Article
Microbiology
Maria Fernanda Campa, Jeremy R. Chen See, Lavinia Unverdorben, Olivia G. Wright, Kimberly A. Roth, Jonathan M. Niles, Daniel Ressler, Ella M. S. Macatugal, Andrew D. Putt, Stephen M. Techtmann, Timothy L. Righetti, Terry C. Hazen, Regina Lamendella
Summary: The environmental implications of unconventional oil and gas extraction are only recently starting to be systematically recorded. Our research shows the utility of microbial communities paired with geochemical markers to build strong predictive random forest models of unconventional oil and gas activity and the identification of key biomarkers.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Petroleum
A. S. Gundogar, J. L. Druhan, C. M. Ross, A. D. Jew, J. R. Bargar, A. R. Kovscek
Summary: Field and laboratory observations show that the efficiency of hydraulic fracturing is affected by geochemical alterations to rock surfaces, which can block pore and fracture networks. The study focuses on changes to fluid chemistry and shale surfaces resulting from shale-fluid interactions. Different shale samples have different responses to fluid injection, indicating the importance of understanding the specific characteristics of the formation.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
James P. Verdon, German Rodriguez-Pradilla
Summary: We examine differences in the occurrence rates of hydraulic fracturing-induced seismicity (HF-IS) between different shale plays in North America. We find very large variations, of several orders of magnitude, in the occurrence rates of HF-IS between different plays. We interpret these variations with respect to the underlying geological conditions and find significant correlations between pore pressure gradients, stress regimes, and the observed rates of HF-IS occurrence.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Andie Graham, Douglas A. Wilcox
Summary: Research indicates that accidents from gas drilling activities may have negative impacts on wetland environments and amphibians near the Marcellus Shale play, leading to a sharp decline in the number of amphibians in affected areas.
WETLANDS ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Xingyuan Liang, Fujian Zhou, Guoqing Han, Zhiyong Zhu, Huizhu Xiang, Tianbo Liang
Summary: With increasing demand for deep and ultra-deep gas formations, the study of fracture conductivity (FC) in high-temperature and high-pressure tight gas formations becomes crucial. This study focused on the Keshen formation in the Tarim basin in China and revealed a new approach to evaluate FC and the mechanism of enhancing FC and production through several key factors. This work is significant for optimizing hydraulic fracturing design and enhancing tight formation production.
Article
Environmental Sciences
George T. Merovich, Mack W. Frantz, Petra B. Wood
Summary: This study investigates the impacts of unconventional shale gas development on aquatic ecosystems and finds that it has weak negative effects on water quality and benthic macroinvertebrates. The impacts are particularly significant in the year with the most intense shale gas development activity, with downstream areas being affected more prominently.
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT
(2022)
Article
Development Studies
Matthew Gardner Kelly, Kai A. Schafft
Summary: The study focuses on the impact of unconventional gas development on education funding in public schools in the Marcellus Shale region of Pennsylvania, finding that districts with unconventional drilling experience less funding for education resources.
SOCIETY & NATURAL RESOURCES
(2021)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Ana Cecilia Soares, Fernando Artur Brasil Danziger, Gustavo Santos Domingos
Summary: Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) is a trenchless technique that uses pressurized drilling fluid for underground infrastructure installation. This study finds that hydraulic fracture and permeability are important factors in the execution of HDD.
TUNNELLING AND UNDERGROUND SPACE TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Amanda E. Campbell, Laura K. Lautz, Gregory D. Hoke
Summary: This study aimed to test the reliability of pre-drilling water quality observations in assessing the impacts of later gas drilling. The research was conducted in a shale gas basin where hydraulic fracturing had not yet occurred. The findings showed that methane concentrations in groundwater can vary naturally through time due to changes in the mixture of freshwater and deeper formation brine extracted by wells, and not necessarily as a result of gas drilling. Therefore, comprehensive sampling and testing prior to drilling are necessary to distinguish the causes of changing methane concentrations.
APPLIED GEOCHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Yanchao Li, Jianguo Shen, Longqing Zou, Yushi Zou, Xinfang Ma, Can Yang, Weiwei Wang
Summary: This study conducted simulation experiments to investigate the temporary plugging and diversion fracturing (TPDF) technique in a horizontal well with multiple clusters. A method of inner-fracture + inner-segment TPDF with multiple clusters of perforation in horizontal wells was proposed, and the influence of the number of clusters and the method of perforating on the effectiveness of TPDF was studied. The results showed that higher peak pressures and increased complexity of hydraulic fractures were observed when the number of perforation clusters was five.
Article
Economics
Michael M. Aba, Virginia Parente, Edmilson Moutinho Santos
Summary: This study analyzes the long-term impact of fracking on water resources and contamination in Brazil and proposes regulatory recommendations. The research findings suggest that the competition for water from potential fracking activities in Brazil is insignificant compared to the available water resources and other water demands.
Article
Engineering, Geological
Wei Zhou, Guoxin Shi, Jianbo Wang, Jiantong Liu, Ning Xu, Pengyu Liu
Summary: In this study, a double torsion experiment was conducted to simulate the propagation of tensile fractures during hydraulic fracturing. The influence of bedding planes on fracture toughness, morphology, and propagation rate in shale and tight sandstone was investigated. The results indicate that the angle between bedding and pre-cut plane, as well as the difference in micromechanical properties of adjacent bedding planes, are crucial in determining whether hydraulic fractures can penetrate or spread along a bedding plane.
ROCK MECHANICS AND ROCK ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Brennan Ferguson, Vikas Agrawal, Shikha Sharma, J. Alexandra Hakala, Wei Xiong
Summary: This study investigates the role of carbonates in reactions between shale and hydraulic fracturing fluid, finding that carbonate minerals can regulate solution pH, prevent clay dissolution, scavenge oxidizing species, prevent oxidation of organic matter and VOCs, and reduce pyrite dissolution.
FRONTIERS IN EARTH SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Geological
Hai Qu, Shimao Tang, Ying Liu, Pengpeng Huang, Xiaoguang Wu, Zhonghua Liu, Chengying Li
Summary: The study shows that using liquid nitrogen (LN2) for shale fracturing can decrease the breakdown pressure, activate pre-existing fractures and bedding planes, and enhance formation permeability. Lower stress anisotropy, higher pumping rate, and lower bedding plane angle result in more complex fractures.
ROCK MECHANICS AND ROCK ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Henrik Wachtmeister, Magdalena Kuchler, Mikael Hook
Summary: This paper examines the political claims and hopes surrounding Poland's potential self-sufficiency in natural gas and becoming a gas exporter through shale gas production. It suggests that achieving such national expectations would require a significant amount of drilling and hydraulic fracturing, which would necessitate reconsideration of national energy security plans and expectations related to shale gas production.
NATURAL RESOURCES RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Geological
Adam K. Schwartzkopff, Atsushi Sainoki, Derek Elsworth
Summary: The study found that using the X-FEM method can efficiently predict fault mechanics due to fluid injection, demonstrating the accuracy and applicability of this approach in simulating fault mechanics.
ROCK MECHANICS AND ROCK ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Liam Ekblad, Jonathan D. Herman
Summary: The study proposes a three-phase approach to obtain model structures and parameterizations in water resources systems through data-driven methods, with problem definition, model generation, and model evaluation. By using multiobjective genetic programming to search a family of functions for model structures, the study illustrates the approach with a case study of land use decisions in the Tulare Basin, California. Ultimately, the study selects optimal model structures based on multiobjective optimization of performance, complexity, and generalization abilities.
WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Mengke An, Fengshou Zhang, Ki-Bok Min, Derek Elsworth, Chris Marone, Changrong He
Summary: Research indicates that metamorphic minerals such as epidote and chlorite can influence the stability of faults in geothermal reservoirs, affecting frictional behavior and potentially leading to seismic activity. The presence of these minerals in fault gouges can destabilize slip and induce earthquakes, while also revealing a dependence of fault strength and stability on fault zone composition. Understanding the impact of these minerals on fault behavior is crucial for assessing earthquake triggering potential in geothermal systems.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
J. B. Zhu, J. Q. Kang, D. Elsworth, H. P. Xie, Y. Ju, J. Zhao
Summary: The study shows that cyclic fluid injection can reduce the magnitude and total energy of induced earthquakes, providing a way to potentially control the size of induced seismic events.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Jianwei Tian, Jishan Liu, Derek Elsworth, Yee-Kwong Leong, Wai Li, Jie Zeng
Summary: Researchers characterized the structural heterogeneity of hydrofractured shale reservoirs at different hierarchical levels, including nanopore structure, micro-structure, natural fracture networks, and hydraulic fractures. The study demonstrated significant impacts of these heterogeneities on gas production.
JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Junqiang Kang, Derek Elsworth, Xuehai Fu, Shun Liang, Hao Chen
Summary: This study analyzed the impact of water saturation on the permeability of coal reservoirs through experiments and finite element methods, finding that changes in E and v can lead to a faster or slower decrease in permeability, with E having a more significant effect on permeability.
JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Civil
Keyvan Malek, Patrick Reed, Harrison Zeff, Andrew Hamilton, Melissa Wrzesien, Natan Holtzman, Scott Steinschneider, Jonathan Herman, Tamlin Pavelsky
Summary: This study demonstrates the significant impact that even modest projection errors can have on water resource assessments in California's irrigation districts. Errors in land-surface models (LSMs) projections of flood and drought extremes are found to be interactive across timescales and can be amplified when modeling infrastructure systems. Common strategies for reducing errors in deterministic LSM projections can distort projections of climate vulnerabilities and misrepresent their financial consequences.
JOURNAL OF WATER RESOURCES PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Mengke An, Fengshou Zhang, Ki-Bok Min, Derek Elsworth, Changrong He, Luanxiao Zhao
Summary: This study investigates the impact of heterogeneity and contiguity of epidote-patch structure on frictional instability and finds that the mode of epidote precipitation controls the response of mixed gouges. The presence of epidote coatings on fractures/faults can enhance velocity-weakening behavior, supporting the potential seismic reactivation of faults.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SOLID EARTH
(2022)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
X. Sun, Y. Yao, D. Liu, D. Elsworth
Summary: This study investigates the mechanisms and relationships between CO2 adsorption and coal wettability by combining direct measurements and molecular dynamic simulations. The researchers find that coal wettability significantly weakens under increasing CO2 pressure. This study provides a robust method and results for accurately predicting CO2 storage capacity in coalbeds and enhanced methane recovery.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SOLID EARTH
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Vivek Srikrishnan, David C. Lafferty, Tony E. Wong, Jonathan R. Lamontagne, Julianne D. Quinn, Sanjib Sharma, Nusrat J. Molla, Jonathan D. Herman, Ryan L. Sriver, Jennifer F. Morris, Ben Seiyon Lee
Summary: Simulation models of multi-sector systems play an important role in understanding societal resilience to climate and economic shocks. However, uncertainties hinder the direct application of these models for prediction and planning. Recent studies have proposed methods to quantify these uncertainties and discussed the trade-offs in uncertainty analyses for complex systems.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Fengshou Zhang, Rui Huang, Mengke An, Ki-Bok Min, Derek Elsworth, Hannes Hofmann, Xiaoguang Wang
Summary: Experiments on simulated granite fault gouges suggest that fluid injection can induce earthquakes, and variations in effective stress and mineral composition are important factors affecting fault strength and stability.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SOLID EARTH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Chen Zhang, Zachary P. Brodeur, Scott Steinschneider, Jonathan D. Herman
Summary: This study explores the use of deep learning methods to improve short-term precipitation forecasts and balance the tradeoff between false negatives and false positives. The results show that while the deep learning models do not significantly improve overall accuracy, they are able to compensate for missed predictions by correcting spatial error. Additionally, the models provide the ability to adjust the rate of false positives and negatives based on cost ratio.
WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Peng Dong, Rong Chen, Kaiwen Xia, Wei Yao, Zhigang Peng, Derek Elsworth
Summary: This study investigates dynamically triggered earthquakes on laboratory faults and reveals that the triggering process has two distinct phases, with a slow phase only present for a specific seismic condition and absent for supershear events.
SEISMOLOGICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
L. Torres-Rojas, N. Vergopolan, J. D. Herman, N. W. Chaney
Summary: One of the challenges in Land Surface Models (LSMs) is to determine the appropriate number of sub-grid tiles to represent landscape heterogeneity. This study presents a new approach to formally diagnose sub-grid process heterogeneity and infer the optimal number of tiles per macroscale grid cell. The method was demonstrated in Western Colorado, United States, and showed promising results in accurately inferring the spatial structure of hydrological fields and determining optimal tile configurations.
WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Scott Steinschneider, Jonathan D. Herman, John Kucharski, Marriah Abellera, Peter Ruggiero
Summary: Climate vulnerability assessments rely on imperfect water infrastructure system models to predict performance metrics under future scenarios. A method combining time series error models with Sobol sensitivity analysis is developed to determine whether uncertainties in output metrics come from the climate ensemble or the systems model. The results show that the reduced complexity systems model is sufficiently accurate for vulnerability assessments, and that climate uncertainties are dominated by the choice of general circulation model and its interaction with the representative concentration pathway (RCP).
WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH
(2023)