Impact of Hydraulic Fracturing on Ohio’s Infrastructure

Impact of Hydraulic Fracturing on Ohio’s Infrastructure

David Nashnashdb.cinti@gmail.com

Potential Impacts

Landsliding and roads

Water supply

Seismic activity

Full Disclosure: I’m a geologist

• Relationship with extractive industries

• Placement of students

• Alumni relations

• Prudent development (know total cost)

• Geomorphic focus

Ohio’s Geology

Source: ODNR, Geologic Division

DevonianShale

Source: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2006-1237

Source: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2006-1237

Influence of Geology onGeography

Fracking’s Effect onRoads

500 bbl Frac Trailer

500 x 42 g/bbl x 8.35 lbs/g ≈87 tons

Source: ODNR Landslides in Ohio

Fracking’s Effect onWater

Fracking’s andSeismic Activity

Potential Environmental Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing

Amy Townsend-Smallatownsendsmall@gmail.com

Impacts• Groundwater depletion•Water quality impacts• Air quality impacts• Greenhouse gas emissions

Impacts on Cincinnati

• DIRECT environmental impacts on the Cincinnati region are unlikely– Except if wastewater is imported here for disposal

Image source: ODNR Division of Oil and Gas Resources Management

Impacts on Cincinnati

• May have positive and/or negative economic impacts – Positive: due to increased commerce in Ohio– Negative: increased infrastructure and pollution

control costs

• Also: increased withdrawal and combustion of fossil fuels will negatively impact us all due to air pollution and climate change

Groundwater Depletion

• Each new well will require tens of millions of gallons for initial development

• Will this come from surface waters (Lake Erie, Ohio River) or groundwater aquifers? Unknown

• For reference: water use in Cincinnati is about 100 million gallons per day – so effects will likely be localized to fracking areas

Water Pollution• Two issues:• Chemicals added to water by drilling company– Salts– Acids– Ethylene glycol (antifreeze)– Biocides and algicides– “Proprietary” chemicals

• Chemicals produced by interactions with shales– Hydrocarbons (BTEX: benzenes, toluene, ethylbenzene,

xylene) – Additional salts– Radioactive isotopes

Water Pollution

• Disposal of fracking water– Surface disposal– Deep injection– Recycling– Treat and release

Image source: Journal of Petroleum Technology

Atmospheric impacts

• Ozone and smog from diesel-powered equipment

• Methane release– Explosive in high concentrations– Greenhouse gas (25 x carbon dioxide)

• “Fugitive” methane emissions may result in a higher overall carbon footprint for fracking than for coal

• Noise pollution

Source: FrocFocus.org

Source: FrocFocus.org