Hydraulic fracturing flowback chemical composition diversity as a factor determining possibilities of its management

Abstract

The chemical characteristic of flowback fluid from hydraulic fracturing for shale gas exploration/production in various localizations is presented. The results of statistical analysis have shown that variability in the chemical composition of these fluids is statistically significant and depends on the time difference between fracturing process and flowback sampling as well as sampling spot within the installation for flowback collection. Parameters which depend on sampling schedule (time and spot of sampling) are as follows: electrical conductivity and concentration of ammonia, boron, barium, calcium, lithium, sodium, magnesium, manganese, sodium, strontium, silicate, bromide, and chloride. Independent parameters are pH, total organic carbon (TOC), concentration of potassium, and iron. The ranges of the values of the characteristic parameters were determined, taking into account the representativeness of the samples, supported by statistical tests. The methods for the reuse of flowback fluids in terms of chemical composition are presented.

Cultivation of hydrocarbon-tolerant microalgae in flowback wastewaters produced during hydrofracking of impermeable rocks

“…Flowback Wastewater (FW), made of hydraulic FF and formation brines, represents the injected fluid mixed with the formation water that returns to the surface within the first few days following the initial fracturing of a shale. 3 Its composition in terms of various inorganic and organic compounds is relative to the geological formation fractured. In particular, the presence of hydrocarbons and the extremely high Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) content in FW makes the handling and treatment of this stream very challenging.…”