Study of the Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing on Drinking Water Resources

Transcription

1 Study of the Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing on Drinking Water Resources Jeanne Briskin, Research Coordinator Photo image area measures 2 H x 6.93 W and can be masked by a collage strip of one, two or three images. The photo image area is located 3.19 from left and 3.81 from top of page. Each image used in collage should be reduced or cropped to a maximum of 2 high, stroked with a 1.5 pt white frame and positioned edge-to-edge with accompanying images. Office of Research and Development January 23, 2014

2 Presentation Outline Study Background Technical Goals: HF Water Cycle Progress Stakeholder Engagement Draft Report 1

3 Study Background In 2010, Congress urged EPA to study the relationship between hydraulic fracturing and drinking water. The study purpose is to: Assess whether hydraulic fracturing can impact drinking water resources Identify driving factors that affect the severity and frequency of any impacts 2

4 Hydraulic Fracturing Water Cycle What are the potential impacts on drinking water resources of: Water Acquisition Large volume water withdrawals from ground and surface waters? Chemical Mixing Surface spills on or near well pads of hydraulic fracturing fluids? Well Injection The injection and fracturing process? Flowback and Produced Water Surface spills on or near well pads of flowback and produced water? 3 Wastewater Treatment and Waste Disposal Inadequate treatment of hydraulic fracturing wastewaters?

5 Water Acquisition What are the potential impacts of large volume water withdrawals from ground and surface waters on drinking water resources? Research Projects Underway 4 ANALYSIS OF EXISTING DATA Literature Review Service Company Analysis Well File Review FracFocus Analysis SCENARIO EVALUATIONS Water Availability Modeling

6 Water Availability Modeling Semi-Arid: Upper Colorado River Basin Humid: Susquehanna River Basin 5 Modeling the potential impact of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water availability in semi-arid and humid river basins under different water usage scenarios Future water use scenarios include: business-as-usual, full development and recycling plus

7 Chemical Mixing What are the possible impacts of surface spills on or near well pads of hydraulic fracturing fluids on drinking water resources? Research Projects Underway 6 ANALYSIS OF EXISTING DATA Literature Review Spills Database Analysis Service Company Analysis Well File Review FracFocus Analysis LABORATORY STUDIES Analytical Method Development TOXICITY ASSESSMENT RETROSPECTIVE CASE STUDIES

8 FracFocus Analysis Data submitted to FracFocus with fracture dates between January 1, 2011, and February 28, 2013 will be summarized Main topics expected to be described in report Water use Proppants Chemical use Summary statistics are expected to be calculated for nationwide data and selected counties 7

9 FracFocus Analysis Counties will be selected that show diversity in water use and chemical use as a function of geography, geology, and production type Tabular data and GIS data used to select example counties Preliminary data subject to change following QA review 4, ,000, ,000, ,000, ,000, ,000, ,000,001 1,840,000,000 1,840,000,001 3,710,000,000

10 Well Injection What are the possible impacts of the injection and fracturing process on drinking water resources? Research Projects Underway 9 ANALYSIS OF EXISTING DATA Literature Review Service Company Analysis Well File Review SCENARIO EVALUATIONS Subsurface Migration Modeling RETROSPECTIVE CASE STUDIES

11 Number of Wells Proposed Graph for Analysis Generic Well Diagram Diagram not to scale Vertical Separation between HF Zone and Top of (Bar Graph) Top of Vertical Separation Inherent Protectiveness LESS MORE HF Zone Distance (feet) If multiple zones are fractured, distance between top of cement and uppermost zone is graphed 10

12 Number of Wells Proposed Graph for Analysis Generic Well Diagram Diagram not to scale Vertical Separation between HF Zone and Ground Surface (Bar Graph) Vertical Separation Inherent Protectiveness LESS MORE HF Zone Distance (feet) If multiple zones are fractured, distance between ground surface and uppermost zone is graphed 11

13 Bond Index Proposed Graph for Analysis Generic Well Diagram Diagram not to scale Distribution of Bond Indices (Box and Whiskers Plot) 100% MORE Bond Index Measure of bond quality (0-100%) obtained from cement bond logs HF Zone 0% LESS Zonal isolation indicated Distance Interval Above Uppermost Perforation (feet) 12

14 Percent of All Casing Strings Proposed Graph for Analysis Generic Well Diagram Diagram not to scale Zones and Degree of (Bar Graph) Partially- or Un-ed Interval Are water zones present? Are hydrocarbon (HC) zones present? Inherent Protectiveness MORE LESS HF Zone Fully ed No HC or water HC Only Water Only Zones in Partially- or Un-ed Intervals HC and Water 13

15 Flowback and Produced Water What are the possible impacts of surface spills on or near well pads of flowback and produced water on drinking water resources? Research Projects Underway 14 ANALYSIS OF EXISTING DATA Literature Review Spills Database Analysis Service Company Analysis Well File Review LABORATORY STUDIES Analytical Method Development TOXICITY ASSESSMENT RETROSPECTIVE CASE STUDIES

16 Federal Source Spills Database Analysis National Response Center National Response Center (NRC) Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Data States* Source Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Compliance Reporting Database Colorado Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission COGIS - Spill/Release Database New Mexico New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department Spills and Pit Data Wyoming Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission Spill Database Texas Texas Railroad Commission H8 Spill Records Lousiana Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality Arkansas Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality Complaints and Inspections Database Oklahoma Oklahoma Corporation Commission Utah Utah DERR Division of Drinking Water North Dakota No publically available spills database Additional Data obtained from 9 HF service companies and 9 oil and gas operators by EPA 15 *States were selected based on those with the largest number of hydraulically fractured wells.

17 Wastewater Treatment and Waste Disposal What are the possible impacts of inadequate treatment of hydraulic fracturing wastewater on drinking water resources? Research Projects Underway 16 ANALYSIS OF EXISTING DATA Literature Review Well File Review FracFocus Analysis SCENARIO EVALUATIONS Surface Water Modeling LABORATORY STUDIES Source Apportionment Studies Wastewater Treatability Studies Br-DBP Precursor Studies

18 Source Apportionment Discharge Point Discharge includes hydraulic fracturing wastewater, coalfired power plant effluents, mining effluent, and road salt Sample Upstream Sample Discharge ISCO Sampler Sample Downstream Sample Drinking Water Intake 17

19 Progress Report Includes project-specific updates Research approach Status as of Sept Next steps Does not include research results Available at 18

20 Research Projects and Products 17 research projects are expected to produce >30 peer-reviewed journal papers or EPA reports Most will undergo an internal (EPA) and an external (journal or letter) peer review To date, 5 papers have been published in scientific journals Subsurface migration modeling (3) Analytical method development (2) These products will be considered together with scientific literature in the draft assessment report Draft assessment report is a HISA 19

21 Peer Reviewed Publications 20 Analytical method development: DeArmond, P. D. and DiGoregorio, A. L Characterization of liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for the determination of acrylamide in complex environmental samples. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 405 (12): DeArmond, P. D. and DiGoregorio, A. L Rapid liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry-based method for the analysis of alcohol ethoxylates and alkylphenol ethoxylates in environmental samples. Journal of Chromatography A 1305: Subsurface migration modeling: Rutqvist, J., Rinaldo, A. P., Cappa, F., Moridis, G.J Modeling of fault reactivation and induced seismicity during hydraulic fracturing of shale-gas reservoirs. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering 107: Kim, J. and Moridis, G. J Development of the T+M coupled flow geomechanical simulator to describe fracture propagation and coupled flow thermal geomechanical processes in tight/shale gas systems. Computers and Geosciences 60: Moridis, G. J. and Freeman, C. M The RealGas and RealGasH2O Options of the TOUGH+ Code for the Simulation Of Coupled Fluid And Heat Flow in Tight/Shale Gas Systems. Computers and Geosciences. (Accepted/ currently in press. Manuscript available online)

22 Study Timeline US Congress urges the EPA to conduct a study Peer review of draft study plan* (February August 2011) Release final study plan (November 2011) Release progress report* (December 2012) Individual reports and papers Peer review of draft report Final report Planning Conduct Research Report of Results Technical workshops (February March 2011) Meetings with stakeholders to identify concerns and study scope (July August 2010) Technical workshops* (Spring/Summer 2013) Continued stakeholder engagement Technical roundtable* (December 2013) *Webinars conducted to provide updates 21 Technical roundtables* / information request (November 2012)

23 Stakeholder Engagement EPA has received input through a variety of mechanisms at different stages of the study: Public meetings One-on-one meetings Technical meetings (workshops and roundtables) Public dockets Responses to information requests 22

24 Technical Meetings Interact with experts outside of EPA Keep up-to-date on changes in technology and practice Obtain feedback on current research Technical Workshops Technical Roundtables 23 Engage with subject-matter experts on Analytical chemistry methods Well construction/operation and subsurface modeling Wastewater treatment and related modeling Water acquisition modeling Case studies February March 2011 February June 2013 Consult with a broad and balanced panel of experts Oil and gas industry, water industry, non-governmental organizations, state/local governments, tribes, academia November 2012 December 2013

25 Technical Meetings Examples of technical input include: Described variability in industry and operational practices, many of which can be dependent on shale basin geology Discussed trends toward treatment and reuse of wastewater for subsequent fracturing operations Supplied information for EPA to consider as it conducts subsurface modeling and analytical method development 24

26 Draft Report Sources of information: Peer-reviewed literature and reports Government reports and technical papers Results from the agency s ongoing research activities Information submitted by stakeholders Technical meetings EPA docket Comments submitted to the Science Advisory Board 25

27 Draft Report Impacts evaluated: Impacts related to normal operations reflecting modern typical practices Potential and actual accidents or unintended events Potential immediate, short-term, and longterm impacts 26

28 Spatial Scope: Draft Report National: Evaluating available information for multiple regions Evaluating potential impacts at multiple scales: Single well Cluster of wells Watershed Shale plays 27

29 Intended Use: Draft Report Contribute to understanding of potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water resources Identify pathways of greatest concern Inform and promote dialogue among federal, tribal, state, and local government entities, industry, NGOs and other stakeholders Identify knowledge gaps and information needs 28

30 Next Steps EPA will continue to conduct research, analyze information and literature, and engage stakeholders Completed research will undergo peer review Exchange information with industry, academia, states, NGOs, tribes, and public Update SAB panel on publications and research (anticipated Summer 2014) Release draft report in late 2014 The SAB Panel will peer review the draft report The public will have an opportunity to provide written and oral comments 29

31 Questions? For more information: 30