WorldWide Drilling Resource

22 NOVEMBER 2019 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® Baroid Industrial Drilling Products’ new MAX-YIELD™ is a one-to-one ratio geo- thermal system that can reduce logistics, transportation, and handling costs compared to traditional grout designs that use two or more sacks of grout to a single bag of thermally conductive media. MAX-YIELD™ provides a stable grout with low permeability and enhanced subsurface heat transfer in ground source heat loops. It is easily mixed and pumped in a uniform slurry, and meets solids content of >20% solids. To adjust thermal conductivity, simply adjust the volume of makeup water used. Baroid Industrial Drilling Products is a Valued WWDR Advertiser. Dispelling the Myths Surrounding Hydraulic Fracturing Part 1 Adapted from a Policy Brief by The Heartland Institute Hydraulic fracturing is a method to help extract natural gas and oil located several miles beneath the earth’s surface. Over the past decade, this process has increased the output of natural gas by 40% and oil produc- tion by 85%. Additionally, the hydraulic fracturing industry now supports nearly three million U.S. jobs. Unfortunately, its well-documented success has gone unnoticed and is not appreciated by the public. In fact, the process has been demonized and is often attacked by lawmakers because of false claims by opponents. In this series of articles, we will take a look at the most popular myths about hydraulic fracturing and take a look at, and review the facts. Myth #1 - Hydraulic Fracturing Pollutes Our Water - Perhaps one of the most preva- lent myths, this claim was spurred by a video of a man in Colorado lighting the water from his home faucet on fire. Not only was it scary to watch, it also had a powerful impact on the public. However, when scientists examined the case a little closer, the facts told a different story. The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission tested the man’s water and, by analyzing the istopic composition of the gas, they were able to determine the source of the methane present in his water. It turns out, biogenic, naturally occurring methane was the culprit, not hydraulic fracturing. In fact, the water well did not test positive for any of the chemicals used in the fracturing process. Since 2010, there have been more than two dozen peer-reviewed studies and assess- ments, all showing hydraulic fracturing is not a significant threat to groundwater sources, in- cluding drinking water. Perhaps the most compelling piece of evidence is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency study released in 2016. This $29 million project studied the impacts on groundwater by 110,000 hydraulically fractured wells across the country since 2011. The six-year report concluded: “Hydraulic fracturing operations are unlikely to generate sufficient pressure to drive fluids into shallow drinking water zones.” Why is hydraulic fracturing unlikely to contaminate groundwater sources? During the frac- turing process, fissures located thousands of feet below the water table are opened by pump- ing fluid solutions at high pressures, forming small fractures in the rock. Proppants, mostly sand, are pumped into the fissures to prevent them from closing. While the hydraulic pressure is enough to crack the rock, it is not enough to send fluid up through multiple rock formations, where drinking water zones are located. It’s also important to remember, drill operators don’t want water in their gas and oil wells. Water intrusion could change the drilling mud weight and lead to disaster. Drilling mud helps maintain stable pressures underground, lubricates the bit, and brings cuttings to the surface. If water gets into the well, the mud weight changes, which in turn, causes the pressure at the bottom of the well to change. If not brought under control, the insufficient mud weight could cause a blowout. We’ll dive into Myth #2 next month. G&O