According to the united states environmental protection agency epa, hydraulic fracturing is a process to stimulate a natural gas, oil, or geothermal well to maximize extraction. Hydraulic fracturing and the epa water study where do we go. Study of the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on. Disclosure of hydraulic fracturing fluid chemical additives. Scoping materials for initial design of epa hydraulic fracturing research study scoping materials for. It is also true that the number of documented contamination events make up a small percentage of all wells. Assessment of the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing for oil. The epa defines the broader process to include acquisition of source water, well construction, well stimulation, and waste disposal. Water withdrawals for hydraulic fracturing in times or areas of low water availability, particularly in areas with limited or declining groundwater resources. Mar 18, 2010 epa launches national study of hydraulic fracturing.
Epa releases hydraulic fracturing study progress report december 2012. A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext. Epa s study of hydraulic fracturing and its potential impact on drinking water resources. Epa launches national study of hydraulic fracturing. Jan 18, 2017 epas study of hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas and its potential impact on drinking water resources epa released the final report, hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas. Epas study of the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing.
A more comprehensive discussion of the fracturing process and the fracturing fluidsadditives used in hydraulic fracturing of coalbed methane wells is presented in chapters 3 and 4, respectively. Scoping materials for initial design of epa hydraulic fracturing research study. Impacts from the hydraulic fracturing water cycle on drinking water. Environmental protection agency office of research and development 1. Proceedings of the technical workshops for the hydraulic. It is true that water supplies have been contaminated by activities related to hydraulic fracturing. The process known as hydraulic fracturing hf is one way of accessing this important resource. The study plan was released in november 2011 and outlined the scope, research approaches, and research questions of epa s hydraulic fracturing drinking water study. Epas study of hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas and. Environmental protection agency office of research and development march 2010. Department of energy and the ground water protection council culminated in the creation of frac focus. Retrospective case study in wise county, texas, study of the. Publications related to epas hydraulic fracturing study epas. The method modification process can take many forms, depending on the specific circumstances,and may include changing sample.
Impacts from the hydraulic fracturing water cycle on drinking water resources. Hydraulic fracturing has unlocked huge reserves of. Assess whether hydraulic fracturing can impact drinking water resources identify driving factors that affect the severity and frequency of any impacts in 2010, congress urged epa to study the relationship between hydraulic fracturing and drinking water. Retrospective case study in wise county, texas may 2015 retrospective case study in wise county, texas study of the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water resources u. The proppant is an inert material such as sand or ceramics that props the fissures. Directive to epa from the fy10 appropriation conference committee the conferees urge the agency to carry out a study on the relationship between hydraulic fracturing and drinking water, using a credible. The overall purpose of this study is to understand the relationship between hydraulic fracturing and drinking water resources. The impact of this pervasive and largescale practice on our water supply is both large and the least understood environmental risk of the nations oil and gas boom. Analysis of hydraulic fracturing water acquisition on groundwater. Potential relationships between hydraulic fracturing. It is an important but incomplete assessment that, unfortunately, poses more questions than it answers. Encana continues to dispute the findings of the study, criticizing the epas. Pdf hydraulic fracturing is used to extract natural gas from shale formations. Epas study of hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas and its.
The meetings are open to all interested parties and will be held in fort worth, texas. Edf statement on epas water study of hydraulic fracturing for. Dec, 2016 in the new report, the epa has identified cases of impacts on drinking water at each stage in the hydraulic fracturing water cycle. The controversy over shale gas development has resulted in countless studies and investigations. Fracking has polluted surface water but not groundwater a longawaited epa report on hydraulic fracturing fracking to drill for oil and gas, says the practice has not contaminated us water. The gwpc and the iogcc provided the epa with over 39,000 pdf disclosures. Case study analysis of the impacts of water acquisition for. You may need a pdf reader to view some of the files on this page. Epas study of hydraulic fracturing and its potential impact on drinking. Hydraulic fracturing or fracking a short summary of current knowledge and potential environmental impacts summary. Chemicals identified inhydraulic fracturing fluids andwastewaterthis appendix contains tables of chemicals reported to be used in hydraulic fracturing fluids andchemicals detected in flowback and produced water.
It presents the facts as they are currently available and understood. United states environmental protection agency epa to conduct research to examine the relationship between hydraulic fracturing and drinking water resources. Mid continent water management for stimulation operations. See epa s about pdf page to learn more press releases. Epa releases draft assessment on the potential impacts to. Hydraulic fracturing study timeline pdf 1 pg, 1 mb. Epa today issued findings from its longawaited national study to better understand impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water resources. In 2010, the us congress recognized growing public concern about drinking water in areas with hydraulic fracturing hf activity. Instead, according to tom burke, epa deputy administrator, we the epa found scientific evidence of impacts to drinking water resources at each stage of the hydraulic fracturing water cycle. Epastrive small scale study report by david healy, university of aberdeen. Study of the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing december 2012on drinking water resources.
Hydraulic fracturing study archive epas study of hydraulic. In june, 2015, the environmental protection agency epa released its long awaited draft assessment of the potential impacts on hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas on drinking resources. Scouring the epa report for statements proving or disproving that hydraulic fracturing is safe will surely reveal both. Impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water resources pdf february 2011. Fracking has polluted surface water but not groundwater. On december 16, 2016, epa hosted public webinars on the final assessment report, hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas. Evaluation of impacts to underground sources of drinking. Other concerns include competition for water between hydraulic fracturing activities. While it is clear that the primary focus of this study will be the potential relationship between hydraulic fracturing and drinking water resources, this study should not be carried out in isolation of the larger picture.
Plan to study the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on. In response to these con cerns, congress urged the u. An uptodate description of current and new hydraulic fracturing. March 2011 technical workshop on water resources management the proceedings from the water resources management workshop include a summary of the presentations and discussion sessions as well as abstracts for each presentation. Fracking has polluted surface water but not groundwater a longawaited epa report on hydraulic fracturing fracking to drill for oil and gas, says. Epa announces final study plan to assess hydraulic fracturing. Epa released the final report, hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas. Hydraulic fracturing drinking water final assessment fact. United states environmental protection agency office of. Epa s study of hydraulic fracturing and its potential impact on drinking. Executive summary, hydraulic fracturing study us epa. Epa analysis of fracfocus 1 data fact sheet epas study. Environmental protection agency epa to study the relation ship between hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas and drinking water in the united states. Some, including industry representatives, define hydraulic fracturing narrowly, referring only to the process by which fluids are injected into a well bore.
Progress reportsystematic problem is indicated, and method modification is undertaken to help reduce oreliminate the problem. Sustaining louisianas fresh water aquifers a case study in bringing. Scoping materials for initial design of epa research study on. June 4, 2015 epa releases draft assessment on the potential impacts to drinking water resources from hydraulic fracturing activities assessment shows hydraulic fracturing activities have not led to widespread, systemic impacts to drinking water resources and identifies important vulnerabilities to drinking water resources. Epas study of hydraulic fracturing and its potential impact on. Epas study of hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas and its potential. The environmental protection agency epa or agency is announcing four 4 public informational meetings to explain its proposed plan to study the relationship between hydraulic fracturing and drinking water. Pdf is hydraulic fracturing a threat for drinking water. Epas study of hydraulic fracturing and its potential impact on drinking water resources. Estimated hydraulic fracturing water use in 2008 and 2010 in the state of texas.
Epas study of potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water resources. Environmental protection agency epa to study the relationship. Jul 30, 2015 epa has provided a comprehensive, authoritative snapshot of what we know and what we dont about the interplay between hydraulic fracturing activities and water. Multiagency collaboration on unconventional oil and gas research. Informational public meetings for hydraulic fracturing. A timeline of epa s study of the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water resources. Pdf disclosure of hydraulic fracturing fluid chemical. Hydraulic fracturing 3 detailed product information sheets be developed, updated as necessary and made immediately available to emergency response personnel in the event of an accident.
Environmental protection agency office of research and development november 2012. Hydraulic fracturing study in its fy2010 appropriations committee conference report, congress directed epa to study the relationship between hydraulic fracturing and drinking water, using. Epa study of hydraulic fracturing and drinking water resources. The epa study on fracking and drinking water resources 2016. Epa plans a nationwide study to see if reported water contamination in gas drilling areas is caused by the practice of injecting. Hydraulic fracturing and water resources 65 we note that there is no single definition of hydraulic fracturing. Hydraulic fracturing study timeline pdf epas study of. Research activities associated with the hydraulic fracturing water lifecycle. The analysis of hydraulic fracturing fluid data from the fracfocus chemical disclosure registry 1. Purpose of epas study to assess whether hydraulic fracturing can impact drinking water resources to identify driving factors that affect the severity and frequency of any impacts epas study plan focuses on the water cycle in hydraulic fracturing. Potential relationships between hydraulic fracturing and.
Hydraulic fracturing and water resources pacific institute. Assessment of the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing. Final epa study confirms fracking contaminates drinking water. Scoping materials for initial design of epa research study on potential relationships between hydraulic fracturing and drinking water resources pdf. Environmental protection agency office of research and development washington, dc may 2015 epa600r14090 iii. It is the culmination of a multiyear study requested by congress after the public began to raise concerns about potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing at nearby.
Study of the the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water resources. Hydraulic fracturing study plan 2011 epas study of. Ecological systems approach to protect and restore sustainable water quality and water quantity on a watershed basis 10 protecting aquatic life and human health from chemicals and microbes in water from epa assessment of the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas on drinking water resources. Epa is conducting a study of the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water resources. Draft plan to study the potential impacts of hydraulic. Hydraulic fracturing study timeline pdf 1 pg, 1 mb contact us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem. The handbook of hydraulic fracturings main goal is to alleviate much of the confusion that exists in regards to hydraulic fracturing.