Technology for Safer Fracking is Coming!

I recently read an article about a new form of technology that is supposed to make fracking safer.  I am presenting it for discussion.  If you know of other safe methods, please share them.  Thanks:

Fracking with propane gel


15 November 2011

An alternative approach to hydraulic fracturing or fracking of shale rock to release tightly-stored natural gas that may be safer than conventional techniques is being tested across North America. However, gas producers trialing the method, which uses propane instead of water to break up the rock, are not revealing results data. This is holding back the widespread introduction of the method in the booming shale gas sector which is transforming the US energy and petrochemicals feedstocks sectors.

Shale gas production could also transform the outlook in Europe, Asia and Latin America where there are large reserves. But fears about the possible hazards of fracking would have to be resolved first.

Gasfrac Energy Services, a small Canadian company in Calgary, Alberta, has developed a technology for using gelled propane-based liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as a substitute for water to carry the chemicals and sand needed to fracture the shale rock.

Fracking


© iStock

Huge amounts of water are used during fracking - as much as 8 million gallons in an average shale gas well. This chemical containing water then flows back to the surface with the potential to foul drinking water supplies and rivers.

Also, small earth tremors which have on occasion accompanied shale gas production in the US and recently in Blackpool, UK, during test drilling for shale gas have been blamed on the massive pressure exerted by the water in underground rock formations.

So far, tests of the LPG, made up of 90 per cent propane and a diester phosphoric acid gelling agent to give it sufficient viscosity to carry chemicals and sands, show that it is both safer and far more efficient than water. Instead of bringing the fracking chemicals to the surface it leaves them behind.

'This is a game changer for the industry,' says Don LeBlanc, principal consultant at Eastex Petroleum Consultants in Halifax, Nova Scotia, who has been involved in shale gas trials with gelled propane in New Brunswick, Canada.

'The main advantage of the gelled propane is that once the gel is broken the propane flashes and mixes with the gas,' he explains. 'Since the propane becomes part of the reservoir flow, the generated fracture is completely cleaned up, whereas in a water-based fracture stimulation, some of the water remains trapped in the fracture. In addition a water-based fracture has an efficiency of around 20 per cent, while propane has 100 per cent efficiency. '

Nonetheless, despite being used around 1000 times in Canada and the US since first being tested three years ago, little data on the application of the technology has been made publicly available. In such a highly competitive industry, producers do not want to disclose its potential benefits. 

One perceived drawback of fracking by propane-based LPG is that initially it can cost 20-40 per cent more than water fracking. 'In reality the costs are comparable when the life cost of the well is considered,' says Mr LeBlanc. 'Fracturing with water also yields an ongoing cost for water handling and water disposal. '

Sean Milmo

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Richard Kubas on January 29, 2012 at 5:47pm

You still have the chemicals to deal with. The real reason this is so attractive is that they don't have to dispose of the millions of gallons of water. Fracking is Fracking. You fracture the formation with pressure and you pump in sand as a propent to hold the formation open after the pressure is bled off.

Permalink Reply by Tanya Gabriele on January 30, 2012 at 7:06pm

First of all, I want to thank everyone for their contributions to this discussion.  Secondly, I wish to share that I have contacted the EPA for information concerning testing drinking water prior to drilling.  As many of you know, there are contaminants that naturally occur in our water that are unhealthy.  Hwever, to test for all of those elements, the level of their concentrations, and the possibility of other heavy metal contaminates may be very expensive.  A cost effective way o create a baseline for the quality of your wate--prior to drillin--is to collect a couple samples of it.  You must store your samples in a sterile container, label that container with the date, how and where it was collected, along with those who witnessed the collection.  Make sure the samplle is sealed to show that it has not been tampered with.   It iss wise to collect water from your well, streams, and ponds.  

Permalink Reply by Billy Park Whyde on January 30, 2012 at 7:16pm

I dont think that would cut it. If I were in a jury and you suspected your water may somehow get wiuld get contaminated your should yourself get the water tested before hand. To come in after a well was drilled saying hey look I wouldn't buy that. You get the results dated prior to the drilling of the well. After all your well could have been bad to start with and you could have taken samples else where, with trying to sue someone and for big bucks ya best have the proof before hand in my book.

Permalink Reply by Finnbear on January 31, 2012 at 2:47am

My advice - Pay for the testing beforehand. Don't go the cheap route. If water is as important as the anti-drillers say it is (and it is!), then it will be money well spent and cheap insurance in the long run. Don't monkey around with storing samples and hoping someone will accept those as your baseline later. Those samples are not law enforcement evidence and may not hold up in court, should you ever need to use that option to remedy a contamination issue.

If you are truly concerned about your water, research and find the best facility that can do the testing and have it done.  That information WILL hold up in court and if you did your homework and got a lease that protects your water supply, you WILL win.

Who do you recommend for thorough testing? What does it cost? What do they test for? That should probably be the subject of a new discussion entirely.

Permalink Reply by craig on January 31, 2012 at 4:53am

I can tell you that for a proper test to be done at least one of them requires to be done on site. My brother had his tested by two different labs, paid for by CHK. The reports were extensive in scope. I applaud CHK for doing at least something right for a change.

Permalink Reply by Bert Bankovic on January 31, 2012 at 3:34am

While anyone is welcome to have pre drill testing done on their own, Range Resources for example performs pre-drill testing on any well within 2500 feet of a location, and shares the data with the landowners.  Additionally, understanding the well casing thoroughly would help many people understand the science.  What I have found is that many are not willing to listen.  Tanya, thanks for all of your questions, and thanks to everyone to keep this a civil conversation. 

Permalink Reply by Finnbear on January 31, 2012 at 3:45am

Do I really want to put the safety of my future water supply in the hands of someone paid by the oil and gas company who may contaminate it? Can they truly provide an unbiased answer? I would hope so, but money talks.

Better to spend a little of my own money to protect what is mine.

Trust, But Verify - remember who said that? If my test shows the same results as their test, then I guess I can trust them.

I saw a little sign in a local business recently. It said, "In God we trust, everyone else pays cash".

Permalink Reply by Nawar A on February 8, 2012 at 3:35pm

For those interested in learning more about Gasfrac & waterless LPG (propane) fracking, here is an article about the technology from inside climate news:

http://insideclimatenews.org/news/20111104/gasfrac-propane-natural-...

and here is a podcast interview with the the co-inventor of the technology, Mr.Robert Lestz CTO of Gasfrac:

http://insideclimatenews.org/podcast/waterless-fracking-gas-drillin...

Regards,

Nawar

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