0%

Book Description

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.

Table of Contents

  1. Cover
  2. List of Figures
  3. List of Tables
  4. Foreword
  5. Acknowledgments
  6. 1 Introduction
    1. 1.1 Energy and the Shale Revolution
    2. 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
    6. 1.6 Environmental Considerations
    7. 1.7 Exercises
    8. References
    9. Suggested Reading
  7. 2 Historical Development from Fracturing to Hydraulic Fracturing
    1. 2.1 Introduction
    2. 2.2 Explosives and Guns (1820s–1930s)
    3. 2.3 The Birth of the Petroleum Engineer (1940s–1950s)
    4. 2.4 Going Nuclear During Peak Oil (1960s to Mid‐1970s)
    5. 2.5 The Rise of the Unconventionals (Mid‐1970s to Present)
    6. 2.6 Exercises
    7. References
    8. Suggested Reading
  8. 3 Geology of Unconventional Resources
    1. 3.1 Introduction
    2. 3.2 Oil Shale Nomenclature
    3. 3.3 Oil Shale Classification
    4. 3.4 Types of Shale Formations Based on Production
    5. 3.5 Geology of United States Shale Deposits
    6. 3.6 The Role of Natural Fractures
    7. 3.7 Exercises
    8. References
    9. Suggested Reading
  9. 4 Overview of Drilling and Hydraulic Fracture Stimulation Techniques for Tight Oil and Gas Shale Formations
    1. 4.1 Introduction
    2. 4.2 Phase 1: Prospect Generation for Unconventional Oil and Gas Targets
    3. 4.3 Phase 2: Planning Phase
    4. 4.4 Phase 3: Drilling
    5. 4.5 Brief Overview of Hydraulic Fracturing
    6. 4.6 Operators and Contractors
    7. 4.7 Phase 4: Completion
    8. 4.8 Overview of Hydraulic Fracturing Process
    9. 4.9 Single‐Stage Treatment
    10. 4.10 Fluid Recovery and Waste Management
    11. 4.11 Oil and Gas Production
    12. 4.12 Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM)
    13. 4.13 Workshop #1: Gas Well Economic Limit
    14. 4.14 Workshop #2: Oil Well Economics
    15. 4.15 Well Destruction
    16. 4.16 Summary
    17. 4.17 Exercises
    18. References
    19. Suggested Reading
  10. 5 Overview of Impacts from Tight Oil and Shale Gas Resource Development
    1. 5.1 Introduction
    2. 5.2 Potential Impacts and Risks of Spills
    3. 5.3 Significance of Impacts
    4. 5.4 Overview of the Five Main Resource Categories
    5. 5.5 Primary Wastes Generated
    6. 5.6 Site‐specific Impact Analysis
    7. 5.7 Summary of Resources and Issues
    8. 5.8 Summary
    9. 5.9 Exercises
    10. References
    11. Suggested Reading
  11. 6 Surface and Groundwater Risks, Resource Quality Management, and Impacts
    1. 6.1 Introduction
    2. 6.2 The Hydraulic Fracturing Water Cycle
    3. 6.3 Potential Impacts on Drinking Water Resources
    4. 6.4 Public Water System (PWS) Sources
    5. 6.5 Underground Injection Control
    6. 6.6 Case Histories
    7. 6.7 Exercises
    8. References
    9. Suggested Reading
  12. 7 Induced Seismicity
    1. 7.1 Introduction
    2. 7.2 Measuring Earthquake Severity
    3. 7.3 Anthropogenic‐Induced Earthquakes
    4. 7.4 Mechanics of Anthropogenic‐Induced Earthquakes
    5. 7.5 Induced Microseismicity and Microseismic Monitoring
    6. 7.6 Exercises
    7. References
    8. Suggested Reading
  13. 8 Air Quality Resources and Mitigation Measures
    1. 8.1 Introduction
    2. 8.2 Unconventional Resource Extraction and Air Quality
    3. 8.3 Sources of Air Emissions
    4. 8.4 Worker Safety
    5. 8.5 Gas Leaks and Vapor Sampling
    6. 8.6 Biogenic and Thermogenic Hydrocarbon Gases
    7. 8.7 Gas Leaks
    8. 8.8 Soil Vapor Intrusion Overview
    9. 8.9 General Approach to Evaluating Soil Vapor Intrusion
    10. 8.10 Summary
    11. 8.11 Exercises
    12. References
    13. Suggested Reading
  14. 9 Land Use Resources and Socioeconomics
    1. 9.1 Introduction
    2. 9.2 Community Concerns and Land Use Planning
    3. 9.3 Environmental Justice
    4. 9.4 Land Disturbance
    5. 9.5 Light Pollution
    6. 9.6 Noise
    7. 9.7 Odor
    8. 9.8 Socioeconomics
    9. 9.9 Transportation and Traffic
    10. 9.10 Visual Aesthetics
    11. 9.11 Worker Safety
    12. 9.12 Cumulative Impacts
    13. 9.13 Exercises
    14. References
    15. Suggested Reading
  15. 10 Ecological Resources
    1. 10.1 Introduction
    2. 10.2 Ecosystem Resources
    3. 10.3 Ecosystem Resources
    4. 10.4 Interim Reclamation
    5. 10.5 Summary
    6. 10.6 Exercises
    7. References
    8. Suggested Reading
  16. 11 Legislative Trends Associated with Well Stimulation and Hydraulic Fracturing
    1. 11.1 Introduction
    2. 11.2 Federal Laws and Regulations
    3. 11.3 State Legislation and Regulations
    4. 11.4 Bans and Moratoriums
    5. 11.5 Exercises
    6. References
    7. Suggested Reading
  17. 12 Sampling, Exposure Pathways, and Site Conceptual Models
    1. 12.1 Introduction
    2. 12.2 Hypothetical Scenario
    3. 12.3 Overview of Sampling Procedures
    4. 12.4 Soil and Water Sampling
    5. 12.5 Field Screening and Analysis
    6. 12.6 Other Considerations
    7. 12.7 Fate and Transport
    8. 12.8 Summary
    9. 12.9 Exercises
    10. References
    11. Suggested Reading
  18. 13 Financial Issues
    1. 13.1 Introduction
    2. 13.2 Valuation of Real Estate
    3. 13.3 Water Supplies
    4. 13.4 Other Mitigating Costs
    5. 13.5 Mitigation of Subsurface Impacts
    6. 13.6 Remediation Strategies
    7. 13.7 Budgeting for Costs
    8. 13.8 Summary
    9. 13.9 Exercises
    10. References
    11. Suggested Reading
  19. 14 Legal Considerations and Case Law
    1. 14.1 Introduction
    2. 14.2 Environmental Tort Litigation
    3. 14.3 Environmental/Citizen Action and Industry Challenges Litigation
    4. 14.4 Infrastructure‐Related Litigation
    5. 14.5 Traditional Oil and Gas Issues in Nontraditional Forums
    6. 14.6 Fracking Bans and Moratoriums
    7. 14.7 Summary
    8. 14.8 Exercises
    9. Reference
    10. Suggested Reading
  20. 15 Spills, Forensic Evaluation, and Case Studies
    1. 15.1 Introduction
    2. 15.2 Spill Studies
    3. 15.3 Spill Settlement Case Study
    4. 15.4 Violations
    5. 15.5 Forensic Analysis
    6. 15.6 Prospective and Retrospective Case Studies
    7. 15.7 Exercises
    8. References
    9. Suggested Reading
  21. 16 Conclusions
  22. Appendix A: Selected University Studies, State, and Federal Reports
    1. A.1 Selected US University Studies
    2. References
    3. Suggested Reading
    4. Selected State Reports
    5. Selected US Federal Agency Reports
  23. Appendix B: Glossary
    1. References
    2. Suggested Reading
  24. Appendix C: List of Acronyms and Abbreviations
    1. Suggested Reading
  25. Appendix D: Conversions
    1. Common Oil Industry Conversions
    2. Suggested Readings
  26. Appendix E: Summary of Potential Job Hazards During Hydraulic Fracture Stimulation Process
    1. Hydraulic Fracturing Stimulation Process and Potential Hazards and Job Steps
    2. Reference
  27. Appendix F: Chemical Additives Used in the High‐Volume Hydraulic Fracturing Operations
    1. US House of Representatives HVHF Report (2011)
    2. Hydraulic Fracturing Chemicals
    3. References
  28. Appendix G: Exposure Planning, Emergency Response, and Toxicity Tables
    1. Exposure Planning, Response Actions and Environmental Impacts
    2. Preparing for Shipments
    3. Compilation of Information
    4. Emergency Response
    5. Petroleum Hydrocarbon Characteristics
    6. Exposure and Safety Limits
    7. Contained or Controlled Burns
    8. Health Protective Concentrations
    9. References
    10. Suggested Reading
  29. Appendix H: Selected Sampling Methods and Documentation
    1. General Sampling Procedures
    2. Decontamination
    3. Instrument Calibration and Maintenance
    4. Prior to Drilling Activities
    5. Soil Sampling
    6. Surface Samples
    7. Lithologic Description
    8. Soil Texture and Grain Size
    9. Lithologic Interpretation
    10. Soil Sample Shipment
    11. Sampling Preparation Methods
    12. Drilling‐derived Waste Disposal
    13. Sample Preparation, Packaging, and Handling
    14. Soil Vapor Sampling
    15. Active Soil Gas Sampling (EPA Method TO‐15)
    16. Soil Vapor Sample Containers
    17. Soil Vapor Quality Control and Decontamination
    18. Passive Soil Gas Sampling (EPA Method TO‐17 and TO‐15)
    19. Soil Vapor Sample Log (Chains of Custody)
    20. Groundwater Sampling
    21. Water Sampling from Monitoring Wells
    22. Quality Control
    23. Water Sample Preservation
    24. Sample Labeling
    25. Field Quality Control Samples
    26. Travel Blanks
    27. Field Blanks
    28. Field Duplicates
    29. Matrix Spike
    30. Sample Handling, Storage, and Transportation
    31. Documentation
    32. References
    33. Suggested Reading
  30. Appendix I: Environmental Checklists
  31. Appendix J: Metric Conversion of Table 3.4 (Metric Units in Bold italics)
    1. Summary of Subsurface Information on Major Gas Shale Basins in the United States
    2. Reference
  32. Appendix K: US Crude Oil Prices 1859–2016
    1. US Crude Oil First Purchase Price (Not Adjusted for Inflation)
    2. Selected Historic Events
    3. U.S. Crude Oil First Purchase Price (Dollars per Barrel)
    4. Suggested Reading
  33. Index
  34. End User License Agreement
44.195.47.227