Dr. Martin Elsner Talks about Fracking

Dr. Martin Elsner, group leader of Environment isotope chemistry, Institute of Groundwater ecology at the Helmholtz Zentrum, Munich talks about Hydraulic fracturing or fracking and its effects on groundwater contamination.

1. What is the fracking procedure (shale gas extraction)? How does it pose a threat to groundwater contamination? What are the main research leads regarding groundwater contamination due to fracking so far?

Fracking is used to exploit unconventional gas resources. This is gas entrapped in many small enclosures in a host formation. To create permeabilities so that the gas can escape, a fracturing fluid is injected through a well at high pressure so that small fissures are created in the formation ("fracking"). Subsequently, little grains ("proppants") are transported into the newly created fissures to keep them open. After that, the fracturing fluid flows back to the surface ("flowback") and the gas can be exploited.

To support the fracking process, numerous chemical additives are mixed to the fracking fluid. Some of them can be harmful to the environment (aromatic hydrocarbons, nonylphenols, biocides). In addition, toxic substances of natural origin (petroleum hydrocarbons, heavy metals, radioactive elements) may come up to the surface together with the gas ("production water").

In most cases, the fracking occurs in great depths (up to four kilometers). If the fracking is conducted in the best possible way, in theory, our shallow groundwater, from where we take our drinking water, should not be affected. In practice, however, well integrity may occasionally be compromised. Researchers from Duke University have shown that some of the methane that was found in the groundwater close to fracking operations stemmed from the deep subsurface (Marcellus Shale) and that it must have escaped through one or several leaky wells (Darrah et al., PNAS 2014). Some additional methane was demonstrated to come from an intermediate formation (Devonian) meaning that it must have leaked along the concrete casing around the borehole to the surface. Even though no fracturing chemicals have been found along with the gas so far, these findings indicate that the borehole itself can generate a direct connection from the deep subsurface to our shallow groundwater.

Further, chemicals may potentially enter the groundwater through improper handling of the fracking fluid or of the wastewater, or through leaky wells when wastewater is injected through disposal wells into the deep subsurface.

2. Which are the main contaminants that we need to watch out for?

(see above): To support the fracking process, numerous chemical additives are mixed to the fracking fluid. Some of them can be harmful to the environment (aromatic hydrocarbons, nonylphenols, biocides). In addition, toxic substances of natural origin (petroleum hydrocarbons, heavy metals, radioactive elements) may come up to the surface together with the gas ("production water").

3. Which contaminants are the focus of your research group? What methods do you employ to trace the movement of the contaminants?

We focus on organic contaminants. On the one hand, we are in the process of putting together a comprehensive overview of all reported chemicals. On the other hand, we are collaborating with researchers from Duke University and the Plata Group from Yale University to analyze flowback and wastewater samples.In the field, sampling campaigns are being conducted to monitor concentrations of organic contaminants before and after fracking activities.

4. How fast is the spread of the contaminant plume of the major contaminants? Are they bio-degradable?

To my knowledge, no such contaminant plume has been documented yet. Should such a situation occur, the plume would be expected to spread with the respective local groundwater velocity (typically 0.5-5 meters per day). Many contaminants may spread more slowly, because they sorb to the sediment and many are biodegradable. Still, some hydrocarbon, surfactant or biocide additives as well as some heavy metals from geogenic origin are persistent and can potentially cause problematic contaminations in shallow groundwater.

5. What are your insights on the future of research in this field? What are the next steps?

It is important to get an overview of the substances used and to develop monitoring strategies by selecting indicator substances for fracking activities.

Further, it is important to get an overview of the natural (geogenic) substances which may in addition emerge in the course of fracking operations. Finally, it is important to investigate whether processes in the deep subsurface can transform fracking additives into problematic, as yet unknown transformation products.

Subsequent steps are
- to develop strategies how to treat these compounds in fracking wastewater
- to assess the toxicology of these substances and conduct a risk assessment for the case of accidents
- to accompany existing activities with field-based scientific research in order to investigate the true impact of fracking.

6. How can the scientists and policy makers work together to make sure fracking if needed to be done is done in a safe manner?

- A prerequisite for scientific research on fracking chemicals is that the chemical identity of all additives must be fully disclosed. (According to present practice, substances need not be disclosed if their identity is proprietary information or if they make up less than 0.1% of the additives.)

- Further, operators much allow scientists access to ongoing fracking operations in order to allow field-based research.

Currently (Jan/Feb 2015), the German parliament is negotiating a legislative draft which plans to allow fracking operations under the condition that it is for scientific research that makes fracking safer for the environment. The GDCh (German Chemical Society) has issued a press release (6th of Jan 2015, in German) pointing out (i) that such a legislative effort must take into account current scientific research gaps and (ii) that the role of science must be clearly defined. Specifically, (iii) operations must follow the state of scientific knowledge (iv) scientific quality and relevance must be the decisive criterion for permits and (v) the decision about fracking activities that go beyond the scope of scientific research must be made by public authorities, not by scientific expert panels.

https://www.gdch.de/service-information/oeffentlichkeitsarbeit/pressenotizen.html

Copyright: Water Network research, AquaSPE 2015

Read More ​Interviews from ​the 'In ​Conversation ​With' ​Series ​
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Taxonomy

• Aquifer
• Fracking
• Groundwater Pollution
• Groundwater Quality & Quantity
• Hydraulic Fracturing Fluids

4 Comments

1. Look, this is a piece by a researcher trying to develop funds to fund research. Notice at the beginning he talks about the fluid being slick. Then he says it must be viscous. Then he says the viscosity must revert so it can be removed and pumped out. But, he never tells you what it is or how industry does it. And, you could spend the rest of your day trying to figure it out. Instead he talks about the cast of horrible additives without naming them. Recently I attended a talk by an anti-fracking additive who went on and on about horrible slick water. She never revealed what it is so I asked her what is it. My question was met with absolute science. So, I then said: OK I:ll tell you what it is. It is water with the addition of guar gum. Guar gum comes from a tree in India. When powdered and added to plain water it increases the viscosity of the water so that sand grains are held in suspension and are carried into the small fractures. Now guar gum has the wonderful property of breaking down to the viscosity of plain water under either of two conditions. First if the solution is warmed and second if the solution rises to a high pH. So, slick mud is injected at ambient temperature. Because the subsurface temperature rises with depth and because horizontal wells are generally of great depth the temperature of the oil-gas bearing zones are generally more than 150 degrees F. The slick mud viscosity breaks naturally and the fluid is pumped out leaving the sand propant in place. Now the additional property is edible and is found in food products in nearly every pantry. Just look at the contents label on the food products in your pantry. So there is no danger to the environment from the slick mud itself. Now there are other compounds that are added in miniscule amounts and there are material safety data sheets on these compounds that disclose the health hazards. Ergo, the research has already been done. Oh, one of the additives in a project might be sodium hydroxide which would be added to chase water. By chasing the slick mud with alkaline water will break the viscosity and help remove the slick mud from the borehole. Small amounts of the mud NaOH water can be easily neutralized in the mud stream when the fracking mud is recovered at the surface. So, this looks like research into something that really doesn't need it. And, there is no case that I know of groundwater contamination by the frack fluid. Please let me know if I am wrong. W.M. Turner, Ph.D. Genesis Resources, Oil Field Operator. wturner@waterbank.com

2. Great piece. Thanks for the read.

3. He is proposing a sensible fact-based scientific examination of the process. I bet industry doesn't like it.

4. Interesting read and refreshingly even perspective. Sounds like they are taking a science-based, no nonsense approach to evaluating fracking risk, which is mostly around well completion and proper handling of chemicals and produced water at the surface. Yes, he doesn't mention induced seismicity, but that is primarily related to reinjection of wastewater and not the fracking process itself. In terms of GHGs, my view is that natural gas is a perfect bridge fuel to get us through the time that alternative energy sources are being further developed and integrated. It is much cleaner and less carbon intensive than oil or coal. I think developing unconventional gas resources, if done properly, can be huge step in the right direction for our energy future.