mb eco-network water caucus april 26, 2012. fracking topics the fracking process materials fracking...
TRANSCRIPT
HYDRAULIC FRACTURE MINING
IN MANITOBA
MB Eco-Network Water Caucus
April 26, 2012
Fracking Topics
The Fracking ProcessMaterialsFracking ChemicalsWater issues
○ Water use○ Contaminated water storage○ Ground water contamination
Fracking in MBBakken FormationCurrent Legal Status
Fracking Topics (cont.)
Other JurisdictionsBritish ColumbiaQuebecMaritimesOntario
Opportunities/ Challenges in Opposing Fracking in Manitoba
Q & A / Discussion on Campaign Strategies
Intro Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOOhoLzDGgE
Water and Chemical Use
Each fracture well requires 1-8 million gallons of water in total
Each frack requires 40,000 gallons of chemicals (average number of fracks per well is 15-20)
Fracking Solution
94.5 % Water
5.25 % Sand (Propping agent)
0.25 % Chemical Additives
Chemical Functions
Friction Reducer - allows higher flow rate at reduced pressure
Fracking Fluids - acid to break down surrounding rock
Biocides - prevents microorganism growth and biofouling
Stabilizers - prevents corrosion of metal pipes
Product Function Chemical Name Chemical Purpose
Acid Hydrochloric Acid Helps dissolve minerals and initiate cracks in the rock
Biocide Glutaraldehyde
Eliminates bacteria in the water that produces corrosive by-products
Ammonium Chloride
Quaternary Ammonium Chloride
Tetrakis Hydroxymethyl-Phosphoium Sulphate
Breaker Ammonium PersulphateAllows a delayed break down of the gel Magnesium Peroxide
Magnesiom Oxide
Calcium Chloride Product StabilizerSodium Chloride
Clay Stabilizer Choline Chloride
Prevents clays from swelling or shifting
Tetramethyl ammonium chloride
Sodium Chloride
Product Function Chemical Name Chemical Purpose
Corrosion Inhibitor Isopropanol Product Stabilizer and/or winterizing agent
Methanol
Formic Acid Prevents the corrosion of the pipe Acetaldehyde
Crosslinker Petroleum Distillate Carrier fluid for borate or zirconate crosslinker
Hydrotreated Light Petroleum Distillate
Potassium Metaborate
Maintains fluid viscosity as temperature increases
Triethanolamine Zirconate
Sodium Tertaborate
Boric Acid
Zirconium Complex
Borate Salts
Ethylene Glycol Product Stabilizer and/or winterizing agent
Methanol
Product Function Chemical Name Chemical Purpose
Friction Reducer Polycrylamide "Slicks" the water to minimize friction
Petroleum Distillate Carrier fluid for polyacrylamide friction reducer
Gelling Agent Guar Gum Thickens the water in order to suspend the sand
Polysaccharide Blend
Petroleum DistillateCarrier fluid for guar gum in liquid gels
Hydrotreated Light Petroleum Distillate
Iron Control Citric Acid
Prevents precipitation of metal oxides Acetic Acid
Thioglcolic Acid
Sodium Erythorbate
Non-Emulsifier Lauryl SulphateUsed to prevent the formation of emulsions in the fracture fluid
Scale InhibitorCopolymer of Acrylamide and Sodium Acrflate
Prevents scale deposit in the pipe Sodium Polycarboxylate
Phosphonic Acid Salt
Product Function Chemical Name Chemical Purpose
pH Adjusting Agent Sodium Hydroxide
Adjusts the pH of fluid to maintain the effectiveness of other components, such as crosslinkers
Potassium Hydroxide
Acetic Acid
Sodium Carbonate
Potassium Carbonate
Sufactant Lauryl Sulphate Used to increase the viscosity of the fracture fluid
Naphthalene Carrier Fluid for the active surfactant ingredients
Ethanol
Product Stabilizers and/or winterizing agents Methanol
Isopropyl Alcohol
2-Butoxyethanol
Contamination risks Transport of hazardous chemicals to the mine
site
Recovered fracture water or “produced water” sits in nearby tailings ponds. These tailing ponds allow volatile organic compounds
and hazardous waste particles into the air
0nly 30-50% of the water is recyclable - the rest is disposed of onsite (buried in mine shaft) when well is dry.
Contamination Risks The fracking fluid may contaminate the
water supply through a leak in the well line or through leeching into the water table via the fractures the process creates
Naturally-occurring methane gas and other toxic chemicals may leech into the water table Methane gas concentration is 17 times higher in
drinking-water wells near fracking sites
Bakken Formation
Bakken Formation Potential Reserves
3.65 billion barrels of crude oil
2.0 trillion cubic feet of natural gas
150 million barrels of gas liquids
Hydraulic Fracture Mining in Manitoba
Companies are not required to stipulate mining method - just what is extracted (ie. gas or oil), so no way to determine where exactly fracking is occurring
Number of MB oil wells in 2003 – 1,400
Number of MB oil wells in 2009 – 3,000
It is estimated that 300-500 wells will be drilled in MB in 2012
Many of these may be fracking sites
Hydraulic Fracture Mining In Manitoba
There is no special legal status or requirements for hydraulic fracture mines in MB
Hydraulic fracking would come under MB Oil and Gas Act (1993) and Drilling and Production Regulation (1994) both of which were designed for traditional oil
and gas extraction and written before large scale hydraulic fracking was used in Canada (prior to exploitation of the Bakken reserve)
Hydraulic Fracture Mining In Manitoba
Thus, the legal framework in MB ignores:The likelihood of fracking chemicals entering
the water table; and
The possibility of natural gas leeching into the water supply once disturbed by fracking
Other Jurisdictions: BC British Columbia has a large scale
hydraulic fracture mining industry which has faced heavy opposition
Recently passed legislation requires companies to disclose the chemicals they use in the fracking process and this is published online at fracfocus.ca
Other Jurisdictions: BCLegislation weak points Disclosure occurs 30 days after well has been
closed so really just for legal recourse if your water or land
has already been contaminated Companies can still restrict chemical publication
if said chemical is a proprietary trade secret there is just additional paperwork
Not sure of the penalties for non-compliance as it is a regulatory framework that works with industry
Other Jurisdictions: Quebec Recently extended and expanded on
previous fracking moratorium until study results due in 2013 are released
Currently, fracking no longer permitted even for research purposes
Other Jurisdictions: MaritimesNova Scotia Recently passed two year fracking
moratorium until the process can be further studied
New Brunswick Liberal Opposition has been calling for
moratorium in legislature Moncton City Council has refused to sell
water to fracking companies
Other Jurisdictions: Ontario Small municipal regions around the
Great Lakes have successfully opposed and stopped fracking deals
Challenges in Manitoba
We do not have a lot of information as to where hydraulic fracturing is occurring and how large the industry is at the present
Because MB’s oil and gas industry is small not many politicians are informed about the dangers
The NDP government may not want to spend political capital on an issue that affects few people and in a rural area that is a traditional Tory stronghold
Challenges in Manitoba
North Dakota is experiencing a huge industry boom as it jumps into hydraulic fracking with both feet
Opportunities in Manitoba Several provinces have recognized the dangers
posed by hydraulic fracking and have strengthened their regulation or placed moratoriums on it
Government is currently rewriting the new Groundwater and Well Water Act
Current mining legislation is outdated and needs to be refreshed to reflect growing industryOpportunity for shaping these reforms
Less pressure on politicians to keep natural gas prices low
Sources/ Linkshttp://manitobawildlands.org/gov_rc33.htm -good starting site
http://www.watershedsentinel.ca/content/fracking-natural-gas-affects-water-quality
http://www.policyalternatives.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/publications/BC%20Office/2011/11/CCPA-BC_Fracking_Up.pdf
http://www.cbc.ca/fp/story/2011/06/30/5031205.html - business fallout over Quebec’s fracking moratorium
http://rabble.ca/news/2010/07/no-fracking-way-ban-hydraulic-fracturing-canada
http://www.canada.com/life/Nova+Scotia+issues+year+moratorium+fracking/6481080/story.html
http://www.montrealgazette.com/technology/Most+Canadians+want+moratorium+fracking+poll/6106545/story.html
http://www.winnipegsun.com/2012/02/06/tobans-dont-support-fracking-poll
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/shale-gas-seen-as-possible-new-resource-here-137812343.html
http://www.propublica.org/special/hydraulic-fracturing-national
http://www.gaslandthemovie.com/whats-fracking
http://www.halliburton.com/public/projects/pubsdata/hydraulic_fracturing/fracturing_101.html
http://www.hydraulicfracturing.com/Water-Usage/Pages/Information.aspx
http://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2011/04/20/FrackingToxins/
www.fracfocus.ca
http://www.mining.com/2012/02/03/fracking-explained-negatively/