Chemical constituents and analytical approaches for hydraulic fracturing waters

Ferrer, Imma; Thurman, E. Michael

doi:10.1016/j.teac.2015.01.003

Cited by 156 publications

(100 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…S12). Fatty acid phthalate esters [including bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate] are used in drilling and in hydraulic fracturing fluids (32), and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate has been reported in Marcellus Shale, Barnett Shale, and Denver-Julesburg basin flowback waters (27,(32)(33)(34), in runoff and surface waters following an incident at a gas well site (35), and in multiple residential groundwater wells in Dimock, Pennsylvania, where the EPA has identified contamination directly from hydraulic fracturing operations (discerned by the onset timing of the contamination) (36). Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate is a ubiquitous chemical that is used in many industrial practices and materials, and it is difficult to attribute its presence solely to hydraulic fracturing activities.…”

Section: −27mentioning

confidence: 99%

Elevated levels of diesel range organic compounds in groundwater near Marcellus gas operations are derived from surface activities

Drollette

Hoelzer

Warner

et al. 2015

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

139

131

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Hundreds of organic chemicals are used during natural gas extraction via high-volume hydraulic fracturing (HVHF). However, it is unclear whether these chemicals, injected into deep shale horizons, reach shallow groundwater aquifers and affect local water quality, either from those deep HVHF injection sites or from the surface or shallow subsurface. Here, we report detectable levels of organic compounds in shallow groundwater samples from private residential wells overlying the Marcellus Shale in northeastern Pennsylvania. Analyses of purgeable and extractable organic compounds from 64 groundwater samples revealed trace levels of volatile organic compounds, well below the Environmental Protection Agency's maximum contaminant levels, and low levels of both gasoline range (0-8 ppb) and diesel range organic compounds (DRO; 0-157 ppb). A compound-specific analysis revealed the presence of bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, which is a disclosed HVHF additive, that was notably absent in a representative geogenic water sample and field blanks. Pairing these analyses with (i) inorganic chemical fingerprinting of deep saline groundwater, (ii) characteristic noble gas isotopes, and (iii) spatial relationships between active shale gas extraction wells and wells with disclosed environmental health and safety violations, we differentiate between a chemical signature associated with naturally occurring saline groundwater and one associated with alternative anthropogenic routes from the surface (e.g., accidental spills or leaks). The data support a transport mechanism of DRO to groundwater via accidental release of fracturing fluid chemicals derived from the surface rather than subsurface flow of these fluids from the underlying shale formation.natural gas extraction | high-volume hydraulic fracturing | groundwater | hydrophobic organic contaminants | transport mechanisms

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Section: −27mentioning

confidence: 99%

Elevated levels of diesel range organic compounds in groundwater near Marcellus gas operations are derived from surface activities

Drollette

Hoelzer

Warner

et al. 2015

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

139

131

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“…During this process, large amounts of water are intermixed with various additives to aid in oil collection from low porosity shale formations. These additives include biocides, surfactants, proppants, gel breakers, and inorganic acids (among others) [2]. This solution is injected in the subsurface to fracture the shale, and a portion of it resurfaces with the desired commodity.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Optimization of thin film solid phase microextraction and data deconvolution methods for accurate characterization of organic compounds in produced water

Emmons

Liden

Schug

et al. 2020

J of Separation Science

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Funding informationThe University of Toledo The continued rise in the extraction of unconventional oil and gas across the globe poses many questions about how to manage these relatively new waste-streams.Produced water, the primary waste by-product, contains a diverse number of anthropogenic additives together with the numerous hydrocarbons extracted from the well.Due to potential environmental hazards, it is critical to characterize the chemical composition of this type of waste before proper disposal or remediation/reuse.In this work, a thin film solid phase microextraction approach was developed and optimized to characterize produced water. The thin film device consisted of hydrophilic-lipophilic balance particles embedded in polydimethylsiloxane and immobilized on a carbon mesh surface. These devices were chosen to provide broad extraction coverage and high reusability. Various parameters were evaluated to ensure reproducible results while minimizing analyte loss. This optimized protocol, consisting of a 15 min extraction followed by a short (3 s) rinsing step, enabled the reproducible analysis of produced water without any sample pretreatment. Extraction efficiency was suitable for both produced water additives and hydrocarbons. The developed approach was able to tentatively identify a total of 201 compounds from produced water samples, by using one-dimensional gas chromatography hyphenated to mass spectrometry and data deconvolution. K E Y W O R D Sdata deconvolution, hydraulic fracturing, thin film solid phase microextraction, unconventional environmental contaminants, untargeted analysis Article Related Abbreviations: AMDIS, automated mass spectral deconvolution and identification system

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“…15 The variety of compounds hinders baseline groundwater monitoring due to analytical limitations of a comprehensive analysis of possible constituents. 16 Effective groundwater monitoring should focus on constituents most likely to be present. 17 Our objectives are (1) to develop a screening framework for identifying fracturing fluid compounds that are sufficiently mobile and persistent to be transported through aquifers by comparing the time for a compound to degrade to a predicted groundwater transport time and (2) to perform an initial screening using available data for 659 compounds.…”

Section: ■ Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Framework for Identifying Organic Compounds of Concern in Hydraulic Fracturing Fluids Based on Their Mobility and Persistence in Groundwater

Rogers

Burke

Osborn

et al. 2015

Environ. Sci. Technol. Lett.

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We developed a screening framework for identifying organic components of hydraulic fracturing fluid with increased probability of exposure via groundwater based on mobility, persistence, toxicity, and frequency of use. Of 996 organic fracturing fluid compounds identified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and FracFocus for four states, data were available to perform an initial screening of 659 compounds for sufficient mobility and persistence to reach a water well under fast and slow groundwater transport scenarios. For the fast transport scenario, 15 compounds identified on at least 50 FracFocus reports were predicted to have an elevated exposure potential, which was defined as ≥10% of the initial concentration remaining at a transport distance of 94 m, the average setback distance in the United States. Of these 15 compounds, two were identified on >20% of FracFocus reports (naphthalene and 2-butoxyethanol), four were compounds identified on >5% of reports, and three had health-based standards.

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Chemical constituents and analytical approaches for hydraulic fracturing waters

Cited by 156 publications

References 38 publications

Elevated levels of diesel range organic compounds in groundwater near Marcellus gas operations are derived from surface activities

Elevated levels of diesel range organic compounds in groundwater near Marcellus gas operations are derived from surface activities

Optimization of thin film solid phase microextraction and data deconvolution methods for accurate characterization of organic compounds in produced water

A Framework for Identifying Organic Compounds of Concern in Hydraulic Fracturing Fluids Based on Their Mobility and Persistence in Groundwater

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