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Zhong C, Hou D, Liu B, Zhu S, Wei T, Gehman J, Alessi DS, Qian PY. Water footprint of shale gas development in China in the carbon neutral era. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 331:117238. [PMID: 36681031 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The production of shale gas in China has repercussions for the global energy landscape and carbon neutrality. However, limited and threatened water resources may hinder the expansion of shale-derived natural gas, one of China's most promising development prospects. Coupling historical trends with policy guidance, we project that baseline water stress will intensify in two-thirds of China's provinces in the next decade. By 2035, annual water use for shale gas hydraulic fracturing activities is likely to increase to 16-35 million m3, with 13.8-23.7 million m3 of wastewater produced annually to extract 38-48 billion m3 of gas from ∼4800 shale gas wells. Analysis suggests that this projection is based on previously underestimated geological constraints (e.g., deep continental facies) in shale gas development in China. Nevertheless, forecasts suggest that the water footprint of shale development will become impossible to ignore, particularly in drought-stricken areas, indicating the potential risk of competition for water among shale development, domestic use, food production, and ecological protection. Meanwhile, the annual wastewater management market will increase to $0.2 billion by 2035. Our study suggests a critical need to direct attention to the (shale) energy-water nexus and develop multi-pronged policies to facilitate China's transition to carbon neutrality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Zhong
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, China; Department of Ocean Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, China.
| | - Deyi Hou
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Baicang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Deep Earth Science and Engineering (Ministry of Education), Institute for Disaster Management and Reconstruction, College of Architecture and Environment, Institute of New Energy and Low-Carbon Technology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Songbai Zhu
- Kela Oil and Gas Development Department of Tarim Oilfield Branch of CNPC, Korla, Xinjiang, 841000, China
| | - Tong Wei
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, China; Department of Ocean Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, China
| | - Joel Gehman
- Department of Strategic Management and Public Policy, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Daniel S Alessi
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Pei-Yuan Qian
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, China; Department of Ocean Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, China.
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Zhong C, Zolfaghari A, Hou D, Goss GG, Lanoil BD, Gehman J, Tsang DCW, He Y, Alessi DS. Comparison of the Hydraulic Fracturing Water Cycle in China and North America: A Critical Review. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:7167-7185. [PMID: 33970611 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c06119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
There is considerable debate about the sustainability of the hydraulic fracturing (HF) water cycle in North America. Recently, this debate has expanded to China, where HF activities continue to grow. Here, we provide a critical review of the HF water cycle in China, including water withdrawal practices and flowback and produced water (FPW) management and their environmental impacts, with a comprehensive comparison to the U.S. and Canada (North America). Water stress in arid regions, as well as water management challenges, FPW contamination of aquatic and soil systems, and induced seismicity are all impacts of the HF water cycle in China, the U.S., and Canada. In light of experience gained in North America, standardized practices for analyzing and reporting FPW chemistry and microbiology in China are needed to inform its efficient and safe treatment, discharge and reuse, and identification of potential contaminants. Additionally, conducting ecotoxicological studies is an essential next step to fully reveal the impacts of accidental FPW releases into aquatic and soil ecosystems in China. From a policy perspective, the development of China's unconventional resources lags behind North America's in terms of overall regulation, especially with regard to water withdrawal, FPW management, and routine monitoring. Our study suggests that common environmental risks exist within the world's two largest HF regions, and practices used in North America may help prevent or mitigate adverse effects in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Zhong
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Ashkan Zolfaghari
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Deyi Hou
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Greg G Goss
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Brian D Lanoil
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Joel Gehman
- Department of Strategy, Entrepreneurship and Management, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Daniel C W Tsang
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yuhe He
- School of Energy and Environment and State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Daniel S Alessi
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Zhang H, Lu P, Zhang D, Kou S, Bao K, Li C, Wang J, Mao Y. Watershed-scale assessment of surface water-related risks from shale gas development in mountainous areas, China. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 279:111589. [PMID: 33223350 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.111589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Water risks are one of the key issues dominating environmental debates on shale gas development. Water withdrawals and wastewater discharges in shale gas fields of mountainous areas are more complicated than in plain areas due to different climatic, topographical and hydrological conditions, which would impact water resources. This research identifies the surface water-related risks from shale gas development in mountainous areas as water shortage and water pollution. Conceptions of accessibility for both water supply and water pollution are proposed to describe the vulnerability of water resources and the exposure to water pollution. Based on a risk probability model, a water risk assessment method for mountainous areas is constructed from the perspectives of dangers, exposures and vulnerabilities. Finally, the assessment method is applied in Chongqing, China. The results show that, from 2010 to 2020, the water consumption of shale gas development has a little impact on regional water resources in total, but more significant impacts are seen in a few areas, including the seasonal water-deficient areas in Western Chongqing, the urban and suburban areas with high pollutant loadings in Midwest Chongqing, and other areas with high pollutant accessibility and vulnerable water environments. The surface water-related risks of the shale gas development in Chongqing are principally composed of low and relatively low levels of risks, which cover 60% of the total area of Chongqing and display a spatial difference of west > northeast > southeast areas. Based on Monte Carlo method, the results of uncertainty analyses show the model is reliable. This research provides a reference for water comprehensive risk assessment of shale gas development in mountainous areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Zhang
- The Key Laboratory of GIS Application Research, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, 401331, China.
| | - Peili Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Coal Mine Disaster Dynamics and Control, Chongqing, 400044, China; Department of Environmental Science, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China.
| | - Daijun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Coal Mine Disaster Dynamics and Control, Chongqing, 400044, China; Department of Environmental Science, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China.
| | - Shuangwu Kou
- State Key Laboratory of Coal Mine Disaster Dynamics and Control, Chongqing, 400044, China; Department of Environmental Science, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China.
| | - Kai Bao
- Sinopec East China Company, Jiangsu, Nanjing, 210011, China.
| | - Chenglong Li
- Sinopec East China Company, Jiangsu, Nanjing, 210011, China.
| | - Jun Wang
- Chongqing Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Chongqing, 401147, China.
| | - Yuanyuan Mao
- Chongqing Environmental Engineering Assessment Center, Chongqing, 401121, China.
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Integrated Surface Water and Groundwater Analysis under the Effects of Climate Change, Hydraulic Fracturing and its Associated Activities: A Case Study from Northwestern Alberta, Canada. HYDROLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/hydrology7040070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
This study assessed how hydraulic fracturing (HF) (water withdrawals from nearby river water source) and its associated activities (construction of well pads) would affect surface water and groundwater in 2021–2036 under changing climate (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios of the CanESM2) in a shale gas and oil play area (23,984.9 km2) of northwestern Alberta, Canada. An integrated hydrologic model (MIKE-SHE and MIKE-11 models), and a cumulative effects landscape simulator (ALCES) were used for this assessment. The simulation results show an increase in stream flow and groundwater discharge in 2021–2036 under both RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios with respect to those under the base modeling period (2000–2012). This occurs because of the increased precipitation and temperature predicted in the study area under both RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios. The results found that HF has very small (less than 1%) subtractive impacts on stream flow in 2021–2036 because of the large size of the study area, although groundwater discharge would increase minimally (less than 1%) due to the increase in the gradient between groundwater and surface water systems. The simulation results also found that the construction of well pads related to HF have very small (less than 1%) additive impacts on stream flow and groundwater discharge due to the non-significant changes in land use. The obtained results from this study provide valuable information for effective long-term water resources decision making in terms of seasonal and annual water extractions from the river, and allocation of water to the oil and gas industries for HF in the study area to meet future energy demand considering future climate change.
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Nallur V, McClung MR, Moran MD. Potential for Reclamation of Abandoned Gas Wells to Restore Ecosystem Services in the Fayetteville Shale of Arkansas. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2020; 66:180-190. [PMID: 32500202 DOI: 10.1007/s00267-020-01307-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Accepted: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Unconventional oil and gas (UOG) drilling has expanded rapidly across the United States, including in the Fayetteville Shale formation in north-central Arkansas where drilling began in 2004. As one of the oldest regions of UOG activity in the United States, this area has experienced significant land-use changes, specifically development of natural habitat and agricultural land for gas infrastructure. In recent years, drilling of new wells has stopped and production has declined. By 2017, 1038 wells had ceased production and been abandoned, which makes them eligible for land reclamation. However, most of these sites (80%) have not been reclaimed and continue to cause losses in ecosystem services. If reclamation was performed on lands associated with abandoned infrastructure, we estimate more than $2 million USD annually in agricultural, timber, and carbon sequestration values would be gained. These benefits far outweigh the costs of reclamation, especially since the benefits accrue over time and reclamation is a short-term cost. Our estimates indicate a 2-4 year break-even time period when cumulative ecosystem services benefits will outweigh reclamation costs. We predicted a well-abandonment rate of 155 per year until 2050 when 98% of wells will be abandoned, which indicates great potential for future ecosystem services restoration. Thus, we recommend that Arkansans at the government and citizen level work to restore lands impacted by UOG development in the Fayetteville Shale region so that their value to landowners and society can be recovered, which will enhance long-term economic and environmental benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Varenya Nallur
- Department of Biology, Hendrix College, 1600 Washington Avenue, Conway, AR, 72032, USA
- University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301W Markham St, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA
| | - Maureen R McClung
- Department of Biology, Hendrix College, 1600 Washington Avenue, Conway, AR, 72032, USA
| | - Matthew D Moran
- Department of Biology, Hendrix College, 1600 Washington Avenue, Conway, AR, 72032, USA.
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Conrad CL, Ben Yin Y, Hanna T, Atkinson AJ, Alvarez PJJ, Tekavec TN, Reynolds MA, Wong MS. Fit-for-purpose treatment goals for produced waters in shale oil and gas fields. WATER RESEARCH 2020; 173:115467. [PMID: 32006805 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2020.115467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2019] [Revised: 12/07/2019] [Accepted: 01/02/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Hydraulic fracturing (HF), or "fracking," is the driving force behind the "shale gas revolution," completely transforming the United States energy industry over the last two decades. HF requires that 4-6 million gallons per well (15,000-23,000 m3/well) of water be pumped underground to stimulate the release of entrapped hydrocarbons from unconventional (i.e., shale or carbonate) formations. Estimated U.S. produced water volumes exceed 150 billion gallons/year across the industry from unconventional wells alone and are projected to grow for at least another two decades. Concerns over the environmental impact from accidental or incidental release of produced water from HF wells ("U-PW"), along with evolving regulatory and economic drivers, has spurred great interest in technological innovation to enhance U-PW recycling and reuse. In this review, we analyze U-PW quantity and composition based on the latest U.S. Geographical Survey data, identify key contamination metrics useful in tracking water quality improvement in the context of HF operations, and suggest "fit-for-purpose treatment" to enhance cost-effective regulatory compliance, water recovery/reuse, and resource valorization. Drawing on industrial practice and technoeconomic constraints, we further assess the challenges associated with U-PW treatment for onshore U.S. operations. Presented are opportunities for targeted end-uses of treated U-PW. We highlight emerging technologies that may enhance cost-effective U-PW management as HF activities grow and evolve in the coming decades.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian L Conrad
- Nanosystems Engineering Research Center for Nanotechnology-Enabled Water Treatment, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77005, United States; Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77005, United States
| | - Y Ben Yin
- Nanosystems Engineering Research Center for Nanotechnology-Enabled Water Treatment, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77005, United States; Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77005, United States
| | - Ty Hanna
- Nanosystems Engineering Research Center for Nanotechnology-Enabled Water Treatment, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77005, United States; Apache Corporation, Houston, TX, 77056, United States
| | - Ariel J Atkinson
- Nanosystems Engineering Research Center for Nanotechnology-Enabled Water Treatment, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77005, United States; School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287, United States
| | - Pedro J J Alvarez
- Nanosystems Engineering Research Center for Nanotechnology-Enabled Water Treatment, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77005, United States; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77005, United States
| | - Thomas N Tekavec
- Shell Exploration and Production Company, Houston, TX, 77079, United States
| | - Michael A Reynolds
- Nanosystems Engineering Research Center for Nanotechnology-Enabled Water Treatment, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77005, United States; Shell Exploration and Production Company, Houston, TX, 77079, United States.
| | - Michael S Wong
- Nanosystems Engineering Research Center for Nanotechnology-Enabled Water Treatment, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77005, United States; Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77005, United States; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77005, United States; Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77005, United States; Department of Materials Science & Nanoengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77005, United States.
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7
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Sun Y, Wang D, Tsang DCW, Wang L, Ok YS, Feng Y. A critical review of risks, characteristics, and treatment strategies for potentially toxic elements in wastewater from shale gas extraction. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2019; 125:452-469. [PMID: 30763832 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.02.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2018] [Revised: 02/01/2019] [Accepted: 02/05/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Shale gas extraction via horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing (HF) has enhanced gas production worldwide, which has altered global energy markets and reduced the prices of natural gas and oil. Water management has become the most challenging issue of HF, as it demands vast amounts of freshwater and generates high volumes of complex liquid wastes contaminated by diverse potentially toxic elements at variable rates. This critical review focuses on characterizing HF wastewater and establishing strategies to mitigate environmental impacts. High prioritization was given to the constituents with mean concentrations over 10 times greater than the maximum contamination level (MCL) guidelines for drinking water. A number of potentially harmful organic compounds in HF wastewaters were identified via the risk quotient approach to predict the associated toxicity for freshwater organisms in recipient surface waters. Currently, two options for HF wastewater treatment are preferred, i.e., disposal by deep well injection or on-site re-use as a fracturing fluid. Supplementary treatment will be enforced by increasingly rigorous regulations. Partial treatment and reuse remain the preferred method for managing HF wastewater where feasible. Otherwise, advanced technologies such as membrane separation/distillation, forward osmosis, mechanical vapor compression, electrocoagulation, advanced oxidation, and adsorption-biological treatment will be required to satisfy the sustainable requirements for reuse or surface discharge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqing Sun
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China; State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Di Wang
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China; School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Daniel C W Tsang
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Linling Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Yong Sik Ok
- Korea Biochar Research Center, O-Jeong Eco-Resilience Institute (OJERI) & Division of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Yujie Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
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Exploring the Place of Animals and Human–Animal Relationships in Hydraulic Fracturing Discourse. SOCIAL SCIENCES 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/socsci8020061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Throughout human history, energy security has been a prominent concern. Historically, animals were used as energy providers and as companions and sentinels in mining operations. While animals are seldom used for these purposes in developed communities today, this legacy of use is likely to have far-reaching consequences for how animals and human–animal relationships are acknowledged in energy development. The US is currently experiencing an energy boom in the form of high volume horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing (HVHHF); because animals are the most at risk from this boom, this study uses a thorough content analysis of peer-reviewed HVHHF articles mentioning animals from 2012–2018 to assess how animals and human–animal relationships are discussed. Three dominant article theme classifications emerge: animal-focused articles, animal-observant articles, and animal sentinel articles. Across themes, articles seldom acknowledge the inherent value or the social and psychological importance of animals in human lives; instead, the focus is almost exclusively on the use of animals as sentinels for potential human health risks. Further, what is nearly absent from this body of literature is any social science research. Given that relationships with animals are an integral part of human existence, this study applies environmental justice principles, serving as a call to action for social science scholars to address the impacts of HVHHF on animals and human–animal relationships.
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