Environmental Considerations Associated With Hydraulic Fracturing - Adjusting to the Shale Revolution in a Green World

A guide to environmental and communication issues related to fracking and the best approach to protect communities
 
Environmental Considerations Associated with Hydraulic Fracturing Operations offers a much-needed resource that explores the complex challenges of fracking by providing an understanding of the environmental and communication issues that are inherent with hydraulic fracturing. The book balances the current scientific knowledge with the uncertainty and risks associated with hydraulic fracking. In addition, the authors offer targeted approaches for helping to keep communities safe.
 
The authors include an overview of the historical development of hydraulic fracturing and the technology currently employed. The book also explores the risk, prevention, and mitigation factors that are associated with fracturing. The authors also include legal cases, regulatory issues, and data on the cost of recovery. The volume presents audit checklists for gathering critical information and documentation to support the reliability of the current environmental conditions related to fracking operations and the impact fracking can have on a community. This vital resource:
* Contains the technical information and mitigation recommendations for safety and environmental issues related to hydraulic fracturing
* Offers an historical overview of conventional and unconventional oil and gas drilling
* Explains the geologic and technical issues associated with fracking of tight sand and shale formulations
* Presents numerous case studies from the United States EPA and other agencies
* Discusses issues of co-produced waste water and induced seismicity from the injection of wastewater
 
Written for environmental scientists, geologists, engineers, regulators, city planners, attorneys, foresters, wildlife biologists, and others, Environmental Considerations Associated with Hydraulic Fracturing Operations offers a comprehensive resource to the complex environmental and communication issues related to fracking.

List of contents

List of Figures xvii
 
List of Tables xxvii
 
Foreword xxxi
 
Acknowledgments xxxiii
 
1 Introduction 1
 
1.1 Energy and the Shale Revolution 1
 
1.2 Cultural Influences 3
 
1.3 Conventional Versus Unconventional Resources 4
 
1.4 Well Simulation 5
 
1.5 Hydraulic Fracturing in the United States 16
 
1.6 Environmental Considerations 17
 
1.7 Exercises 22
 
References 22
 
Suggested Reading 23
 
2 Historical Development from Fracturing to Hydraulic Fracturing 25
 
2.1 Introduction 25
 
2.2 Explosives and Guns (1820s-1930s) 26
 
2.3 The Birth of the Petroleum Engineer (1940s-1950s) 38
 
2.4 Going Nuclear During Peak Oil (1960s to Mid-1970s) 39
 
2.5 The Rise of the Unconventionals (Mid-1970s to Present) 45
 
2.6 Exercises 49
 
References 50
 
Suggested Reading 51
 
3 Geology of Unconventional Resources 53
 
3.1 Introduction 53
 
3.2 Oil Shale Nomenclature 54
 
3.3 Oil Shale Classification 54
 
3.4 Types of Shale Formations Based on Production 56
 
3.5 Geology of United States Shale Deposits 60
 
3.6 The Role of Natural Fractures 75
 
3.7 Exercises 76
 
References 77
 
Suggested Reading 79
 
4 Overview of Drilling and Hydraulic Fracture Stimulation Techniques for Tight Oil and Gas Shale Formations 81
 
4.1 Introduction 81
 
4.2 Phase 1: Prospect Generation for Unconventional Oil and Gas Targets 85
 
4.3 Phase 2: Planning Phase 92
 
4.4 Phase 3: Drilling 94
 
4.5 Brief Overview of Hydraulic Fracturing 109
 
4.6 Operators and Contractors 111
 
4.7 Phase 4: Completion 111
 
4.8 Overview of Hydraulic Fracturing Process 115
 
4.9 Single-Stage Treatment 119
 
4.10 Fluid Recovery and Waste Management 123
 
4.11 Oil and Gas Production 123
 
4.12 Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM) 126
 
4.13 Workshop #1: Gas Well Economic Limit 128
 
4.14 Workshop #2: Oil Well Economics 129
 
4.15 Well Destruction 129
 
4.16 Summary 131
 
4.17 Exercises 131
 
References 132
 
Suggested Reading 134
 
5 Overview of Impacts from Tight Oil and Shale Gas Resource Development 137
 
5.1 Introduction 137
 
5.2 Potential Impacts and Risks of Spills 137
 
5.3 Significance of Impacts 137
 
5.4 Overview of the Five Main Resource Categories 138
 
5.5 Primary Wastes Generated 146
 
5.6 Site-specific Impact Analysis 146
 
5.7 Summary of Resources and Issues 163
 
5.8 Summary 174
 
5.9 Exercises 176
 
References 177
 
Suggested Reading 179
 
6 Surface and Groundwater Risks, Resource Quality Management, and Impacts 183
 
6.1 Introduction 183
 
6.2 The Hydraulic Fracturing Water Cycle 183
 
6.3 Potential Impacts on Drinking Water Resources 188
 
6.4 Public Water System (PWS) Sources 189
 
6.5 Underground Injection Control 190
 
6.6 Case Histories 196
 
6.7 Exercises 198
 
References 198
 
Suggested Reading 199
 
7 Induced Seismicity 203
 
7.1 Introduction 203
 
7.2 Measuring Earthquake Severity 204
 
7.3 Anthropogenic-Induced Earthquakes 208
 
7.4 Mechanics of Anthropogenic-Induced Earthquakes 210
 
7.5 Induced Microseismicity and Microseismic Monitoring 212
 
7.6 Exercises 212
 
References 213
 
Suggested Reading 213
 
8 Air Quality Resources and Mitiga

About the author

JAMES A. JACOBS is Principal Resource Scientist and Hydrogeologist at Clearwater Group. He is a Fulbright Senior Scholar and co-author of four environmental books and has served as an expert in a variety of oil and gas valuation and environmental contamination cases. STEPHEN M. TESTA is the former Executive Officer of the California State Mining and Geology Board and past president of the American Geosciences Institute, Environmental Geosciences and Energy Minerals Division of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, American Institute of Professional Geologists, and Los Angeles Basin Geological Society.

Summary

A guide to environmental and communication issues related to fracking and the best approach to protect communities

Environmental Considerations Associated with Hydraulic Fracturing Operations offers a much-needed resource that explores the complex challenges of fracking by providing an understanding of the environmental and communication issues that are inherent with hydraulic fracturing. The book balances the current scientific knowledge with the uncertainty and risks associated with hydraulic fracking. In addition, the authors offer targeted approaches for helping to keep communities safe.

The authors include an overview of the historical development of hydraulic fracturing and the technology currently employed. The book also explores the risk, prevention, and mitigation factors that are associated with fracturing. The authors also include legal cases, regulatory issues, and data on the cost of recovery. The volume presents audit checklists for gathering critical information and documentation to support the reliability of the current environmental conditions related to fracking operations and the impact fracking can have on a community. This vital resource:
* Contains the technical information and mitigation recommendations for safety and environmental issues related to hydraulic fracturing
* Offers an historical overview of conventional and unconventional oil and gas drilling
* Explains the geologic and technical issues associated with fracking of tight sand and shale formulations
* Presents numerous case studies from the United States EPA and other agencies
* Discusses issues of co-produced waste water and induced seismicity from the injection of wastewater

Written for environmental scientists, geologists, engineers, regulators, city planners, attorneys, foresters, wildlife biologists, and others, Environmental Considerations Associated with Hydraulic Fracturing Operations offers a comprehensive resource to the complex environmental and communication issues related to fracking.

Product details

• Authors: JA Jacobs, James Jacobs, James A Jacobs, James A. Jacobs, James A. Testa Jacobs, Jacobs James A., Stephen M Testa, Stephen M. Testa, Testa Stephen M.
• Publisher: Wiley, John and Sons Ltd
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 31.01.2019
• EAN: 9781119336099
• ISBN: 978-1-119-33609-9
• No. of pages: 576
• Subjects: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Chemistry; Chemie, Energie, Geowissenschaften, Fracking, ENERGY, chemistry, Petrochemie, Earth Sciences, Petrochemie / Brennstoffindustrie, Petrochemistry / Fuel, Geology & Geophysics, Geologie u. Geophysik, Energie u. Umweltaspekte, Energy & Environmental Impact