scholarly journals In situ transformation of hydraulic fracturing surfactants from well injection to produced water

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (10) ◽  
pp. 1777-1786 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brandon C. McAdams ◽  
Kimberly E. Carter ◽  
Jens Blotevogel ◽  
Thomas Borch ◽  
J. Alexandra Hakala

Chemical changes to hydraulic fracturing fluids within fractured unconventional reservoirs may affect hydrocarbon recovery and, in turn, the environmental impact of unconventional oil and gas development.

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 370-383 ◽  
Author(s):  
William T. Stringfellow ◽  
Mary Kay Camarillo

Unconventional oil and gas development uses the subsurface injection of large amounts of a variety of industrial chemicals, and there are concerns about the return of these chemical to the surface with water produced with oil and gas from stimulated wells.


2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edith Allison

ABSTRACT In the midst of aggressive anti-drilling campaigns by environmental organizations and well-publicized complaints by citizens unaccustomed to oil and gas operations, rigorous studies of unconventional oil and gas development show that there are no widespread or systemic impacts on drinking water resources in the United States. In addition, air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions have significantly declined with the growth in natural gas production and its use in power generation. Furthermore, induced seismicity from subsurface waste disposal has plummeted in response to industry initiatives and new regulations. This record of environmental protection reflects the fact that U.S. hydraulic fracturing, like other oil and gas operations, is highly regulated by the states. In addition, air emissions, operations on federal lands, and subsurface injection are subject to federal regulation. Academic and government researchers have documented that chemicals and gas produced by hydraulic fracturing are not contaminating drinking water. However, as an added complication, methane occurs naturally in drinking water aquifers in some producing areas. In 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) completed a four-year study of potential aquifer contamination from hydraulic fracturing and associated industry operations. The report found some impacts on drinking water including contamination of drinking water wells; however, the number of cases was small compared to the number of wells hydraulically fractured. The scientific peer-review and public critique of the study, which continues after more than a year, may recommend additional research. The emotionally charged, anti-fracking campaigns provided important lessons to U.S. operators: pre-drilling, baseline data on water and air quality are essential to answering public concerns; infrastructure issues such as increased truck traffic on small, local roads are important to residents; and the initial failure to disclose the composition of hydraulic fracturing fluid intensified public concern.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 857-873
Author(s):  
A. A. Elgibaly ◽  
A. M. Salem ◽  
Y. A. Soliman

AbstractFoamed and energized fluids fracturing has been used in both conventional and unconventional reservoirs, as they reduce the amount of water used and hence minimize deleterious impact on water-sensitive formations. They also aid in the flow back after treatment in reservoirs where drawdown is limited. In this paper, the most important foam properties are presented, in addition, when to use energized fluids fracturing and how to choose the best energizing component with the best quality. The impact of N2-energized fluids fracturing (NEF) on wells that were previously fractured using conventional fracturing fluids is also presented. In addition, a comparison between the results of N2-energized fluids fractured and conventional fluid fractured wells is presented. The effect of using 20 to 50% (NEF) on production through surface well testing and live production data showed excellent and sustainable production rates. An economical study is presented through comparing the total capital cost of both NEF and conventional fluids fracturing, in addition to the hydrocarbon recovery of wells after both types. Data considered in this work represent about 40 wells fractured using NEF in the Egyptian Western Desert.


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