Hydraulic Fracturing

Hydraulic Fracturing and Directional Drilling have allowed the production of oil and gas from “unconventional” resources, like shale gas and shale oil. Natural gas demand is increasing, in addition, is increasingly becoming an important role in meeting demand for energy in the United States. Thus Hydraulic Fracturing stimulated shale among the fastest emergent energy sources in the United States, a source that seemed impossible to few years ago. Natural gas, the cleanest burning fossil fuel, now provides approximately 40% of the country’s electricity generation [7].

Hydraulic Fracturing implicates the injection of large amounts of water, proppants (sand) and chemicals at high pressures and flow rates, several thousand feet deep into the rock

formations to access valuable oil and natural gas. The fluid is pumped at pressures greater than the minimum principal stress, to crack the formation layer, or enlarge natural fractures in the formation. Proppants are used to hold open the cracks, increasing the permeability of the formation so that natural gas or oil can flow to the wellbore and thus to surface.
But then again, Fracking due to the methodical use from Oil Companies, public health, social impacts and most importantly environmental awareness of how the fuel is obtained has risen. It became the focal point of widespread and global public controversial discussion. Hydraulic Fracturing can be done incorrectly and accidents can occur, but if it is done correctly the only results are more domestic resources for Americans to use, while keeping drinking water clean. If shortcuts are not taken, and the engineered fracturing plans are followed, accidents do not take place. Oil and gas are precious resources that we use every single day and hydraulic fracturing simply provides a method to extract more than experts previously thought was possible. Since hydraulic fracturing can be done safely, as a nation, the United States should utilize it and reap the benefits that come with.
Studies have shown harmful environmental implications, influencing air pollution factor, climate change, earthquakes and, especially, clean water supply. Fracking is affecting clean water sources in, as the practice requires massive amounts of water, to create the Frac fluid. In addition the practice opposed a threat to groundwater sources, as fractures can invade groundwater and contaminate the source.
The problem addressed is the fact that because people have the idea that it is an environmental threat hydraulic fracturing has been banned from many places .However. This paper calls for a research plan to show the positive sides of hydraulic fracturing and establish the idea that the method is environmentally safe, if it practice safe and according the procedure. There are no human endeavors without risk; humanity have seen great disasters from other energy resources such as nuclear, coal, wood. All of those forms of energy have caused damaged to the environment.

CURRENT SITUATION & SIGNIFICANCE OF HYDRAULIC FRACTURING
Hydraulic Fracturing is not a new technique, the first fracturing experiment was in 1947 and the process was accepted as commercial by 1950 [1]. The Environmental Protection Agency, the Ground Water Protection Council and the Interstate Oil& Gas Compact Commission all have found hydraulic fracturing is nonthreatening to the environment or public health [4]. However, it recently prompted public concern of its impacts on the environment, due to recent advance of technology. The problem at hand is that hydraulic fracturing is currently viewed as a dangerous method to the environment.
But then again, Fracking due to the methodical use from Oil Companies, public health, social impacts and most importantly environmental awareness of how the fuel is obtained has risen. It became the focal point of widespread and global public controversial discussion. Hydraulic Fracturing can be done incorrectly and accidents can occur, but if it is done correctly the only results are more domestic resources for Americans to use, while keeping drinking water clean. If shortcuts are not taken, and the engineered fracturing plans are followed, accidents do not take place. Oil and gas are precious resources that we use every single day and hydraulic fracturing simply provides a method to extract more than experts previously thought was possible. Since hydraulic fracturing can be done safely, as a nation, the United States should utilize it and reap the benefits that come with.
In opposition, my research paper will aim to provide sufficient evidence, collected from existing research and studies, to explain the threats Fracking implies to the environment. The research proposed is essential as it would help people, and especially the other students in this class, to understand that Fracking can be a safe process and they would be more accepting towards it and it will continue to advance the oil companies in the future. The main task of the research is to examine previous researches and draw a conclusion, whether Hydraulic Fracturing is an unsafe practice and a thread for the groundwater sources. Furthermore, public concerns are many more, such as: air pollution, global warming effect and earthquakes caused by Fracking. Ground water contamination is the biggest risk taken when Fracking, thus my research will concentrated exclusively on it.
The final task aims to provide to public a scientific analysis of the practice of fracturing.

The negative public perception surrounding shale gas and hydraulic fracturing has stemmed from luck of technical awareness of how shale gas extraction occurs [2]. An engineering approach explanation of the direction fracture follows due to stresses exceeded in the formation. In Figure 1.1, a composite schematic of fracture treatments mapped by Pinnacle in the Marcellus Shale shows the fracture heights and the depth of groundwater aquifers. Each stage of fracture treatment is plotted with the red line representing the mid depth where the fractures originate. The shallowest point and deepest points are plotted. At the top, the blue is a plot of the deepest groundwater. As can be seen readily, the fracture treatments are well confined heights, at least a mile below the deepest groundwater. The chance of propagating a fracture upward into groundwater is nil. [6] In addition the public concern has risen due to disclosure policies of companies, not to release in public the composition of Fracking fluids, public arise a concern about what we actually pump in the formations. Fracturing fluids are typically 99.2% water and only 0.07% acid, as presented in Figure 1.2. [5]

My research will aim to investigate and provide more examples from previously established researches and examples as the two above to justify that Hydraulic Fracturing can be done in an environmentally safe

manner.

Fig 1.1: Fracture height and groundwater aquifers, mapped in the Marcellus shale region

Fig 1.2: Pie-Chart showing Fracturing Fluids components.

TECHNICAL APPROACH/ PLAN OF WORK
This research project intends to provide to the class and the public knowledge through an in depth analysis of the practice of Fracking. My study aims to review Hydraulic Fracturing’s technology and practices, and threats it’s posing to the environment as also to the public safety. A safe practice procedure and rock mechanics will be discussed and eventually a recommendation will be made regarding practices that could optimize Fracking's ecological cost-benefit balance.
Research will be conducted based on previously established research using online databases.

One Petro, is a multi-society, unique library that provides a broad range of technical literature related to the oil and gas exploration and production industry, will be used throughout this research. In addition New Mexico Tech’s online Discovery database will be used to search for existing researches on the environmental impact of Hydraulic Fracturing. Discovery database performs search of all the Library’s database content, providing digital copies of academic reports, periodical articles, and research helpful towards to my research. For my research, SPE journals will be preferred to cover the theories and concept as also the concerns of Hydraulic Fracturing. SPE journals cover the theories and emerging concepts that will become the new technologies of tomorrow, it’s the most helpful resource for a Petroleum

Engineer.
I. Methods:
The purpose of this project is to provide a better understanding of the procedure of Hydraulic Fracturing. Exposed the dangers the practice implies to the environment, and analyze the magnitude of the danger. The Project will mainly concentrate on research and analysis of researched data. I aim to clear up the main controversy of groundwater contamination, and inform the public on what is taking place beneath the surface of their drinking water and homes.

II. Task Breakdown
• Depth of formations of interest, and stresses acting at those depths. Hydraulic Fracking is involved in depths of 6,000-8,000’, when groundwater sources are approximately from 500-1000’ depth. Explain factors controlling the length, orientation and height of the fractures. Analyze stresses acting on those depths and how those stresses affect the direction and magnitude of the fracture. Rock Mechanics.
• Chemical composition of a hydraulic fluid. What is actually is pumped into the formation, and how hazardous it is.
• Safe practice of Fracking. Explain reasons that might cost accidents and consequently Frac fluid invade the groundwater source.

The tasks will be carried for a couple of months until there is sufficient evidence to conclude the research and be certain with the results. Some of the research will include Hydraulic Fracturing modeling using Fracpro, previously accidents occurred and cost to the environment, the engineering concept behind Hydraulic Fracturing through free diagrams showing stresses occurring in formation and provide detailed explanation. Each step will involve specific scientific work from the task force.
III. Problem Analysis
Potential problems could be having faulting results caused by malfunctions in the Fracking or that the time spent on working on the research won’t be a long enough time to have legitimate and desire results. I believe my sources are reliable and all the studies used towards my project are from accredited authors, as also the consistency of my findings are proving reliability.
To perform further research on hydraulic Fracking, and prove that is an environmental safe practice, with minimal cost to the environment. The project will cover breaking down the components of hydraulic fracturing that are the most controversial and explaining them to expose that they are actually not harmful. The main controversy trying to disproof will be the unfair accuse of Fracking to cause contamination of groundwater sources, when the procedure was performed correctly without any accidents.
No procedure is perfectly reliable, but if a data collection procedure is unreliable then it is also invalid. The other problem is that even if it is reliable, then that does not mean it is necessarily valid.