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Permalink Reply by Neal Franks on February 17, 2012 at 9:51am

Another interesting article about fracking fluids listing the components that are pumped down the well.  The fracforum website is the first source of this info that I have found.

The far larger issue in the picture is the composition of the spent fracking fluid that arrives back at the wellhead and requires disposal/purification like the technology that Chesapeake is employing is Carroll County.  A number of the chemicals listed would most likely be deposited in the well and shouldn't present an issue going forward.  Things like the phosphates involved could well complex with the large amounts of calcium present in groundwater and would no longer be an issue, if it was in the first place.

If anyone has a reference to such data regarding the spent fluid, it would be most interesting to peruse.

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Permalink Reply by time will tell on February 18, 2012 at 8:58am

One thing that is not being mentioned is the radiation that comes back in the used frac water .

The anti corrosion chemicals are the most harmful .A very small amount of this can contaminate a large a volume of water .The surfacants - this makes the water flow or more slippery - contain antifreeze type fluid ethylene - glycol  along with some other chems that need  to be handled properly .

Most of the chemical used are found in every day products but in a much smaller amounts  by compared.

Good news the way the chemicals are being handled we really don't have much to worry about .

A good accounting system is everything , the tracking of all frac fluid from going down the hole to disposal is vital .

I just don't agree with the underestimating how toxic the fluid is . I have seen it's results first hand .I compare it to a Black Widow Spider , we live with them but need to respect them .

 

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Permalink Reply by Steven A Joliat on February 17, 2012 at 2:39pm

A very informative article, the comments appending on the Vindicator website are even more interesting especially those of the managing editor.  One thing I would like to observe is a number of those comments seem to smugly observe that people do not ingest those household products.  What is left unsaid is that they pour them down their drains to allow others to ingest them when the water returns to the aquifers from their septic systems or public sewage system effluent.  Now here is where it gets interesting.  After following that path, the chemicals may still be there at very low concentrations that we would see in frac fluid, or they may have been removed / converted to harmless material by soil bacteria.  I do not fear hydraulic fracturing or household chemicals when they are used with due care.  Flowback water can be cleaned with existing technology, though public sewage treatment plants would need to be upgraded to do it properly.  I once worked with a small scale water treatment system that took in water contaminated with solvents and radioactive elements.  It fit in two semitrailers.  The output water was subjected to rigorous testing by independent laboratories certified by the EPA.  The water met all federal standards, and many contaminants present in the inflow were removed to undetectable levels.  Undetectable to levels of parts per trillion. 

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Permalink Reply by time will tell on February 18, 2012 at 9:06am

Mark , they don't disclaim all chemicals used claiming it's a proprietary secrete .

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Permalink Reply by WLW on February 18, 2012 at 9:43am

I have seen area's where the deer and other animals dig in the locations of old flowback ponds from wells that were drilled in the past looking to get a taste of the salty stuff. We have NO shortage of wildlife or 2 headed animals running around.

In fact, just the opposite. Record deer harvest and trophy bucks are the normal trend.

From wells drilled when things were not closely watched like today. 

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Permalink Reply by time will tell on February 18, 2012 at 11:09am

Yes deer love the brine as do they the ethylene glycol . I have seen them digging the ground up in search of it , I have also seen deer on a managed property  in flow back frac water that within a week or so were found dead .

It wasen't from a deep shale well but was back flow frac water . 

The brine is not a issue it's the flow back.

The longer it sits and absorbs into the ground the less danger .

As far as the amount of deer and trophy bucks yes there are a large amount but the reason for that WLW has nothing to do with well production but rather the amount of private property and management with high food content and antler growing minerals .

Most hunters are passing on the smaller bucks and letting them grow .If you are a hunter you will agree that most hunters are holding out for the BIG ONE rather than shooting the first one they see .

I agree with the closely watched practices today this is a minimal problem but to say a spill or release has no effect on wildlife is not true .

Close tracking of spent frac water will be the key .

And before you say I'm a wacko I have the facts to prove what I'm saying .

I am totally pro-drilling !

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Permalink Reply by WLW on February 18, 2012 at 6:50pm

I would never, and have never called anyone on here a wacko. Everyone, including the real greenies can have their opinions.

IMO NO one on here or anywhere else wants ground water or anything else poisoned for future generations or ours.

 It is quit unnerving when people sling BS about things they haven't even investigated enough to have a good opinion, yet they want you to by what they are selling as gospel.

Hope you get the big one someday...... Utica Utica Utica............

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Permalink Reply by time will tell on February 18, 2012 at 7:33pm

I didn't say you called me a wacko WLW .  Was your comment directed to me above with the BS slinging and selling the gospel ?

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Permalink Reply by time will tell on February 18, 2012 at 10:08pm

Ok wlw lets clear some things up , I have done the investigation completely with chemists and real scientists what you call gospel is truly facts with the points I have made .

It was done on a real site that had a release of real frac water .

You make our point exactly , ground water comment and future generations !

Unnerving is someone who seems to have no experience in the field making statements like they do . 

I am 99.9 % confident  that the players in our shale take the utmost care in the handling of the frac and production fluid used .

I do own land that is in the process of being leased now , I'm not a rock thrower just clearing the air .

I also hope you get the BIG ONE too ....

I asked if you were taking a jab at me but you didn't respond so I assumed you were  .

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Permalink Reply by WLW on February 20, 2012 at 9:16am

I no longer hunt, but was wishing you luck on your next trip out.....

 The BS is all the anti BS that has been in the news. That is all they want to print.

And there was NO jabs at you, unless you choose to take it that way.

I got the BIG ONE with the front of my wifes car, like thousands of other people out here have.

Lighten up.........

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Permalink Reply by time will tell on February 20, 2012 at 11:24am

thanks for clearing the air WLW . I agree with you on the news thing , I'll bet $ 5.00 gas will help .

All I ask is that the fluid be controlled and tracked were it ends up

and hold violators if any responsible . 

Sorry to hear about the deer accident , I'f the ODNR would have a season doe only or a second season that you could then after the doe only could take a buck this would help a lot .

I just took a chill pill ...