Information on Hydraulic Fracturing
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
an open pathway to the well. This allows the oil migration of fluids associated with oil and gas and gas to seep from the rock into the pathway, development. After it is determined that the well up the well and to the surface for collection. In is capable of producing oil or natural gas, a Colorado, the targeted formations for hydraulic production casing is set to provide an added fracturing are often more than 7,000 feet layer of separation between the oil or natural underground, and some 5,000 feet below any gas stream and freshwater aquifer. A well drinking water aquifers. survey called a cement bond log is performed to ensure the cement is properly sealed around the The process of hydraulic fracturing has been casing. Additionally, the COGCC requires that used for decades in Colorado, dating to the prior to hydraulic fracturing, the casing be 1970s. Hydraulic fracturing continues to be pressure tested with fluid to the maximum Colorado Department of Natural Resources refined and improved and is now standard for pressure that will ever be applied to the casing. virtually all oil and gas wells in our state, and The well’s construction design is reviewed by across much of the country. Hydraulic fracturing the professional engineering staff at the has made it possible to get the oil and gas out of COGCC. Any flaw in the design will be Information on rocks that were not previously considered as corrected prior to issuing the required drilling likely sources for fossil fuels. permit. Hydraulic Fracturing Common questions and answers about Q: What kinds of fluids do operators use to What is hydraulic fracturing? hydraulic fracturing. hydraulically fracture wells? Hydraulic fracturing is the process of creating Q: Can hydraulic fracturing open up pathways A: Approximately 99.5% of the fracturing fluid small cracks, or fractures, in deep, underground for oil and gas to reach ground water zones volume is water and sand. The remaining geological formations to liberate oil or natural where water wells are producing? portion is made up of a variety of chemicals. gas and allow it to flow up the well for capture There are chemical additives used to reduce and use in heating our homes, fueling our cars A: The distance between the oil and gas friction during pumping and prevent corrosion of and providing the electricity we all use for our formation and the water formations is the steel, biocide to kill bacteria in the water and televisions, computers and other devices. substantial. In the case of the Niobrara and the surfactant to promote water flowback. The exact Fox Hills Aquifer in northeast Colorado, for formulation may vary depending on the well and To fracture the formation, fracturing fluids – example, the separation is about 5,000 feet – or the objectives of the specific fracturing mostly water and sand, with a small percentage roughly a mile – of bedrock. treatment. Fracturing chemicals are similar to of chemical additives – are injected down the other industrial chemicals which must be well bore into the formation. The fluid, injected Q: How do you ensure the fracturing fluid, handled properly. For certain chemicals, safe under pressure, causes the rock to fracture including the chemical additives, don’t escape work practices, proper site preparation, and along weak areas. the oil and gas wellbore and impact nearby attentive handling are required to ensure that water wells? employees, the public, and the environment are The fluids that create the initial fractures are protected. then mixed with thicker fluids that include sand A: The COGCC requires all wells to be cased and gelatin. These thicker fluids lengthen the with multiple layers of steel and cement to COGCC rules require that operators publicly openings in the rock. When the fractures are isolate fresh water aquifers from the disclose the ingredients and concentrations of complete, and pressure is relieved, the fluids hydrocarbon zone. The steel casing and fracturing chemicals for each well within 60 days flow back up the well where they are captured surrounding layers of cement protect the of completion. That information is required to be and stored for later treatment or disposal. drinking water aquifers that the wellbore posted on the website www.fracfocus.org, which penetrates. Surface casing is required to extend is searchable by county, operator and well. The As the fluids flow back up, sand remains in the 50 feet below the base of the deepest website also provides information on chemicals fractures and props the rock open, maintaining freshwater aquifer to seal it off from any possible used and their purpose. to several days depending on the number of suspected impacts by the drilling or hydraulic Q: How are these fluids managed on the fracture zones. You will not feel the fracture of fracturing of oil and gas wells. surface? the rock because of its very low energy and depth of the formation. The equipment noise is How do I obtain baseline water samples? A: Large volumes of fluids are maintained on the the most noticeable occurrence during the drill site during the drilling and hydraulic operations. The COGCC provides baseline sampling on a fracturing process. Operators must take great case-by-case basis based on proximity to new care to prevent spills; operators are charged The COGCC has rules that are specific to or existing drilling activity. Please contact the with protecting environmental resources and hydraulic fracturing. For more information on COGCC at 303-894-2100. spills violate state law. The fluids are blended on these rules, visit: http://cogcc.state.co.us site in equipment that adjusts the mix of sand, The Colorado Oil & Gas Association (COGA), an water and chemicals at different stages of the • Rule 205 Inventory chemicals industry trade group, has a voluntary baseline operation. The blended mix is sent to pumping • Rule 205A Chemical disclosure ground water quality sampling program units to raise the pressure and send the fluid • Rule 317 Well casing and cementing; http://www.coga.org/index.php/BaselineWaterSa down the well. Like spills, operators must Cement bond logs mpling. prevent leaks. In addition to complying with • Rule 317B Setbacks and precautions state regulations, leaks and spills would create Under the COGA program, samples are near surface waters and tributaries that costly delays, providing additional incentive for collected from two existing groundwater are sources of public drinking water operators to ensure all fittings and connections features, such as wells or springs, within one- • Rule 341 Monitoring pressures during are pressure tested with clean water before any half mile of the surface location of new oil and stimulation operations begin. gas well pads, or new wells on existing pads. • Rule 608 Special requirements for coal- These samples require landowner consent and After the fracturing is completed, fluids return to bed methane wells will be collected before drilling begins. A second • the surface as “flowback.” These fluids are now Rules 903 & 904 Pit permitting, lining, round of sampling will be collected from each considered exploration and production waste monitoring, & secondary containment feature within one to three years after drilling is and must be treated accordingly in compliance • Rule 906 Requires COGCC notify completed. Results of all samples will be with state regulations. Production fluids, CDPHE and the landowner of any spill provided to landowners within three months of including oil and related substances, also rise to that threatens to impact any water of the collecting the sample. The laboratory results will the surface. All of these fluids must be state also be submitted to the COGCC for inclusion in separated and contained in impervious vessels a water quality database that will be available to and waste fluids must either be recycled or Where can I get further information? the public through the COGCC website. properly disposed of under regulatory oversight. The FracFocus website – www.fracfocus.org – Water well owners can also either sample their contains detailed explanations on how hydraulic own water wells or contract a qualified individual Q: What can neighbors expect to experience fracturing works, how groundwater is protected, to collect samples for baseline testing. Most during the fracture stimulation work? what chemicals are used, and how to find a well analytical laboratories can provide sampling near you. The COGCC has additional along with analytical services. A list of A: After the drilling rig is moved off site, water information on its hydraulic fracturing information laboratories offering these services can be found tanks are brought to the site and water-hauling page at its website: http://cogcc.state.co.us under Laboratories-Analytical or Laboratories- trucks arrive. The day the operation is to begin, Testing in the phone directory. the sand haulers, pump truck, blender and the What is the purpose of baseline water sampling? control van arrive. The equipment will all be The Colorado Department of Public Health and connected together and then connected to the The purpose of baseline water sampling is to Environment also offers analytical laboratory well head with high pressure hoses. After testing collect data before any drilling operations at services. Call 303-692-3090 for additional the equipment, the actual fracture stimulation individual well sites to demonstrate the pre- information. will begin. The operation may take several hours drilling conditions of a water well. This provides http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/lr/water.htm a reference point for future evaluations of any .