Scientists recognized the Frequining method with one of the most dangerous resources in the mining. Mining of shale gas: the consequences and problems of oil and gas production by the method of frenching

From the history of the development of methods of intensification of oil production

The first attempts to intensify oil production from oil wells were undertaken back in the 1890s. In the United States, where oil production was developed at this time with a rapid pace, the method of stimulating production of dense rocks was successfully tested with nitroglycerin. The idea was to break the nitroglycerin explosion of dense rocks in the bottomhole zone of the well and ensure an increase in the inflow of oil to the caution. The method has been successfully used for some time, despite its obvious danger.

At about the same time, a method was developed for the intensification of oil production by processing the well-headed acid zone with acid. The first acid treatments, according to some data, were performed in 1895. Authorship In the invention of the method is attributed to Herman Freusha, the main chemist at the SOLAR refinery company's oil refinery. Fresh's acid treatment patent received on March 17, 1896, he concerned the chemical agent (hydrochloric acid), which is capable of reacting with limestone, resulting in soluble products. These products are subsequently taken out of the reservoir together with well fluids.

As for all innovation, it took some time so that this innovation was taken. To realize all the advantages of acid treatments took 30 years. The use of the method on an industrial scale began only in the 30s of the 20th century.

In the course of these first intensifying acid treatments, it was found that under the action of pressure, a layer is possible. So the idea of \u200b\u200bthe hydraulic rupture of the layer was born, the first fixed attempt of which was undertaken in 1947. The attempt was unsuccessful, but she inspired further surveys in this area.

The first commercially successful hydraulic fracturing was carried out in 1949 in the United States, after which their number began to grow sharply. By the mid-50s, the amount of hydraulic hydraulic fracturing reached 3000 per year. In 1988, the total number of hydraulic fractures exceeded 1 million operations. And it is only in the USA.

In domestic practice, the PPP method began to be applied since 1952. The method of application of the method was achieved in 1959, after which the number of operations decreased, and then stopped at all. From the beginning of the 1970s and until the end of the 1980s, hydraulic oil in the domestic oil production was not carried out on an industrial scale. In connection with the introduction of large oil fields of Western Siberia, the need for the intensification of production is simply disappeared. The revival of the practice of using hydraulic fracturing in Russia began only in the late 1980s.

Currently, the leading positions in the number of hydraulic fractures are occupied by the United States and Canada. For them, Russia follows, in which the use of hydraulic technologies are produced mainly on oil fields of Western Siberia. Russia is almost the only country (not counting Argentina) outside the United States and Canada, where the hydraulic fracture is familiar practice and is perceived quite adequately. In other countries, the use of hydraulic technology is difficult due to local prejudices and misunderstanding technology. In some countries there are significant restrictions on the use of GPP technology up to a direct ban on its application.

What is a PRT?

The essence of the method of hydraulic fracturing is the discharge into a pressure zone of high-pressure fluid, as a result of which the rock breakdown and the formation of new or expansion of existing cracks occurs. To save cracks in the open state, when the pressure is reduced in them, together with the liquid, the attachment agent is injected - proppant. The fluid transmitting pressure on the formation breed is called a break fluid.

Crack crackresulting from a hydraulic fracturing may be horizontal or vertical. The ripping rock is occurring in the direction perpendicular to the smallest voltage. As a rule, there are horizontal cracks to the depth of 500 meters as a result of the hydraulic crash. At a depth below 500 meters, vertical cracks occur. Since productive oil-saturated layers occur, as a rule, at a depth below 500 meters, crack cracks in oil wells are always vertical.

Types of hydroelectric

Distinguish propant hydraulicism and acid hydrogenation.

Propant PP - hydraulic use with the use of proppant - the proplining material, which is injected in the process of hydraulic fracturing to prevent the cracked crack. This type of hydraulic fracturing is usually used in terrigenous formations.

When they talk about the hydraulic break of the reservoir, most often mean precisely proppant GPP.

Acid hydropower - Hydrogenation, in which acid is used as a fluid of rupture. Used in the case of carbonate formations. Created with the help of acid and high pressure. The network of cracks and a cavity does not require fixing by proppant. From conventional acid treatment is a much large volume of acid used and injection pressure (above the pressure of the ropted rock).

The main factors depends on the success of the PRT:

the right choice of an object for operations;
using hydraulic technology optimal for these conditions;
competent selection of wells for processing.

Environmental safety PRP

The large-scale use of hydraulic fracturing for a long period of time (for more than 50 years) confirms the ecological safety of the method. Work on the implementation of hydraulic measures are carried out under the control of government regulators and supervisors of the oil companies themselves. Since oil reservoirs are locked at high depths (1000-3000 m) the effect of the process on surface and groundwater is excluded. Itself using several columns is designed to ensure the ecological safety of the process of oil production and works carried out in wells.

Finally

GPP technology has passed a big way - from single operations to the most powerful tool for increasing well productivity and reservoir management. Currently, many oil fields are required by the methods of hydraulic plaster. For example, in the United States, where the GPU technology is used extremely wide, approximately 25-30% of all stocks of steel are industrially affordable thanks to this technology. According to experts, hydraulic persecution contributed to an increase in the extracted oil reserves in North America by 8 billion barrels.

Along with the formation of cracks in the reservoir to increase well productivity, the hydraulic fracturing can also be used to overcome the contamination of the reservoir zone, as a means of increasing the efficiency of operations in the implementation of secondary oil production methods, and to increase the methods of wells in the burial of salt solutions and industrial waste in the underground floors. .

The hydraulic breaks of the formation (hydraulic fracture, from English Hydraulic Fracturing) is an integral process of stimulating well in the process of oil and gas production from shale breeds.
Not so long ago, there were a lot of conversations around the hydraulic conversation and very many organizations opposed the permission to conduct a hydraulic system. The main argument against the hydraulic agriculture, the theory was put forward to the fact that the GPU very much pollutes underground sources of fresh water, until the fact that water begins to flow water with gas impurities, which can be treated, which, by the way, was removed by the roller, which hit In many programs and news issues.

Today I will raise the issue of the PSA and we will look at how everything looks in practice. And then I will talk about how true the conversations about pollution of fresh sources and the harmful effect of the hydraulic effect. I also touch the sensational video about how people set the water in the crane. The video saw everything, but almost no one knows the story of this video.

1. In the beginning we will deal with what kind of hydraulic fracturing is, because Many of this do not know. Traditionally, oil and gas mined from sandy rocks that have high porosity. Oil in such rocks can freely migrate among the grains to the well. Shale breeds on the contrary, have a very low porosity, and oil in them is contained in cracks inside the shale formation. The task of GPA is to increase these cracks (or form new), giving oil a closer path to the well. To do this, a special solution is injected into an oil saturated slate, a special solution (on a view resembling a cold), consisting of sand, water and additional chemical additives. Under high pressure of the injected fluid, the slate forms new cracks and expands already existing, and the sand (proppant) does not give cracks, thus improving the permeability of rocks. GPP There are two species - proppant (using sand), and acidic. The type of hydraulic fracturing is chosen on the basis of the geology of the reservoir.

2. For the hydraulic fracture, a fairly large number of equipment and personnel are required. Technically, the process is identical regardless of the work carried out. A trailer with a manifold unit is connected to the well reinforcement. The pumping plants of the pumping solution of the hydraulic fluid in the well are connected to this trailer. Mixing installation is installed behind pumping stations, near sand and water trailer is installed. Behind all this economy is setting the control station. From the opposite side of the reinforcement, a crane and a logging machine is installed.
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On the right, in the photo - the block of manifolds, on the left - the pumping trailer, then the fittings and the crane behind it. The logging machine is on the left, behind the trailers. It can be seen in other photos.

3. The hydraulic fracturing process begins in the mixer where sand and water is supplied, as well as chemical additives. All this is mixed to a certain consistency, after which it is fed into pumping installations. At the outlet of the pumping unit, the hydraulic fracturing solution falls into the manifold unit (this is something like a common mixer for all pumping plants), after which the solution goes into the well. The GPP process is not carried out in one approach, but passes the stages. The preparation of stages is engaged in a team of petrophysics based on acoustic logging, as a rule, an open well conducted during drilling. During each stage, the logging team puts the plug in the well, separating the grip interval from the rest of the well, after which the interval perforations produces. Then passes the grip interval, and the plug is removed. A new plug is installed at the new interval, perforation passes again, and the new grip interval. The hydraulic fracturing process can last from several days to several weeks, and the number of intervals can reach hundreds.
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So the mixer looks like. Hoses going to it - water connection lines.

4. Pumps used in GPP are equipped with diesel engines with a power of 1,000 to 2,500 hp. Powerful pumping trailers are capable of pumping pressure up to 80 MPa, with a length of 5-6 barrels per minute. The number of POMP is calculated by all the same petrophysics based on logging. The required pressure for breaking the layer is calculated, and the number of pumping stations is considered based on it. During the work, the number of used POMPs always exceeds the calculated amount. Each pump works in less intense mode than required. This is done for two reasons. First, it significantly retains the pump resource, secondly, when it fails one of the POMP, it is simply excreted from the line, and the pressure on the other pumps slightly increases. Thus, the pump breakage does not affect the GPP process. This is very important, because If the process has already begun that the stop is unacceptable.
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Pump connected to the manifold block. "Booth" in the background is a means of monitoring the mixer. The opposite view from the booth, - on the second photo.

5. GPP technology did not born yesterday. The first attempts "GDP" were taken back in 1900. The charge of Nitroglycerin fell into the well, after which he detonated. At the same time, the acid stimulation of wells was testing. But both methods, despite early birth, demanded a lot of time to become perfect. BOOM GDP received only in the 1950s, with the development of proppant. Today, the method continues to be improved and improved. When stimulating the well, her life extends and the flow rate increases. On average, the increase in oil flow to the calculated flow rate is up to 10,000 tons per year. By the way, the hydraulic fracturing is carried out on vertical wells in the sandbranch, so it is mistaken to think that the process is acceptable only in shale rocks and just that just. Today, about half of the wells undergo a hydraulic stimulation.

6. However, with the development of horizontal drilling, many people began to speak out against the stimulation of wells, because GDP causes harm to the environment. A lot of works were written, the video was shot and investigations were conducted. If you read all these articles, then everything is folded, but it is only at first glance, and we will take care of the details.
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View of the block of manifolds from the reinforcement. By the way, it is possible to walk among trailers and pipes only during the logging, when there is no pressure in the discharge system. Anyone who appeared among the trailers with pumps or pipes during the SSP is back in place without conversations. Security primarily.

7. The most important argument against hydraulic fracturing is pollution of groundwater chemicals. What exactly is part of the solution - the mystery of companies, but some elements are still disclosed and there are in open public sources. It suffices to refer to the database on the Frakofokus fifox, and you can find the overall composition of the gel (1, 2). By 99% of the gel consists of water, only the remaining percentage is chemical additives. Proppant itself does not enter this case to count, because It is not liquid, and harmless. So, what is included in the remaining percentage? And there are - acid, anticorrosive element, friction mixture, glue and additives for the viscosity of the gel. Elements from the list are selected individually to each well, in all of them can be from 3 to 12, falling into one of the above categories. Indeed, all these elements are toxic, and not acceptable to humans. An example of specific additives are for example: Ammonium Persulfate, Hydrochloric Acid, Muriatic Acid, Ethylene Glycol.
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Logging machine. The team collects charges and prepares a plug for perforation.

8. How can these chemicals rise to the top of the leaving oil traps? The answer we find in the report of environmental protection associations (3). It can happen this can either because of explosions in the wells, or because of the spills during the PPE, or due to the spills of recycling basins, or due to problems with the integrity of wells. The first three reasons are not able to infect water sources on huge areas, only the last option remains, which is officially confirmed by the US Academy of Sciences (4).

9. Who wondered how the movement of fluids inside the rocks is tracked, it is done with the help of the so-called tracers. Special fluid having a certain radiation background is injected into the well. After that, in adjacent wells, and on the surface, they put sensors that react to radiation. Thus, it is possible to simulate very accurately "communication" of wells among themselves, as well as detect leaks inside the casing columns of wells. Do not worry, the background in such liquids is very weak, and the radioactive elements used in such studies very quickly decompose without leaving traces.

10. Oil to the surface rises not in its pure form, but with impurities of water, dirt and various chemical elements, including chemical additives used during GPP. Passing through separators oil is separated from impurities, and impurities are utilized through special recycling wells. In simple language - waste is pumped back to the ground. The casing is cemented, but it rusts over time, and at some point it appears in it. If the pipe has a good cement in an overlap space, then this rust does not matter, leakage from the pipe will not be, if there is no cement, or cement work was made bad - then the fluid from the well will fall into the annulus space, from where they can get anywhere, t .to. Leak can be higher oil traps. This problem is known to engineers for a very long time, and the focus on this problem was pointed back in the early 2000s, i.e. Long before the accusations of the FGP. Even when many companies have created separate departments responsible for the integrity of wells and their verification. Leaks can bring with them to the upper layers of rocks a lot of dirt, gas (not only natural, but also hydrogen sulfide), heavy metals and are able to infect pure water sources and without chemical elements of the hydraulic elements. Therefore, the alarm raised today is very strange, the problem existed and without a hydraulic power plant. This is especially true of old wells, which is over 50 years old.

11. Today, the regulations of many states quickly change, especially for Texas, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and North Dakota. But to the surprise of many, - not at all because of the hydraulic power plant, but because of the explosion of the BP platform in the Mexican Bay. In many cases, companies have a hurry to conduct logging in checking the integrity of the casing and cement for it, and transmit this data to state commissions. By the way, it is not necessary to see the word for the integrity of wells, but the company will spend money independently and make this work. With unsatisfactory condition of the well jammed. We must pay tribute to engineers, for example, from 20,000 wells inscribed in Pennsylvania, in 2008, only 243 cases of leaks in the upper water layers were registered (5). In other words, the hydraulic fracturing is not related to the infection and gasification of freshwater, the fault of this is the poor integrity of the wells that were not muffled on time. And toxic elements in oil-saturated formations are full and without chemical additives used during the PSA.

12. Another argument that leads opponents of GPP is a monstrous amount of freshwater required for the operation. Water for hydraulic PPP requires really a lot. The report of the Environmental Protection Association gives figures, in total from 2005 to 2013, 946 billion liters of water was used, despite the fact that during this time 82,000 GRP operations were carried out (6). Figure interesting, if you do not think about. As I mentioned before, the GDP began to be widely used since the 50s, but statistics start only from 2005 when mass horizontal drilling began. Why? It would be good to mention the total number of SSP operations and the amount of water consumed until 2005. The answer to this question is, in part, you can find everything in the same database of Frakofokus hydraulic data database - since 1949 more than 1 million PP operations were conducted (7). So how many water was used during this time? For some reason, the report does not say about this. Probably because 82 thousand operations are somehow embarked against a million.

13. Questions to EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) is also a lot. At EPA, many people love to refer, as a very good source. The source and truth is strong, but also a good source can give deso. At one time, the EPA was consuming to the whole world, the problem is that bypassing noise, few people know what it all ended, but the story ended very much smoothly, for some.
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So the proppant looks like. He appears in sand, in fact it is not the sand, which is mined in the careers and in which children play. Today, proppant is manufactured at special factories, and it happens different types. Usually identification comes in proportionate to the sands, for example, it is proppant 16/20. In a separate post, I will focus in detail on the types of proppant and show it different types. And the sand is called it because at the first PGP, Halliburton used ordinary small river sand.

14. Two very interesting stories are associated with EPA (8). So, the first story.
In the suburb of Dallas, in the city of Fort Vors, the oil company drilled wells for gas production, naturally using hydraulic fracturing. In 2010, the EPA Regional Director, Doctor (it is worth paying attention to the high status and availability of good, higher, education) Al Armendariz, filed an emergency lawsuit against the company. The lawsuit said that people living near the wells of the company are in danger, because Well wells gasify water wells located near. At that moment, the passions around the hydraulic fractures were very high, and the patience of the Taxhas Commission exploded. For those who forgot - in Texas, the railway commission is engaged in land and drilling issues. A scientific group was drawn up, which was sent to water quality research. The upper methane in the Fort Vors is at a depth of 120 meters and no cap does not have any cap, while the depth of water wells did not exceed 35 meters, and the hydraulic fuel expenditure in the wells of the company was carried out at a depth of 1,500 meters. So, it turned out that no tests for the study of the harmful effect of EPA were not conducted, but simply took and stated, the GDP pollutes fresh water, and sued the court. And the Commission, took and conducted tests. After checking the integrity of the wells, taking the soil samples and conducting the necessary tests the commission carried out a single verdict - no well has leaks and the ratio of fresh water does not have a relationship. EPA lost two vessels, companies and the second court directly by the Commission, after which the EPA Director, - Dr. Al Armendariz quit "at his own desire." Now he works in a nightclub in the capital of Texas, the city of Austin.

By the way, the problem of water gasification is really there, but it is not connected with the GDP, but is associated with a very shallow occurrence of methane. Gas from the upper layers gradually rises upstairs and enters water wells. This natural process is in no way connected at all with mining and drilling. Not only water wells, but also lakes and springs are subject to such gasification.
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Right - mixer bucket. Left - Container with proppant. The proppant is fed to the bucket on the conveyor belt, after which the mixer takes it into a centrifuge, where it is mixed with water and chemical additives. After that, the gel is fed to the pumps.

15. Now dear readers, sit comfortably, go back to popcorn and fasten the belts - I will tell you about the sensational video, in which people set fire to water from under the tap.

Immediately for the story with a negligent doctor from EPA, the Commission drew his eyes to a very popular video, which by the time where they just did not show. Some Stephen Lipsky, the owner of well-water wells, and the consultant on the environment of Alice Rich removed the video in which they set fire to the water coming from under the tap. The water intake was made from the water wells Stephen. Water caught fire, allegedly, due to the high concentration of gas, in which the oil company with its ill-fated PRT is to blame. In fact, when investigating, both defendants confessed that a cylinder with propane was connected to the system of the pipeline, and it was done to attract news agencies that would make people believe in the fact that the GDP is guilty in the gasification of fresh water. In this case, it was proved that Alice Rich knew about falsification, but she wanted to transfer obviously false data in EPA and between Alice and Stephen was a conspiracy for slander activity of the company. Again, it was proved that the company and the process of GPP do not harm the environment. After this incident, by the way, all somehow confusedly embarrassed relative to the accusations of the hydraulic fracturing in water gasification. Apparently go for the grille no one is in a hurry. Or did you understand that this process is natural and was before the appearance of a hydraulic?

So, summing up the whole of the foregoing - any human activity makes harm to the environment, oil production is no exception. GDP, in itself, does not harm the environment, and on a wide scale exists in industry for over 60 years. Chemical additives, injected in the process of hydraulic in the process of a large depth, do not constitute any threat to the upper water layers. Today is the valid problem today and the preservation of well integrity, which companies work hard. And chemical elements and dirt that are able to poison fresh water, in the oil-saturated formation there are enough and without hydraulic fracturing. The gasification process itself is natural and they also knew about such a problem without a hydraulic grip, and it was fought with this problem.

Today, the oil industry is much cleaner and environmentally friendly than ever in history, and continues to fight for the preservation of the environment, and many stories and bikes come from very unscrupulous employees of official departments. Unfortunately, such stories remain very quickly in the memory of most people, and very slowly refuted by the facts that are not interested in anyone.
You should also not forget that the war with oil companies was, there will be always, and cheap gas in huge volumes not all of the yard.

Important, Supplement:
Due to the fact that the comments began to appear about Pennsylvania and the availability of gas in well-water wells, I decided to clarify this issue. Pennsylvania is very rich in gas, and one of the most powerful booms of gas horizontal drilling came just at this state, especially for the northern part of it. The problem is that gas deposits (methane and ethane) in several. Upper gas deposits are called Devonian, while deep shale gas deposits are called Marcellus. After a detailed molecular analysis of the composition of the gas, and check 1,701 water wells (from 2008 to 2011) in the north of the state, a single verdict was given - there are no shale gas in aqueous wells, and there is methane and ethane from the top layer of Devonian. Gasification of wells is natural and is associated with geological processes, identical to the problem of Texas. The GRP process does not contribute to the migration of shale gas to the surface.

In addition, in Pennsylvania, due to the fact that it was one of the first states in the United States in general, it remained very, a lot of documents going down until the beginning of the 1800s, which refer to burning streams, as well as flammable Sources of water, with abundant gas concentration in it. There are a lot of documents that mention the presence of a very high concentration of methane at a depth of 20, only 20 meters! The mass of documents indicates a very high concentration of methane in rivers and streams, more than 10 mg / l. Therefore, in contrast to Texas, where I personally did not hear anything about such documents, in Pennsylvania, the problem of gasification was documented even before the start at all at least any drilling as such. Therefore, what kind of harm is in PRT, if there are documents with over 200 years, as well as molecularly proved that gas in water wells is not shale? Organizations that fight with hydraulic fracturing on such documents for some reason forget, or do not engage in similar studies and are not interested.

It is also worth paying attention to the fact that Pennsylvania is one of the states, which requires the analysis of fresh water quality analysis, according to the act 13, before the start of drilling, to track the level of possible pollution. So, when analyzing water quality, almost always the permissible concentration of dissolved gas, 7000 μg / L is exceeded. The question is why then people did not complain about the state of health, ecology and ruined land throughout the two hundred years, and suddenly they decided to complain massively with the beginning of gas drilling? (nine).
Gasification is natural, and is not a consequence of GPA and drilling in general, this problem is in any country, with gas deposits on the surface.

P.S:
I think many will be interested to learn about the PGP in Russia. Today in Russia employs about a hundred SGP complexes. All complexes are foreign assembly. Interest in GGP Russia shows from post-war times, but due to the huge gas reserves, in the principle of hydraulic fracturing, there is no rapid development today. Although work and tests are held.

The "shale revolution" obviously seriously seizes the minds of politicians and businessmen of the whole world. The palm of the championship in this area holds Americans, but, apparently, there is a possibility that the rest of the world will soon join them. Of course, there are states where it is practically no mining of shale gas - in Russia, for example, to this undertaking the main percentage of political and business elites relates rather skeptical. The case is not so much in the factor of economic profitability. The most important circumstance that may affect the prospects for such an industry like mining of shale gas, the consequences for ecology. Today we will explore this aspect.

What is shale gas?

But for a start - a small theoretical excursion. What is a shale mineral mineral, which is mined from a special type of minerals - the main method, with which the mining of shale gas is being carried out, the consequences of which we are today, guided by the positions of experts, we will study - Frequin, or hydraulic fracturing. It works like this. In the earth's depths, a pipe is introduced into the almost horizontal position, and one of its branches is displayed on the surface.

In the process of fakeing in the gas storage, the pressure is injected, which contributes to the outlet of the shale gas upwards, where it is going. The greatest popularity of the production of mentioned minerals acquired in North America. According to the estimates of a number of experts, revenue growth in this industry in the US market over the past few years amounted to several hundred percent. However, unconditional economic success in the aspect of the development of new ways of production of "blue fuel" can be accompanied by huge problems associated with mining gas. They are worn, as we have already said, environmental character.

Harm of ecology

What the United States and other energy powers should, in the opinion of experts, to pay special attention, working in such a sphere as mining of shale gas, is the consequences for ecology. The main threat to the environment is the main method of extracting minerals from the depths of the Earth. We are talking about the Frequin itself. He, as we have already said, is a flow in the globe of water (under very large pressure). Such an impact can have a pronounced negative impact on the environment.

Reagents in action

Technological features of frenching is not the only character. The current mining methods of shale gas involve the use of several hundred species of chemically active, and in the potential of toxic, substances. What can it mean? The fact is that the development of appropriate deposits requires the use of large amounts of fresh water. Its density is usually less than the one that is characteristic of underground waters. And therefore, light layers of liquid, one way or another, can over time climb the surface and reach the mixing zone with drinking sources. At the same time, they are likely to contain toxic impurities.

Moreover, an option is possible, in which light water will return to the surface of contaminated non-chemical, but quite natural, but still harmful to human health and ecology substances that may be kept in the depths of earthly subsoil. An indication point: It is known that it is planned to produce shale gas in Ukraine, in the Carpathian area. However, experts of one of the scientific centers conducted a study during which it turned out: layers of land in those regions that are supposed to contain shale gas are characterized by an increased maintenance of metals - nickel, barium, uranium.

Occasion technology

By the way, a number of experts from Ukraine calls to pay attention not so much on the problems of shale gas production in the aspect of the use of harmful substances, how many technologies used in the gas gasovics used. Representatives of the Scientific Environment of Ukraine in one of their reports on the ecological topics put forward appropriate theses. What is their essence? The findings of scientists, in general, are reduced to the fact that the mining of shale gas in Ukraine can cause significant damage to the fertility of soils. The fact is that with those technologies that are involved for the insulation of harmful substances, some materials will be located under arable ground. Accordingly, to grow something over them, in the upper layers of the soil, will be problematic.

Ukrainian subsoil

There are also concerns in the environment of Ukrainian experts about the possible spending of drinking water reserves that can be a strategically significant resource. At the same time, already in 2010, when the shale revolution was only gaining momentum, the Ukrainian authorities issued licenses for reconnaissance work on shale gas to companies in Exxonmobil and Shell. In 2012, drilling of search wells in the Kharkiv region was carried out.

It could testify, experts believe that the interest of the Ukrainian authorities in the development of "shale" prospects are likely to reduce the dependence on the supply of blue fuel from the Russian Federation. But now it is not known, analysts consider what further prospects of work in this direction (due to famous political events) are considered.

Problem Frequin

Continuing the reasoning about the shortcomings of technologies of shale gas, it is also possible to pay attention to other remarkable theses. In particular, in fakeing, some substances can be used, they are activated as a break fluid. At the same time, their frequent use can lead to a significant deterioration in the degree of permeability of rocks for water flows. In order to avoid this, gas can use water in which soluble chemical derivatives are used close in composition to cellulose. And they carry a serious threat to human health.

Salt and radiation

There were precedents when the presence of chemicals in waters in the area of \u200b\u200bshale wells was recorded by scientists not only in the estimated aspect, but also in practice. After analyzing the water flowing into the sewage treatment plant in Pennsylvania, the experts found much higher than normal, the level of salts - chlorides, bromide. Some of the substances found in water can react with atmospheric gases - for example, ozone, resulting in toxic products. Also in some depth layers located in areas where shale gas is mined, the Americans have discovered radium. Which, respectively, radioactive. Apart from salts and radium, in waters that are concentrated in areas where the main method of shale gas production is applied (Frequin), scientists have discovered various kinds of benzene, toluene.

Legal Lazake

Some lawyers note that the harm of the ecology inflicted by the American gas-producing companies "shale" profile has hardly a lawful nature. The fact is that in 2005, a legal act was adopted in the United States, according to which the Frequining method, or the fracturing of the formation was derived from under the monitoring of the Agency for Environmental Protection. This agency, in particular, has ensured that American businessmen act in accordance with the prescriptions of the law on the protection of drinking water.

However, with the adoption of a new legal act, the US enterprise has received the opportunity to act outside the agency control zone. It became possible, experts, extraction of shale oil and gas in the immediate vicinity of underground drinking water sources. And it despite the fact that the agency in one of his research came to the conclusion that the sources continue to pollute, and not so much in the process of frenching, as many time after the completion of the work. Analysts believe that the law was not adopted without political pressure.

European Freedom

A number of experts focuses on the fact that not only Americans, but also Europeans do not want to understand what is dangerous than the mining of shale gas in the potential. In particular, the European Commission, developing sources of law in various fields of EU economy, did not even create a separate law regulating environmental issues in this industry. The agency was limited to, emphasize analysts, just a publication of the recommendation, in fact, without anything obliging energy companies.

At the same time, according to expert comments, Europeans are not too much strive for the early start of work on the extraction of blue fuel in practice. It is possible that all those discussions in the EU, which are associated with the "shale" subject - only political speculation. And in fact, Europeans, in principle, are not going to master gas production by the unconventional method. At least in the near future.

Complaints without satisfaction

There is information that in those areas of the United States, where the mining of shale gas is going, the consequences of an environmental nature have already made itself felt - and not only at the level of industrial research, but also in the environment of ordinary citizens. Americans living next to wells where frenching is applied, began to notice that the water from the crane has greatly lost in quality. They are trying to protest against shale gas mining in their locality. However, their possibilities are believed to be experts are incomparable with the resources of energy corporations. The business scheme is implemented quite simple. In case of claims from citizens, they form honeying ecologists. In accordance with these documents, drinking water must be in perfect order. If residents do not suit these papers, then gasoviki, as reported in a number of sources, pay them in the pre-trial procedure for compensation instead of the signing of contracts for non-disclosure of information about such transactions. As a result, the citizen loses the right to report something to the press.

The verdict is not burdens

If the lawsuits are still initiated, then decisions made not in favor of energy companies are not in fact very burdensome for gas. In particular, according to some of them, the corporations undertake to supply drinking water from environmentally friendly sources at their own expense or to install cleaning equipment for them. But if in the first case the victims of the inhabitants, in principle, can be satisfied, then in the second - as experts believe - there may be a special reason for optimism, since some can still be seen through the filters.

The authorities decide

In the expert environment, there is an opinion that interest in the shale in the United States, as well as in many other countries of the world, is more political. This, in particular, may indicate the fact that many gas corporations are supported by the Government - especially in such aspects as tax breaks. The economic consistency of the "shale revolution" experts are assessed ambiguously.

Drinking water factor

Above, we said that Ukrainian experts questioned the prospects for mining of shale gas in their own country, largely due to the factors that frekeening technology may require spending a large amount of drinking water. It must be said that specialists from other states express such concerns. The fact is that without shale gas is already observed in many regions of the planet. And it is likely that such a situation will soon be observed in developed countries. A "shale revolution", understandable, will only contribute to the acceleration of this process.

Ambiguous slate

It is believed that mining of shale gas in Russia and other countries is not mastered at all or at least not happening in this pace, as in America, just because the factors considered by us. This is, first of all, the risks of environmental pollution toxic, and sometimes radioactive, connections that have a place to be with french. Also, this is the probability of depletion of drinking water reserves, which may soon even become a resource, according to the degree of importance not inferior to blue fuel. Of course, the economic component is also taken into account - there are no consensus among scientists on the profitability of shale deposits.

This technology applied to the intensification of work and increase the return of oil-producing wells for more than half a century, causes the most hot spores among environmentalists, scientists, ordinary citizens, and often even the employees themselves. Meanwhile, the mixture that is pumped into the well during the hydraulic time, is 99% of water and sand, and only by 1% from chemical reagents.

What prevents oil recovery

The main cause of low well productivity along with poor natural injection permeability and poor-quality perforation is a decrease in the permeability of the bottomhole zone of the formation. This is the name of the formation area around the wellbore, exposed to the most intensive effects of various processes accompanying the construction of the well and subsequent operation and violating the initial equilibrium mechanical and physico-chemical state of the formation. The drilling itself makes changes to the distribution of internal stresses in the surrounding breed. Reducing well productivity during drilling occurs as a result of the penetration of the drilling fluid or its filtrate in the bottomhole zone

The cause of low productivity of wells can also be poor-quality perforations due to the use of low-power perforators, especially in deep wells, where the energy of the charge explosion is absorbed by the energy of large hydrostatic pressures.

The decrease in the permeability of the crusar zone of the reservoir occurs during the operation of wells, accompanied by a disruption of thermobaric equilibrium in the formation system and the separation of free gas, paraffin and asphalt polystands, blocking the porespace of the collector. Intensive contamination of the crusar zone of the formation is also observed as a result of working fluids in it when conducting various repair work in wells. The injection of injection wells deteriorates due to the blockage of the pore space of the formation of corrosion products, il, petroleum products contained in the injected water. As a result of the flow of such processes, the resistance of fluid and gas filtering increases, reduced wells and the need for an artificial impact on the reservoir zone in order to increase well productivity and improve their hydrodynamic connection with the formation.

Technologyfrequing

To increase the oil recovery, the intensification of the operation of oil and gas wells and increasing the techniques of injection wells using a method of hydraulic reservoir or frenching. The technology is to create a high-level crack in the target formation under the action of fluid supplied under pressure to ensure the inflow of the extracted fluid to the well. After carrying out the hydraulic fracturing, the flow rate of the well, as a rule, increases dramatically - either depression is significantly reduced. The GPA technology allows you to "revive" idle wells, on which oil or gas production or gas is already impossible or minenthable.

The hydraulic rupture of the reservoir (GPP) is one of the most effective means of increasing well productivity, since it leads not only to the intensification of reserves that are in the drainage zone of the well, but also, under certain conditions, it allows you to significantly expand this zone, introducing poorly drained zones to the development and the ridks - and, consequently, to achieve a higher finite oil recovery.

Historymethod hydroelectric

The first attempts to intensify oil production from oil wells were undertaken back in the 1890s. In the United States, where oil production was developed at this time with a rapid pace, the method of stimulating production of dense rocks was successfully tested with nitroglycerin. The idea was to break the nitroglycerin to crush dense breeds in the bottomhole zone of the well and ensure an increase in the inflow of oil to the cauldron. The method has been successfully used for some time, despite its obvious danger.

The first commercially successful hydraulic fracturing was carried out in 1949 in the United States, after which their number began to grow sharply. By the mid-50s, the amount of hydraulic hydraulic fracturing reached 3000 per year. In 1988, the total number of hydraulic fractures exceeded 1 million operations, and this is only in the United States.

In domestic practice, the PPP method began to be applied since 1952. The method of application of the method was achieved in 1959, after which the number of operations decreased, and then this practice has stopped at all. From the beginning of the 1970s and until the end of the 1980s, hydraulic oil in the domestic oil production was not carried out on an industrial scale. In connection with the introduction of large oil fields of Western Siberia, the need for the intensification of production is simply disappeared.

… And today's day

The revival of the practice of using hydraulic fracturing in Russia began only in the late 1980s. Currently, the leading positions in the number of hydraulic fractures are occupied by the United States and Canada. For them, Russia follows, in which the use of hydraulic technologies are produced mainly on oil fields of Western Siberia. Russia is almost the only country (not counting Argentina) outside the United States and Canada, where the hydraulic fracture is familiar practice and is perceived quite adequately. In other countries, the use of hydraulic technology is difficult due to local prejudices and misunderstanding technology. Some of them have significant restrictions on the use of GPP technology up to direct ban on its application.

A number of experts argue that the use of hydraulic technology in oil production is an irregular, barbaric approach to the ecosystem. At the same time, the method is widely used by almost all major oil companies.

The use of GPA technology is quite extensive - from low to high permeable collectors in gas, gas condensate and oil wells. In addition, using a hydraulic fracture, specific tasks can be solved, for example, eliminate sanding in wells, receive information about the objects of test objects in search and exploration wells, etc.

In recent years, the development of hydraulic fracturing technologies in Russia is aimed at an increase in the production of proppant, the production of nitrogen GPUs, as well as multi-stage hydraulic hydraulic fracturing in the formation.

Equipment forhydraulic plaster

The equipment required for the hydraulic plaster is producing a number of enterprises such as foreign and domestic. One of them is a trust-engineering company, which presents a wide selection of equipment for GPPs in standard design and in the form of a modification performed at the request of the customer .

As a competitive advantage of the production of LLC Trust-Engineering, it is necessary to note the high proportion of production localization; Application of the most modern design and production technologies; The use of nodes and components from world leaders of the industry. It is important to note the high culture of design, production, warranty, post-warranty and service. Equipment for GPP production of LLC Trust-Engineering is easier to purchase a lot of representative offices in Moscow (Russian Federation), Tashkent (Republic of Uzbekistan), Atyrau (Republic of Kazakhstan), as well as in Panchevo (Serbia).

Of course, the GPP method, like any other technology used in the extractive industry, is not deprived of certain flaws. One of the minuses of Frequing is that the positive effect of the operation can be reduced to no unforeseen situations, the risk of which at such extensive intervention is quite large (for example, an unforeseen disruption of the tightness of the nearby water tank) is possible. However. The hydraulic rupture of the formation is today one of the most effective methods of intensifying wells that reveal not only low-permeable layers, but also collectors of medium and high permeability. The greatest effect of the hydraulic effect of the hydraulic fracturing can be achieved in the introduction of a comprehensive approach to the design of the hydraulic displacement as an element of the development system, taking into account a variety of factors, such as the conductivity of the reservoir, the well-positioning system, the energy potential of the reservoir, the mechanics of the crack, the characteristics of the break and proppant fluid, technological and economic restrictions .

Today, shale gas production by the method of hydraulic reservoir or briefly Frequin is in the list of technologies that are popularly dislike. Frequing is a method of pumping water under high pressure to extract natural gas from a hacked formation. The hydraulic size of the reservoir criticizes in the world is quite widely as a dangerous method, which is even prohibited in a number of countries. The fracturing of the reservoir is accused of using toxic components that pollute the environment, and provoking earthquakes. The opponents of the method argue that the result of the formation of the layer will be pollution of drinking water with methane to an explosive state. And toxins contamination will cause unknown diseases. Sounds frightening? Still would!

Hydrogenation of the reservoir is an excellent goal for which a skeptical view should be sent.

In 2010, Gasland film led to the public accusing statements regarding not only Frequeng. The film drew a terrible picture of secrecy, the thirst for profit by any price and thoughtless pollution of all living things around the mining resources by the company. The mining companies responded with the Gasland Wearing page (Debunking Gasland) and other publications that not only refuted the statements, but also collapsed on the film producer as a movement activist. As mentioned in response to the film, statements were thrown without geological expertise and experience in drilling wells. Which of the opposing parties should believe the usual person from the street? Unfortunately, listening to or opponents of hydraulic, or supporters. Less often or never a person from the street impartially analyzed everything for both Frequeng on the basis of scientifically based facts.

Natural gas is in the layers of shale or coal and leaves these natural tanks through natural faults. Close to the surface of the field relatively easily remove with drilling without frenching. But deeper and more rich deposits are at depths of 1.5-6 kilometers, where, under higher pressure, the layers have a significantly smaller amount of faults and the permeability of the breed is insufficient to extract a large amount of shale gas. In these deeply occurring dense rocks, it makes sense to apply a method for mining of shale gas by the method of hydraulic reservoir. The slate layer is usually not thicker than a hundred meters, so the wells are dried horizontally to a depth of about one kilometer and installed the pipe, getting the opportunity to create a hydraulic lever. By pumping water into a small hole of the pipe, you can create pressure up to 700 atmospheres and affect the extensive area. The pressure bursts the reservoir on a plurality of cracks about 1 mm, allowing shale gas to leave the spaced place. The hydraulic of the reservoir suggests watering the water containing sand, it is the essence of the entire method. Sand particles fall into microcracks, expanding them to a state of allowing gas. Next, the extraction wells are arranged, and the production process becomes much more productive, since Gaza has enough ways to leave deep layers.

Although the method of the hydraulic reservoir is used since the beginning of the 50s of the last century, wide mining of shale gas has been developed in 2000s. About 90% of wells in the United States work due to the hydraulic place of the formation. Frequin carries the economic and political benefits of the country as a result of an increase in energy mining.

So, what problems arise due to the use of the hydraulic method? The most dramatic and popularized effect was drinking water saturated with methane, main component of natural gas. Saturated, how the opponents are assured, so much that it is set in the match. Burning water is really found, but how much the phenomenon has a connection with gas production by hydraulic, this is another question. How much in science, the answer is not enough.

To begin with, we remember that the wells of drinking water are not deep. The deepest well in the private courtyard is not more than a pair of hundred meters. The rest is much smaller. The hydraulic of the reservoir occurs at kilometer depths. In most cases, aquifer is separated from a shale formation, which has undergone hydraulic, several scaling formations of various types. As a result, a large difference in the depth of the occurrence, the aquifer and gas-bearing layer are communicated to each other very slightly, if they are communicated at all.

However, burning water is a proven fact. How does methane get into the water, if not from Frequing? The phenomenon is common all over the world and happens where the well is pulled out in a gas-bearing area. Natural gas lies at different depths, including at a small depth. You can always expect penetration of natural gas to wells in certain regions. But the production of gas without hydraulic reservoir can lead to gas in the aquifer.

First, changes in pressure in the formation can cause gas to leave the zone of high pressure into the reduced pressure zone.
Secondly, poorly blocked gas wells can leak and give gas leakage. These poorly blocked wells on the conscience of people whose duty reliably perform their work.
In third, long abandoned wells no one will no longer serve and clog again.

As we can see, none of the listed problems have a relation to the extraction of shale gas by the method of hydraulic reservoir.

When Colorado Gas and Oil & Gas Conservation Commission (The Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission) investigated the case of burning water in a well, which was widely used in Gasland, they found that water contains gas bubbles and the naturally caught in water is not associated with His prey. Well, a breakthrough directly into the gas-mounted layer. However, GaSland demonstrates the phenomenon as a consequence of shale gas production by the method of hydraulic, which is not true.

The owner of the well is struggling with the problem. The simplest and most effective method is the ventilation of the well. Methane is almost twice as lighter than air, the ventilation of the wells is efficiently used long before the invention of the Frequeng.
The fact that methane in the water of the wells is more common in places where the method of hydraulic reservoir is used. In 2011, a widely published study of the Duke University (Duke University) found that when the gas well is located approximately in a kilometer from the well, the water in the well contains methane 17 times higher than the average. But when the loud headlines attract attention to causal relationships, no doubt that this is exactly what the production of natural gas and the content of methane in the water of the wells are connected.

In places of natural gas fields:

Gas is necessarily present in the water of the wells.
Gas producing companies come to get gas.

The study mentioned above says that there is no data on the content of methane in the water of the wells before applying the method of hydraulic reservoir, so it cannot be argued that it is the appearance of gas-producing companies led to the emergence of methane in water. The study says that 13% of wells have an increased content of methane in water and should be aircraft.

What about the application that the method of hydraulic reservoir during shale gas is supposed to be injected into the soil of hundreds of toxins? Yes, it is true, partially. And not as it is presented. The main chemical element with frenching is water that is 98.5% of the composition injected into the ground. About 1% of the composition is a "split agent" of various types, usually sand. The type of "proppant agent" is selected based on specific geological conditions. The remaining part of the percentage of the solution varies all the time and consists mainly of lubrication for drilling equipment and compositions for sand mobility. The purpose of the method of the formation of the formation is that the cracks fell into formed by water pressure and kept cracks open. Without good lubricants, surfactants and suspensions, such as guar gum, the sand is knocked down in the cavities and does not reach the target. Depending on the type of rock, there may be in the composition of these 0.5% solution and acid that affect the water permeability of the rock. In the composition of the same 0.5%, corrosion inhibitors can be found, which are introduced to increase the corrosion resistance of pipes, as well as bactericidal preparations against corrosive bacteria. A complete list of ingredients for Frequing is widely available in the English-speaking web, as required by law, and any interested thing should see it. Excellent opportunity to start, it is in search "FRACKING FLUID DISCLOSURE".

If you live in the US and are concerned about the composition of the fluid for the hydraulic reservoir in the specific well of a particular area, the author recommends that the site FracFocus, which will allow to obtain comprehensive information. Including accurate indication of the type of sand and other components used. FracFocus is a partner of the Groundwater Protection Council in collaboration with local regulatory authorities.

When we talk about corrosion inhibitors, Benzole, Guar Comedy, any resident of the region should take interest. So who to believe?

Activists of the movement arguing that chemicals get straight into drinking water?
Or geologists and regulatory authorities arguing that those mentioned two liquids do not intersect anywhere?

An ordinary person is quite difficult to understand who speaks the truth. The author asked his friend from Pennsylvania, working as a geologist in an official regulatory organization, which immediately assessed the seriousness of the issue. In Pennsylvania, the mining of shale gas by the method of hydraulic reservoir is very active. GASLAND film definitely unacceptable source of information and gas companies avoid honest recognition of risks of further investment. Both sides have serious motives for propaganda. The consensus in the question seems to be an impartial source of information: US Environmental Protection Agency (US Environmental Protection Agency). If you hate the Halliburton mining company, like many, you love the Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA has published a statement sent to Hallibarton in the network, due to the failure to provide complete information on the technological process of drilling. In response, Hallibarton publicly drank a glass of a solution for Frequing at one of the conferences of the industry. If you want to obtain independent basic knowledge using gas production technology by the method of hydraulic, you can make self-education right now. Sources are enough, including the official EPA website.
During the writing of this article, the EPA fulfills a grandiose study of groundwater safety, which could affect frekeeins. Unfortunately, the investigation is moving with government speed and is planned to report for 2014. The good news is that EPA must document any confirmed groundwater pollution as a result of the use of the hydraulic method of the formation. Even the above-mentioned study of Duke University did not find traces of fluid for frequency in wells. However, there are many cases of water pollution with random leaks of liquids on the surface of the soil. This constantly happens to each company transporting or pumping fluid.

Several states banned the use of the method of hydraulic a layer to clarify all the circumstances, but the EPA did not lead a single argument to stop the mining gas mining in the United States. Like many other technologies, Frequin has a large economic and political importance. Therefore, causes the stormy emotions of the arguing sides. Choose to you. Or take a rapid participation, becoming to protect one of the parties. Or study, for the start, the scientific information accumulated on today about the method of hydraulic plaster.
The importance of resource mining, non-volatility or income of gas-producing companies does not have a slightest relationship. Let the stakeholders think about it. And let science will determine the degree of safety of frenching for society.

Translation Vladimir Maksimenko 2013

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