Environmental Impact of Shale Gas: Does Fracking Help to Save Water?

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Duke University

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New Technologies

Process Technology Reduces Water Consumption for Shale Gas

High water consumption is an Achilles heel of hydrofracking. Most of the water is returned to the surface with the gas which is extracted. It then has to be treated, recycled or disposed of. Process improvements can be particularly helpful in alleviating the problems.

Siemens Water Technologies has introduced the new Frac Treat product line for mobile water treatment in the oil & gas industry. Designed especially with shale gas production in mind, the range includes mobile systems for continuous precipitation and flotation as well as a mobile combination pilot unit.

BASF also markets a range of waste water treatment solutions including process chemicals and filter membrane materials such as Multibore membranes which trap particles and microorganisms.

Linde has developed technology for adding liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide to the water which is used for hydrofracking. Both gases reduce water consumption and increase the volume of gas extracted.

Taken from The New Gold Rush: Benefits and Risks of the US Shale Gas Boom?

The Marcellus Formation – America's Gas Eldorado to come?

The Marcellus shale formation stretches from New York to Virginia and accounts for about 10 percent of all natural gas produced in the United States today. Much of the current production is in Pennsylvania. Prior to technological advances in horizontal well drilling and hydraulic fracturing that made the shale gas accessible, the region accounted for only about 2 percent of the nation's output.

More about the US shale gas boom and its impact on the chemical industry in The New Gold Rush: Benefits and Risks of the US Shale Gas Boom?

* Lutz and Doyle conducted their analysis with no external funding.

* Aurana Lewis, who graduated in 2012 with a master of environmental management degree from Duke's Nicholas School, co-authored the paper.

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