Oil and Gas at Your Door? (2005 Edition) - Earthworks

Oil and Gas Development and Impacts
It is common to use diesel in hydraulic fracturing fluids. This should be avoided, since diesel
contains the carcinogen benzene, as well as other harmful chemicals such as naphthalene,
toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene. According to the company Halliburton, “Diesel does not
enhance the efficiency of the fracturing fluid; it is merely a component of the delivery system.”
100 It is technologically feasible to replace diesel with non-toxic “delivery systems,” such as
plain water. According to the EPA, “Water-based alternatives exist and from an environmental
perspective, these water-based products are preferable.” 101
Stimulation—Tip for Landowners
The law requires that all employees have access to a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), which
contains information on health hazards, chemical ingredients, physical characteristics, control
measures, and special handling procedures for all hazardous substances in the work area. The
MSDSs are produced and distributed by the chemical manufacturers and distributors. It should
be noted that MSDSs may not list all of the chemicals or chemical constituents being used (if
they are trade secrets). 102 Landowners may be able to obtain copies of MSDSs from company
employees, the chemical manufacturers, or possibly from state agency representatives.
For more information on impacts associated with hydraulic fracturing, and alternative fracturing
techniques, please visit the Oil and Gas Accountability web site: http://www.ogap.org .
Well Testing
After the well has been drilled, and before production begins, the reservoir pressure is tested.
Prior to testing, however, large volumes of debris, fluids and gases must be cleaned out of the
well bore. For example, any fluid, rock debris and sand remaining in the well bore and surrounding
reservoir from stimulation activities (e.g., cavitation or hydraulic fracturing) has to be
cleaned out. The conventional method for doing this is to pump air down the well bore to lift the
sand and fracturing fluid up and out. 103 These wastes are usually dumped into earthen pits.
Natural gas is mixed in with the air, sand and liquids exiting the well bore. These gases are
either “blown off” (i.e., vented to the atmosphere) or “burned off” (i.e., flared).
During the well test, the gas in a newly drilled well is allowed to flow freely for a number of days
while the rate-of-flow and pressure of the gas in the reservoir are measured. According to the
Pembina Institute for Appropriate Development, “a company can normally get enough data in
one to three days, [therefore] well testing should be minimized and not exceed three days, especially
when there is flaring or direct venting to the atmosphere.” 104
Well Testing—Tips for Landowners
• To minimize potential environmental impacts from the storage of solid and liquid wastes
that flow from the well, “flowback units” rather than earthen pits should be used. Also,
“flareless completions” or “green completion” techniques can be used to minimize the air
pollution from the venting or flaring of natural gas during the well clean-up and testing
phases.
• For more information on both of these technologies, see the section on Alternative
Technologies and Practices, later in this chapter.
Oil and Gas Treatment and Conditioning
The fluids that flow or are pumped to the surface from conventional oil or gas wells include a
mixture of oil, water, various gases and dissolved and suspended solids. 105 Before oil and natural
gas can be marketed, the fluids must go through a treatment process to separate out water
and remove dangerous gases and other impurities. Some of the treatment can occur at the well
site (field processing). After initial treatment, however, the crude oil or natural gas is sent
through a pipeline to a centralized processing facility such as an oil battery or a gas plant.
I-20