The following is a list of the purposes of chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing, and what some of the more common chemicals actually are. In this paper, we will try to focus on the environmental impacts of chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing and well development and how huge. List of 78 chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing fluid in. How hydraulic fracturing has been used safely and reliably for over 60 years hydraulic fracturing allows companies like exxonmobil to access abundant unconventional oil and natural gas resources, enabling a resurgence in energy supplies that are being brought to global markets in a safe, reliable and responsible manner. Details emerging technologies such as fracture treatment design, open hole fracturing, screenless completions, sand control, fracturing completions and productivity. Texas fracking disclosure to start in february the texas. For saying that the potential environmental impacts include contamination of ground water, risks to air quality, the migration of gases and hydraulic fracturing chemicals to the surface, surface contamination from spills and flowback and the health effects of these one does not need to included eight reference or a whole lot reference. Between 2005 and 2009, the oil and gas service companies used hydraulic fracturing products containing 29 chemicals that are 1 known or possible human carcinogens, 2.
Pdf comparison of chemicaluse between hydraulic fracturing. Amends the safe drinking water act to repeal the exemption from restrictions on underground injection of fluids or propping agents granted to hydraulic. All the requirements and assigned limits shall be applied during design and operations of welltests with injection. Tracking fracture fluid movement with chemical and gamma. Nov, 2008 hydraulic fracturing is a process used in nine out of 10 natural gas wells in the united states, where millions of gallons of water, sand and chemicals are pumped underground to break apart the. Executive summary, hydraulic fracturing study draft. Hydraulic fracturing technology department of energy. Methanol, which was used in 342 hydraulic fracturing products, is a hazardous air pollutant and is on the candidate list for potential regulation under the safe drinking water act. In 2010, halliburton announced the creation of food additive based hydraulic fracturing fluid in response to calls for transparency and demand for a more environmentally friendly. The most widely used chemical in hydraulic fracturing during this time period, asmeasured by the number of compounds containing the chemical, was methanol. Environmental impacts of hydraulic fracturing related to exploration and exploitation of unconventional natural gas deposits short version mindful also of its responsibility toward future generations, the state shall protect the natural foundations of life and animals by legislation and, in. The following is a list of the chemicals used most often.
Hydraulic fracturing is used to create permeable fractures throughout a shale or tight. Secondary research questions addressed by conducting case studies 127. Two oilfield companies acknowledge fracking with diesel. Spills of hydraulic fracturing chemicals on agricultural topsoil. Even though hydraulic fracturing has been used for more than six decades, it has only recently been used to produce a significant portion of crude oil in the united states. However, not every well is completed using this method. Hydraulic fracturing is a technique used to recover oil and natural gas from underground low permeability rock formations. Ely, 1985, a comprehensive history of the evolution of hydraulic fracturing fluids in the oil and gas industry, was used as a source of information for this chapter.
The number of chemical additives used and their concentrations is. Acid is commonly used as a chemical additive in hydraulic fracturing fluids, as well as other common consumer products. Information on hydraulic fracturing what is hydraulic fracturing. After a well is drilled, hydraulic fracturing, or completion, is the process whereby large volumes of water, sand, and chemicals are injected at high pressure into the. Hydraulic fracturing, commonly referred to as fracing, is the process of creating small cracks, or fractures, in underground geological formations to allow oil or natural gas to flow into the wellbore and thereby increase production. The fracfocus chemical disclosure registry provides public disclosure of hydraulic fracturing chemical additives used in more than 55,000 wells by over 600 companies in the united states. Hydraulic fracturing is indeed relevant to indiana and has been since it began to be used in the early 1950s.
Additives typically include gels to carry the proppant into the fractures, surfactants to reduce friction, hydrochloric acid to help dissolve minerals and initiate cracks, inhibitors against pipe. Dec, 2011 fracking disclosure to start in february rules requiring the disclosure of chemicals used in the controversial hydraulic fracturing process will take effect in texas in february, the texas. Chemicals reported to be used in hydraulic fracturing fluids. Assessment of the use of substances in hydraulic fracturing. Hydraulic fracturing is such a technology which is being used in the oil and gas industry for many decades to create highly conductive channels in the formations having very low permeability values. The process takes on the average, three to five days to complete. Just as hydraulic fracturing is essential to producing oil and natural gas from tight rock, chemical additives play vital roles and are necessary to the hydraulic fracturing process. Many citizens worry that the chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing, some of which are toxic, could end up in drinking water.
Apr 26, 2011 the most widely used chemical in hydraulic fracturing during this time period, asmeasured by the number of compounds containing the chemical, was methanol. Hydraulic fracturing is a stimulation technique used to increase the production of oil and natural gas through the high pressure injection of fluids at high. Hydraulic fracturing chemicals and fluids technology 1st. Hydraulic fracturing, informally referred to as fracking, is an oil and gas well development process that typically involves injecting water, sand, and chemicals under high pressure into a bedrock formation via the well. What chemicals are used fracfocus chemical disclosure registry. Presents an uptodate description of current and new hydraulic fracturing processes. More information about chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing can be found at. About 750 chemicals have been listed as additives for hydraulic fracturing in a report to the us congress in 2011 5. Indiana oil and gas operators continue to utilize hydraulic fracturing to complete wells when they believe the method will increase the productivity of a well. Hydraulic fracturing blasts sand, water and chemicals deep into a wellbore to break compact rock. Hydraulic fracturing design and operations guidelines these guidelines set out the ministry of national infrastructure, energy, and water resources mniewr requirements for hydraulic fracturing design and operations.
This was complemented by horizontal drilling since the late 1980s, and the use of chemicals known as slickwater fracturing since 1997. Handbook of hydraulic fracturing wiley online books. Chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing have many functions. Hydraulic fracturing and its impact on renewable energy. A new report by congressional democrats lists 750 chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing, including 14 known or possible carcinogens. Multistage hydraulic fracturing along with horizontal drilling has. The science and technology of hydraulic fracturing american. Speight phd, dsc is a senior fuel and environmental consultant. Apr 19, 2017 comparison of chemicaluse between hydraulic fracturing, acidizing, and routine oil and gas development article pdf available in plos one 124. The science and technology of hydraulic fracturing. Environmental impacts of hydraulic fracturing related to exploration and exploitation of unconventional natural gas deposits short version mindful also of its responsibility toward future generations, the state shall protect the natural foundations of life and animals by legislation and, in accordance with law and. The process involves injecting into the ground fracturing fluids. Fracfocus is a hydraulic fracturing chemical registry website designed to provide information about chemicals used in the hf of oil and gas wells.
Hydraulic fracturing has made it possible to get the oil and gas out of. Moreover, the basic assumption behind the document is that all the chemicals that are injected into the well are recovered in the produced oil andor water and disposed nothing remains in the rock. Frequently asked questions about hydraulic fracturing. Multistage hydraulic fracturing along with horizontal drilling has been proved to be a great achievement in oil and gas.
Pdf disclosure of hydraulic fracturing fluid chemical additives. The resources section of the seab natural gas subcommittee website provides numerous presentations on state and industry guidance on hydraulic fracturing technology. Hydraulic fracturing design and operations guidelines. Agency scientists recently published results of a method to test for five chemicals that often appear in fracturing fluid. Though the industry has used the process for decades, questions about drinking have mounted in the past few years as the process has opened up vast reserves in.
Congress bill summary sponsors and cosponsors status s. Helps dissolve minerals and initiate cracks in the rock hydrochloric acid. References used to develop a consolidated list of chemicals reportedly used in hydraulic fracturing fluids andor found in flowback and produced water 123. This chart is sorted alphabetically by the product function to make it easier for you to compare to the fracturing records. What chemicals are used fracfocus chemical disclosure. Fracking chemicals cited in congressional report stay underground.
Federal register hydraulic fracturing chemicals and. This process is intended to create new fractures in the rock as well as increase the size, extent, and connectivity of existing fractures. In hydraulic fracturing fluid the concentration of the acid when injected into the ground is generally 1,000 times weaker than the concentrated versions presented in. A users guide to the many chemicals and chemical additives used in hydraulic fracturing operations, hydraulic fracturing chemicals and fluids technology provides an easyto use manual to create fluid formulations that will meet projectspecific needs while protecting the environment and the life of the well. It is a technology used to enhance the flow of gasoil from a well, once the drilling is completed and the drilling rig is removed from the site. Description of sources used to create lists of chemicals used in fracturing fluids or detected in flowback or produced water. A users guide to the many chemicals and chemical additives used in hydraulic fracturing operations, hydraulic fracturing chemicals and fluids technology provides an easytouse manual to create fluid formulations that will meet projectspecific needs while protecting the environment and the life of the well. An overview of hydraulic fracturing and other formation. In the early 1970s, a major innovation in fracturing. When vocs escape from wells, they can combine with. Epa testing methods to detect fracking chemical contamination. An earlier version of the list, provided by dep to the associated press and published in newspapers throughout the state this week, purportedly included all of the chemicals used in pennsylvania during the gas extraction process called hydraulic fracturing.
Pdf an integrated hazard screening and indexing system. The following information describes chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing, i. Although there are dozens to hundreds of chemicals which could be used as additives, there are a limited number which are routinely used in hydraulic fracturing. On november 23, 2011, epa granted in part and denied in part the tsca section 8a and section 8d requests by limiting the scope from chemicals and mixtures used in all processes of oil and gas exploration and production to chemical substances and mixtures used in hydraulic fracturing start printed page 28665 refs.
Fracking chemicals cited in congressional report stay. Quantitative survey and structural classification of hydraulic. He is recognized internationally as an expert in the characterization, properties, and processing of conventional fuels, synthetic fuels, and biofuels. Pdf hydraulic fracturing is used to extract natural gas from shale formations. In this document hydraulic fracturing is mentioned but not addressed by specific algorithms. The process involves pumping a mixture made up of 99. Using hydraulic fracturing safely and reliably for over 60. The analysis of hydraulic fracturing fluid data from the fracfocus chemical disclosure registry 1. The differences between additives for hydraulic fracturing in different countries are the type of chemicals used. Identifying chemicals of concern in hydraulic fracturing fluids used. Hydraulic fracturing chemicals and fluids technology. Methanol,which was used in 342 hydraulic fracturing products, is a hazardous air pollutant and is on thecandidate list for potential regulation under the safe drinking water act. The results of this analysis indicate that well over 300 chemicals have been used for hydraulic fracturing in california and that, based on reporting in only one region of california, an additional two dozen chemical additives are also used during matrix acidizing treatments. The most common chemical used for hydraulic fracturing in the united states in 20052009 was methanol, while some other most widely used chemicals were isopropyl alcohol, 2butoxyethanol, and ethylene glycol.
Fluids used in hydraulic fracturing are a mixture of water, proppant, and chemical additives. The united states should do more to promote safe energy production which does not threaten environmental and public health. Federal register hydraulic fracturing chemicals and mixtures. The differences between additives for hydraulic fracturing in different countries are the type of chemicals used hazardous, nonhazardous, the disclosure of chemicals and the composition of fracturing fluid. Study of the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on. More chemicals are involved, and will be available in the appendix.
A wide variety of chemical additives are used in hydraulic fracturing fluids. The hydraulic fracturing process hydraulic fracturing is not a drilling technique. Fears of water contamination have spread across the nation along with energy booms. Hydraulic fracturing is the process of creating small cracks, or fractures, in deep, underground geological formations to liberate oil or natural gas and allow it to flow up the well for capture and use in heating our homes, fueling our cars. The chemicals used in the extraction, processing, distribution, transport, and waste disposal of tight oil. While the details on some of the chemical compounds used in hydraulic fracturing are exempted from disclosure on the msdss under federal law, the msdss will provide enough information for the deq to track and monitor spills. There are only a limited number of chemicals that are routinely used, although there are many chemicals that service companies could use as additives. An overview of hydraulic fracturing and other formation stimulation. From limiting the growth of bacteria to preventing corrosion of the well casing, chemicals are needed to insure that the fracturing job is effective and efficient. The following is a list of the different types of additives that are used in fracturing operations, as indicated by the new york state department of environmental conservation 7. Industry discloses less and less companies that report their hydraulic fracturing chemicals to fracfocus have.
Chemical use in hydraulic fracturing chemicals serve many functions in hydraulic fracturing. Produced water and fracturing fluids returned during the flowback process contain a wide range of constituents some of which occur naturally but others of which are added through the drilling and hydraulic fracturing process and pose a risk to water quality if not properly managed. For example, the chart shown above, represents 12 additives used, covering the range of possible functions that could be built into a fracturing fluid. Hydraulic fracturing is a method to enhance oil and natural gas extraction from underground geological formations involving injection of a fluid under high pressure in order to crack the rock containing the hydrocarbon. Although fracfocus was designed for local users, it provides an opportunity to study the composition of hydraulic fracturing fluids nationwide. A list of these chemicals is provided by name, number, purpose and function. The well header table outlined in blue in figure 1 contains information about the well itself, including. Hydraulic fracturing fluids composition and additives. Hydraulic fracturing technology has been used to produce oil and natural gas since 1949.
Spe 165692 hydraulic fracturing and organic compounds uses. A distinction can be made between conventional, lowvolume hydraulic fracturing, used to stimulate highpermeability reservoirs for a single well, and unconventional, highvolume hydraulic fracturing, used in the completion of tight gas and shale gas wells. Polysaccharide blend, 068154, thickens the water in order to suspend the sand, gelling agent. An integrated hazard screening and indexing system for hydraulic fracturing chemical assessment article pdf available in process safety and environmental protection august 2019 with 65 reads. Since common names were sometimes used for chemical additives on the. Identifying chemicals of concern in hydraulic fracturing. Although the hydraulic fracturing industry may have a number of compounds that can be used in a hydraulic fracturing fluid, any single fracturing job would only use a few of the available additives. Drilling, wastewater extraction and storage in openair pits, flaring and venting of gas, gas or oil processing, disposal of wastes, light and. Characterization of the chemicals used in hydraulic. Fink creates a concise and comprehensive reference that enables the engineer to logically select and use the appropriate chemicals on any hydraulic fracturing job.
Fracking is short for hydraulic fracturing an industrial process in. For example if the fracturing record listed the chemical hydrogen chloride and you searched for it by name using a chemical search site you may not get a result. List of additives for hydraulic fracturing wikipedia. In the charm model a scenario is also available, which explicitly includes the use of a chemical in hydraulic fracturing and applies specific algorithms to estimate the release into the marine environment and related exposure concentrations. Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking as it is commonly referred, is one of many steps in establishing a productive oil and natural gas well. Hydraulic fracturing accounts for about half of current u. Later, chemical stabilizers were developed that could be used alone or with. Doe will participate in the 20102012 study to provide scientific data and expertise. The process of hydraulic fracturing has been used for decades in colorado, dating to the 1970s. Material safety data sheets msds for hydraulic fracturing treatment additives. Chemical use in hydraulic fracturing fracfocus chemical. In 2006, spe honored nine pioneers of the hydraulic fracturing industry as legends of.
Ic 1437, the oil and gas act, requires well operators to disclose the types and amounts of all fluids and products used whenever hydraulic fracturing operations are conducted on any oil or gas well in indiana. Pdf hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas and its environmental. Shale gas has become a very important energy resource in the united states u. Historically, on average, only about 24% of new oil wells are completed with the use of hydraulic fracturing. Fracturing chemicals reported in unconventional gas production. Biodegradation, sorption, and cocontaminant interactions molly c. Hydraulic fracturingcontinues to be refined and improved and is now standard for virtually all oil and gas wells in our state, and across much of the country. The most widely used chemical in hydraulic fracturing during this time period, as measured by the number of compounds containing the chemical, was methanol. Presents an uptodate description of current and new hydraulic fracturing processes details emerging technologies such as fracture treatment design.
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