Event Date(s):

November 22, 2013

Time(s):

12:30 PM – 02:00 PM

Details:

The department of earth sciences is hosting a talk on shale gas development on Friday by Maurice B. Dusseault (University of Waterloo):

“Hydraulic Fracture Mechanics and Well Integrity Issues in Shale Gas Development”

Date: Friday, November 22
Time: 12:30 p.m.
Location: MacLaggan Hall | Room 53

Shale gas development involves drilling a vertical well to depth, deviation to drill a long horizontal section, and multi-stage hydraulic fracturing of the naturally fractured reservoir to generate an interconnected open fracture network with a large internal surface area for gas drainage. Similar techniques are used to develop other energy resources (shale oil, certain types of geothermal energy, tight gas sands, and some coal bed methane fields).
This presentation briefly reviews the worldwide shale gas resource and the mechanics of the multi-stage hydraulic fracturing process is, showing how the rock mass responds to stimulation. Environmental issues are then addressed.
Based on data collected in the USA and Canada, hydraulic fracturing of shale gas deposits is associated with very little environmental risk. The greatest environmental risks in hydraulic fracturing operations arise from truck accidents and inadequate quality control of operations at the surface. The risk of groundwater contamination from subsurface activities is small. Wellbore integrity is a more realistic environmental concern, but even this risk appears to be small.

The presentation discusses pathways for contamination, and the physics associated with each of them discussed. It is concluded that, as with any industrial activity, vigilance, monitoring and quality control are needed, but the environmental risks associated with shale gas development in a well-regulated jurisdiction are small and manageable.

Building: MacLaggan Hall

Room Number: 53