WHY ARE WE DOING THIS?
Majority of oil and gas trapped in the subsurface cannot be extracted and flow naturally due to no pathway. In fact, two-thirds of the oil in known oil fields are being left in the ground. In the last decade, new technologies were implemented to extract more hydrocarbon especially gas from the subsurface in what is known as unconventional plays. The most common technology is Hydraulic Fracturing (A.K.A. Fracking). Fracking technology has dramatically increased the production of oil and gas globally, and in the U.S. particularly, resulting in lower energy costs and increased availability of oil and natural gas.
However, Hydraulic Fracking uses a vast amount of water, a scarce commodity in many regions. It was also linked to groundwater contamination, hazardous water production, GHG emissions, massive land use, and seismic activities. The controversy surrounding the use of fracking has rallied many communities to call for a complete shut-down of drilling operations.
Eden GeoTech is working on a breakthrough reservoir stimulation method that will replace hydraulic fracking which eliminates the intrusive undesired effects and related costs.
The U.S. uses more than 175 million gallons of water per day for hydraulic fracturing
- Science Advances
Extensive Water Use
A recent study revealed that the median water use of six basins for shale oil and shale gas in the US increased up to 770% from 2011 to 2016, ranging from 0.39 to 6.27 and from 0.1 to 2 million gallons per well, respectively. This is while flow-back water volumes generated within the first year of production increased up to 1440%.
Subsurface Contamination
37% of all hydraulically fractured wells stimulated exist within 2–3 km of one or more domestic (public and self-supply) groundwater wells. After the fracturing process, the fracking fluids and injected wastewater might leak into subsurface aquifers leading to contamination of groundwater wells.
Induced Seismic Activities
Earthquakes can be induced during hydraulic fracturing when high-pressure fluid is pumped into horizontal wells to crack rock layers. Earthquakes can also be induced by the disposal of wastewater. Over time, the disposal layer migrates away from the well destabilizing preexisting faults.
“In the United States, 83% of the total linear footage drilled is hydraulically fractured.”
- U.S. Energy Information Administration
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The development of this technology is sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF).
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Eden GeoTech, the R&D Team of Eden GeoPower Inc.