Hydraulic Fracturing in the Hydraulic Fracturing in the Ohio River BasinOhio River Basin

– Conventional vs. nonconventional Conventional vs. nonconventional (continuous)(continuous)

Overview of Hydraulic FracturingOverview of Hydraulic Fracturing

Overview of Hydraulic Overview of Hydraulic FracturingFracturing

Overview of Hydraulic Overview of Hydraulic FracturingFracturing

+/- 5 million gallons used to +/- 5 million gallons used to hydraulically frac a single well.hydraulically frac a single well.

Much of the frac water returns to surface Much of the frac water returns to surface in short timeframe.in short timeframe.

Marcellus return flows are high in total Marcellus return flows are high in total dissolved solids & bromide.dissolved solids & bromide.

Primary concerns are:Primary concerns are:1)1) Disposal of high conc. TDS return flows.Disposal of high conc. TDS return flows.

2)2) Surface water withdrawals.Surface water withdrawals.

Horizontal Wells Issued to Horizontal Wells Issued to Date 3/12/2013Date 3/12/2013

Natural gas use in the electric power Natural gas use in the electric power generation will grow 26% from 2009 to 2035 generation will grow 26% from 2009 to 2035

Natural Gas Projection – Electricity Natural Gas Projection – Electricity ProductionProduction

How many more wells can How many more wells can we expect?we expect?

Shale Play

Area (square

miles)

Average well spacing (wells

per square mile)

Percent of area

untested

Percent of area with potential

Average EUR (billion cubic

feet per well)

Number of Potential

wells

TRR (billion cubic feet)

Marcellus

104,067

5

99

18

1.56

90,216

140,565

Utica

16,590

4

100

21

1.13

13,936

15,712

A total of 104,152 wells will be needed to A total of 104,152 wells will be needed to extract the natural gas, with 6,634 extract the natural gas, with 6,634 already in play, 97,518 more wells could already in play, 97,518 more wells could be drilled. Nearly 15 times morebe drilled. Nearly 15 times more

What are the Water Quality What are the Water Quality Concerns ?Concerns ?

Water quality issues relating to disposal of Water quality issues relating to disposal of flowback water seem to be diminished.flowback water seem to be diminished.– Reuse and non-surface water disposal.Reuse and non-surface water disposal.

ORSANCO recently established a TDS ORSANCO recently established a TDS standard of 500 mg/L for Ohio River.standard of 500 mg/L for Ohio River.

Radionuclides – Minimal monitoring effort Radionuclides – Minimal monitoring effort found no detections in upper river.found no detections in upper river.

Evaluating need for Bromide criterionEvaluating need for Bromide criterion– Pittsburgh Water was having issues.Pittsburgh Water was having issues.

USEPA looking at trace additives.USEPA looking at trace additives.

Status of Disposal of Flowback Status of Disposal of Flowback WaterWater

WV – 81% of Frac Water is WV – 81% of Frac Water is reused, 18% sent to reused, 18% sent to Underground Injection Underground Injection Well, 1% otherWell, 1% other

PA – 99% reused, PA – 99% reused, Underground Injection Underground Injection Well, industrial water Well, industrial water treatment facility.treatment facility.

OH – Sent to Underground OH – Sent to Underground Injection Wells or ReusedInjection Wells or Reused

Status of State RegulationsStatus of State Regulations

Ohio DNROhio DNRDivision of Mineral Resources MgntDivision of Mineral Resources Mgnt

Withdrawals – Withdrawals – – Must register for capacities > 100,000 gal/dMust register for capacities > 100,000 gal/d– Obtain permit for capacities > 2,000,000 gal/dObtain permit for capacities > 2,000,000 gal/d– Registration does not impose any restrictions.Registration does not impose any restrictions.

Disposal – Disposal – – Must be sent to Class II disposal wells or reused Must be sent to Class II disposal wells or reused

unless granted exemption.unless granted exemption.– City of Warren had been accepting flowback water; City of Warren had been accepting flowback water;

OEPA disallowing in their permit.OEPA disallowing in their permit. Water well sampling required within 1500ft of well.Water well sampling required within 1500ft of well. Out of Basin Diversions > 100,000 gal/mo. requires Out of Basin Diversions > 100,000 gal/mo. requires

permit. permit.

PADEP Bureau Oil & Gas MgntPADEP Bureau Oil & Gas Mgnt

Withdrawals – Withdrawals – – Mandatory water management plans.Mandatory water management plans.– No restrictions on withdrawals < 10% of stream No restrictions on withdrawals < 10% of stream

low flow.low flow.– Must establish pass-by flows for withdrawals > Must establish pass-by flows for withdrawals >

10% of stream low flow.10% of stream low flow. Multiple methodologies available.Multiple methodologies available.

– SRBC & DRBC regulate withdrawals in PA.SRBC & DRBC regulate withdrawals in PA. Disposal – voluntary programDisposal – voluntary program Contracting with nature conservancy to establish Contracting with nature conservancy to establish

ecosystem flows for Ohio Basin; already completed ecosystem flows for Ohio Basin; already completed for SRBC .for SRBC .

Ohio Basin Ecological Ohio Basin Ecological Flow Study Flow Study

The Nature Conservancy project for PADEP in The Nature Conservancy project for PADEP in Ohio Basin.Ohio Basin.

What are the variety of hydroecological settings What are the variety of hydroecological settings in the basin? in the basin?

Within each setting (type), how do flow Within each setting (type), how do flow conditions affect species and ecological conditions affect species and ecological processes throughout the year? processes throughout the year?

What range of flows would protect these What range of flows would protect these species and ecological processes? species and ecological processes?

Manage flows based on ecological protection.Manage flows based on ecological protection.

West Virginia DEPWest Virginia DEPOffice of Oil & GasOffice of Oil & Gas

Water Mgnt Plan required if using > 210,000 gpmo.Water Mgnt Plan required if using > 210,000 gpmo. Withdrawals & Disposal: Where, when, how much.Withdrawals & Disposal: Where, when, how much. WithdrawalsWithdrawals

– Demonstration of sufficient instream flows to protect Demonstration of sufficient instream flows to protect stream designated uses.stream designated uses.

– ID methods used to minimize aquatic life impacts.ID methods used to minimize aquatic life impacts. DisposalDisposal

– No land disposal; WVDEP approval for WWTP disposal.No land disposal; WVDEP approval for WWTP disposal.– Quanitity, disposal locations, name hauling company.Quanitity, disposal locations, name hauling company.

Online Water Withdrawal Guidance tool.Online Water Withdrawal Guidance tool.

Questions?Questions?

Jason Heath, P.E., BCEEJason Heath, P.E., BCEETechnical Programs Manager Technical Programs Manager & Assistant Chief Engineer& Assistant Chief Engineer

jheath@orsanco.orgwww.orsanco.orgwww.orsanco.org