few, if any, documented cases of hydraulic fracturing contaminating groundwater
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Lack of Data
• Hydraulic fracturing was developed in late 1940s.
• Since then, more than one million wells have been hydraulically fractured
• There are few, if any, documented cases of hydraulic fracturing contaminating groundwater
• But there is relatively little actual data showing groundwater quality both before and after oil and gas activity
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What is a parti al soluti on?
• Baseline testing of groundwater quality should be performed prior to conducting oil and gas drilling or before fracturing
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How would testi ng come about?
• Can be done voluntarily by• Individual landowners• Oil and gas companies• Researchers
• Or, states can require companies to perform baseline testing
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Benefi ts of Baseline Testi ng• Baseline testing can help
Inform the public debate, improve the bases for
regulatory and policy decisions
Preserve social license to operate Resolve/avoid individual disputes
regarding alleged contamination
Identify pre-existing water problems
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Expense Per Sample
• Petroleum Association of Wyoming estimated about $1950 to identify sample location, collect sample, and pay for an analysis without isotopic testing for methane or $2500 per sample with isotopic testing.
• Pennsylvania study showed water well owners paid a median cost of $353 and a high end cost of $1640, but that they typically paid for a less comprehensive analysis than oil and gas companies did. 17
States with Baseline Testi ng Rules
• Alaska • California• Colorado• Illinois• North Carolina• Pennsylvania• West Virginia• Wyoming 18
Disclosure of Compositi on
Fracturing fluids are composed of
• Base fluid (typically water)
• Proppants (sand is most common)
• Additives
Typically, the fracturing fluid is about 98 to 99.5% base fluid and proppants.
Types of Additi ves• Corrosion inhibitors • Biocides• Friction reducers • Scale inhibitors• Crosslinkers • Breakers• Iron control agents • Acids• Surfactants • pH adjusters• Oxygen scavengers • Gels
Mandatory Disclosure
• Alabama • Alaska • Arkansas• California • Colorado • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Kansas• Louisiana • Michigan • Mississippi• Montana • New Mexico • N. Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Penn.• Texas • Utah • W.Virginia• Wyoming
Rotary Dri l l ing Rigs Operati ng in U.S. as of June 20, 2014
Location # of Rigs (based on Baker
Hughes website data)
% of TotalRigs
% of Rigs Not in OCS Waters
States with Mandatory Disclosure
1795 96.6% 99.8%
States Without Mandatory Disclosure
4 0.2%
0.2%
FederalOCS Waters
59 3.2% N/A
Fayett eville Shale Study
• U.S. Geological Survey and Duke University personnel conduct study• Lacked baseline data, but compared
sample data to multiple analogous sources • found “no indication of systemic,
regional effects” from shale gas activity
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Rural Pennsylvania Study• Penn State researchers• Had before-and-after samples • “no statistically significant increases
in methane levels after drilling”• “statistical analyses of post-drilling
versus pre-drilling water chemistry did not suggest major influences from well drilling or hydrofraturing (fracking) on nearby water wells” 24
The Duke University Studies• Duke University researchers
• Did not have before-and-after data
• Did not find any evidence of fracturing fluids in water wells
• Found methane in most water wells, regardless of proximity of gas drilling
• But they found, on average, higher methane concentration in water wells near gas wells
• The researchers opine that poor construction of gas wells is most likely culprit 25
Oil & Gas in the Energy Equati on
In 2013, oil and gas supply• 63% of U.S. energy • 55% of world energy
In 2040, oil and gas will supply• 55% of U.S. energy• 51% of world energy
Estimates and projections from U.S. Energy Information Administration26
Non-Energy Uses of Oil & Gas
• Lubricants• Fertilizers• Plastics• Synthetic rubber• Petrochemicals
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Oil and Gas Producti on
• U.S. is one of top three (and possibly the largest) producer of oil
• U.S. is the top producer of natural gas• By some estimates, 90% of new wells in
the U.S. are hydraulically fractured• Hydraulic fracturing is used outside
U.S., though not as frequently• There is growing interest in using
hydraulic fracturing in shale formations outside U.S.
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