Fracking with Acid?

With all the recent focus on hydraulic fracturing, another well completion process, acid fracturing has taken a back seat. But now Senate Bill  4 - a bill written by Senator Fran Pavley that regulates hydraulic fracturing - has recently been amended to include all well stimulation techniques, included the ones that use acid. Local group Citizens for Responsible Oil and Gas (CFROG) are endorsing the bill.

“I haven’t been this freaked out about acid since the 60’s,” said John Brooks, Oak View resident and president of Citizens for Responsible Oil and Gas (CFROG) at the recent Ojai Valley Democrats meeting. “I’m told that 8 out of every 10 wells will be completed with acidization.”

Acid is used in different ways to stimulate oil production. In matrix acidization the acid is targeted within the wellbore itself without the intention of affecting the rock enclosing the reservoir, just loosening up the oil in the reservoir and helping remove anything that would impede the oil from being extracted. With acid fracking the acid is aimed at breaking apart the reservoir to release the oil and gas. Instead of using high pressure water to break apart the rock as in hydraulic fracturing, the acid works to melt away the rock, releasing the oil and gas into the reservoir to be pumped out.  

Different types of acid are used depending on the type of formation being worked in. Hydrofluoric acid works best in formations that are silica/sandstone based while hydrochloric acid functions well in areas where limestone (carbonate) formations are holding the oil and gas.

“The Monterey formation [which is under most of Ventura County] has both types of formations,” said Dr. Tom Williams PhD in Geology/Zoology from UC Berkeley and decades of experience as a consultant for oil companies all over the world. “So both acids may be used.”

At low concentrations hydrofluoric acid irritates the skin, eyes and respiratory system. At higher levels it causes burns, severe injury, and death. It is considered a carcinogen, and is recognized as especially toxic due to its ability to quickly pass through the skin to underlying tissue. Hydrogen gas can be released if hydrofluoric acid comes in contact with certain metals. According to the EPA short term inhalation exposure to hydrochloric acid (hydrogen chloride HCL) “may cause eye, nose and respiratory tract irritation and pulmonary edema,” and long term “occupational exposure has been reported to case gastritis, chronic bronchitis, dermatitis and photosensitization in workers.” 

THEY SEEM TO BE FORGETTING ABOUT THESE CASES:

I have been following the oil and gas industry for several months, and specifically how it is responding to the publics concerns over hydraulic fracturing, and now acid fracturing. I keep hearing the same line over and over and over and over. The industry, across the nation keeps saying, "I am not aware of any cases of ground water contamination from hydraulic fracturing." Or some variation on that, or with the phrase "in California" attached. 

It is a fact that hydraulic fracturing has led to ground water contamination in other parts of the nation, and world. To my knowledge there have been no studies in California regarding ground water contamination and fracking. It is my understanding that until the last few months, the state regulatory agency (Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources) did not track in any way, or specifically monitor well completion techniques, including tracking - that begs the question as to how they can know that there is no contamination? 

We know that groundwater moves. It may take decades to move a short distance, or it may move faster. Here is what we do know - 

Here are some reports where contamination was linked to hydraulic fracturing: 

In 1995 reports in Canada link manmade fractures in formation to the migration of methane into groundwater through annului in the wells (and that report was funded by petroleum producers http://www.ernstversusencana.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/CAPP-Gas-Migration-into-Groundwater-from-Leaking-Hydrocarbon-Wells-1995-1996-covers-select-pages.pdf ) from page 70 of the report:
soil gas data "indicate that gas-well annuli are more important than natural fractures for the upward migration of gas". Chafin concluded that "manmade migration pathways probably introduced most near-surface gas to the study area".

In 2012 the state of Pennsylvania determined fracking caused methane to migrate into drinking water wells  - http://www.npr.org/2012/08/28/160128351/methane-making-an-appearance-in-pa-water-supplies . Yes methane is naturally occuring, but it is usually trapped deep underground, same as the oil and gas. But when they are extracted the methane is released as well. 


This year, a study in Canada has linked groundwater contamination to migration of methane due to hydraulic fracturing. Here  is that study:  
http://www.ernstversusencana.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Brief-review-of-threats-to-Canadas-groundwater-from-oil-gas-industrys-methane-migration-and-hydraulic-fracturing-v4.pdf

"In 2010, the Canadian oil and gas industry advertised: “Fact: Fracturing has not been found to have caused damage to groundwater resources”19 and EnCana advertised a year later: “In use for more than 60 years throughout the oil and gas industry, there are no documented cases of groundwater contamination related to the hydraulic fracturing process.”20" 

Sound familiar ? and yet: 

"In the USA, by the early 1990’s numerous water contamination cases and lawsuits had sprung up in coalbed methane (CBM) development areas.21 “In a two-year study, United States Geological Survey (US Geological Survey) scientists found methane gas in one-third of water wells inspected and concluded that oil and gas drilling is the main source of contamination of the shallow aquifers in the Animas River Valley.... Based in part on the [US Geological Survey] report, lawyers representing hundreds of area residents filed a class-action lawsuit Feb. 11 charging four oil companies - Amoco Production Company, Meridian Oil Inc., Southland Royalty Company, and Phillips Petroleum - with recklessness and deliberate disregard for the safety of local residents. The suit says the four oil companies ignored their tests, which showed that methane from their deep wells was polluting shallow aquifers, and asks for both actual and punitive damages.”22 


"Schlumberger Well Cementing Services reports gas migration problems at 25% in Alberta’s heavy oil fields.82 The ERCB reported in 1999 that there were “3810 wells with active surface casing vent flow and 814 with gas migration problems in Alberta,”83 but no longer makes this data public."

From a 2012 Energy Institute of Texas study included in the ERNST study linked above:
“Leaks in part of the well bore could mean gas getting into water wells nearby. But the same thing
happens in conventional gas production. ...We haven’t found any community where inspection practices, pre-development conditions, monitoring of development and post-development assessment has been done according to best practices.”

Pages and pages of documented incidents of contaminated groundwater from methane migration as a result of hydraulic fracturing are listed in the study. 

Perhaps the industry and their spokespeople just haven't read it yet. I'll keep asking them about it. 

The exhibit - sponsored by Western States Petroleum Association - "How it Works - Hydraulic Fracturing" will show how the process works to complete a well and get out the "hard to get" oil and gas trapped deep within the rock formation called The Monterey Shale which is said to hold some 15 billion barrels of oil. 

The exhibit is slated to open today, with a WSPA "mixer" tonight following a ribbon cutting at 5:30 with the Santa Paula Chamber of Commerce. 

The Oil Museum's press release: 
How it Works: Hydraulic Fracturing
June 27- October 20, 2013
 
Premiering in the South Gallery at the California Oil Museum on Thursday, June 27, How it Works: Hydraulic Fracturing, will explore the technology of hydraulic fracturing: from what it is, how it works, to the equipment and processes used.  Diagrams, models and products used for hydraulic fracturing will be displayed.  With this topic being so prominent in the news today, this exhibit will provide insight for those interested in learning more about the production process. Museum hours Wed – Sun, 10am to 4pm.  Admission is $4 Adults, $3 Seniors, $1 Students, 5 years old and younger are free.  Members are free.
 
Hydraulic fracturing is not a new concept. The first commercial application of hydraulic fracturing as a well treatment technology designed to stimulate the production of oil or gas likely occurred in either the Hugoton field of Kansas in 1946 or near Duncan Oklahoma in 1949.  In the ensuing sixty plus years, the use of hydraulic fracturing has developed into a routine technology that is frequently used in the completion of gas wells, particularly those involved in what is called “unconventional production,” such as production from so-called “tight shale” reservoirs. The process has been used on over 1 million producing wells. As the technology continues to develop and improve, operators now fracture as many as 35,000 wells of all types (vertical and horizontal, oiland natural gas) each year. 

Hydraulic fracturing has had an enormous impact on America’s energy history, particularly in recent times. The ability to produce more oil and natural gas to develop new sources once thought impossible has made the process valuable for US domestic energy production. With hydraulic fracturing, as much as 20 percent of unconventional production from formations such as gas shales is now, on a practical basis, possible.
 
California Oil Museum
1001 E. Main Street
Santa Paula, CA
805-933-0076
www.oilmuseum.net
 
Museum hours: Wednesday - Sunday, 10am to 4pm.  Admission is $4 Adults, $3 Seniors, $1 Children over 5. Children 5 years old and younger are free. Members are free. 

On Tuesday state lawmakers heard from industry and regulators about other processes - not just tracking - used to get at the oil that is tough to get out. Enhanced oil recovery techniques - of which hydraulic fracturing is just one type - have thus far not been tracked or regulated specifically. 

Acid jobs are similar to the idea of hydraulic fracturing in that they inject, at high pressure fluids deep underground with the intention of breaking the rock to release oil and gas. But with Acid jobs, Hydroflouric Acid is used to "melt" the rock. 

Stay tuned as lawmakers at the state and local levels scramble to get up to speed on what the industry has been doing for years. Are voters wondering why only now are lawmakers and regulators taking notice? 

Here's a reuters piece on the hearings: http://news.yahoo.com/california-senators-want-more-information-oil-well-acid-033629980.html

To see Senator Fran Pavley's letter that prompted this hearing see the previous post on this site. 

This week in local and state news: "Fracking fuels water fights in nation's dry spots", click here for AP story in Ventura County Star - see last paragraphs for details on this issue in VC. 

"There is a new player for water, which is oil and gas," said Peppler, of Mead, Colo., who also serves as president of the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union. "And certainly they are in a position to pay a whole lot more than we are." Click here to read more in VC Star.

Tuesday, June 18 after 1:30 (following the Transportation & Housing comm meeting) am the Calif. Senate Committee on Natural Resources And Water will meet for a hearing on well stimulation. This is in response to a letter dated May 30 from Sen. Fran Pavley  to Mr. Marc Nechodom - Director of the Department of Conservation. The DOC contains the Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources, which is the State Agency that is charged with regulated and overseeing oil and gas production in the State. Here is Sen. Pavley's letter: 

The hearing will be televised here

Here is a June 18 story in the VC Star

Information on the Senate Committee on Natural Resources from their website: 
Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Water


JURISDICTION: Bills relating to conservation and management of public resources, fish and wildlife, regulation of oil, mining, geothermal development, acid deposition, wetlands and lakes, global atmospheric effects, ocean and bay pollution, forestry practices, recreation, parks and historical resources.

Members:Senator Fran Pavley (Chair)
Senator Anthony Cannella (Vice Chair)
Senator Noreen Evans
Senator Jean Fuller
Senator Ben Hueso
Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson
Senator Ricardo Lara
Senator Bill Monning
Senator Lois Wolk

Addresses & Staff:Chief Consultant: William (Bill) Craven
Principal Consultant: Dennis O'Connor
Consultant: Katharine Moore
Assistant: Patricia (Patty) Hanson
Phone: (916) 651-4116
Room: 4035

Photo: May 30, 2013: Shawn Terris of Ventura attends the CFROG appeal of Mirada's project before the VC Planning Commision. Photo by K. Rivers


In VC This Past Week: "Air Quality board will not monitor fracking impacts" Click for story in Ojai Valley News.

In National News:
US domestic surveillance has targeted anti-fracking activists across the country"
Pentagon bracing for public dissent over climate and energy shocks. Click for article in the Guardian

CFROG will monitor first 
“NO Fracking” CUP in County


Click here to read Mirada's CUP

According to a joint press release from the Environmental Defense Center (EDC) and Citizens for Responsible Oil and Gas (CFROG), they will not appeal the recent Ventura County Planning Decision on new wells in Upper Ojai, but will hold the County accountable for the no fracking rule on the permit.

“[CFROG intends] to monitor Mirada Petroleum’s controversial permit to drill nine new wells in Upper Ojai,” the press release said. The conditional use permit (CUP) represents the first in the County that will prohibit fracking.

The EDC recently represented CFROG in its appeal of the approval before the Planning Commission on May 30. Conditions of the new CUP require the abadonement of oil wells, removal of particular infrastructure on the lease, the ceasing of “illegal use of Koenigstein Road by large trucks that endanger public safety,” and added on May 30 by the Planning Department the condition that the entire oil field be kept clear of all “microtrash” to protect the endangered California Condor.

“Now is the time to take a look at the big picture of a possible oil boom based on fracking and it’s implications not only for the environment and public health but its impact on agriculture and tourism,” said Brian Segee, staff attorney with the EDC who represented CFROG in its appeal.

CFROG formed “in the wake of rampant new oil drilling in Ventura County” and has listed some of its goals:

• 
  
• ·      Demand comprehensive review of onshore oil drilling in the County
  
• 
  
• ·      Assessment of potential future drilling sites including coastal oil fields, the Ventura River corridor, the Santa Clara River watershed, the Ojai Valley and the agricultural lands in the Oxnard Plain.
  
• 
  
• ·      Actively support the May 21, 2013, 4 to 1 vote of the VC Board of Supervisors to “require that oil companies disclose whether they intend to conduct fracking” on CUP applications. Operators will also have to indicated their water supply for drilling and completion activities and where waste will be disposed of. 
  
• 
  
• “In the coming weeks, you will hear more from CFROG about the hundreds of new oil wells proposed near the Sespe Condor Sancturary, the proposal to drill an injection well for disposal of frack fluids, a well-casing failure near an elementary school, and much more about a system that constantly approves drilling without adequate environmental review,” said John Brooks of Oak View and a founding CFROG member.
  

For more information on  CFROG visit: www.CFROG.org

In today's VC Star Mr. Dave Quast has penned a pro-fracking piece that is aimed at debunking the "fringe" concerns about tracking. Quast is "California director of Energy in Depth, an education and outreach program of the California Independent Petroleum Association and the Independent Petroleum Association of America." Consider the source. 


I wonder if the California Association of Nurses, Family Farm Defenders and Breast Cancer Action consider themselves "fringe activist groups" - they supported the proposed (and now killed) bill calling for a moratorium on fracking till regulations are put in place. 

For the amounts of water used you can visit fracfocus.org and view the records of the voluntarily reported fracked wells listed (might be more since it's voluntary). The water volume used is listed. 


And to be clear, while conventional drilling and the construction of wells is covered by extensive rules that are on the books, hydraulic fracturing and other enhanced oil recovery techniques are not specifically regulated, and in fact fracking is called out and exempted from our federal environmental laws (2005 amendment to Safe Drinking Water Act - referred to as the "Halliburton Loophole"). That fact, taken with the limited resources of our state regulatory agency - there are five officials in the County responsible for all the wells - might seem like effective oversight to the industry, the public may feel differently. 


To read Mr. Quasts editorial visit the VC Star: Read more: http://www.vcstar.com/news/2013/jun/09/dave-quast-the-realities-about-fracking-in/?opinion=1#ixzz2Vk7BDAxu 
- vcstar.com 

Ms. Burkhart is expected to speak about WSPA's stance on the safety of hydraulic fracturing and the job boom it is expected to bring to the area. The California Chamber of Commerce consistently opposes fracking moratoriums calling them "job killers." 

11 am Tuesday, June 11: the VC Air Pollution Control District will be examining the recent fracking rules put in place by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (Click Here to read about those rules, the FIRST of their kind  in California)

"Ventura County Supervisor Linda Parks of Thousand Oaks asked the executive director of the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District to report on the South Coast Air Quality Management District's new rule on fracking and if there is something similar the Ventura County APCD may want to do. Click here to read report to be discussed.

The matter will be discussed on Tuesday, June 11, at approximately 11 a.m. at the county of Ventura Board of Supervisors meeting in the Administration Building of the county Government Center, 800 S. Victoria Ave., Ventura.

Note from Citizens for Responsible Oil and Gas (CFROG.ORG) :

"Ventura County Supervisor Linda Parks of Thousand Oaks asked the executive director of the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District to report on the South Coast Air Quality Management District's new rule on fracking and if there is something similar the Ventura County APCD may want to do. Here is the report:  http://bosagenda.countyofventura.org/sirepub/agdocs.aspx?doc&itemid=56817

The matter will be discussed on Tuesday, June 11, at approximately 11 a.m. at the county of Ventura Board of Supervisors meeting in the Administration Building of the county Government Center, 800 S. Victoria Ave., Ventura.


Please let others know about the meeting and try to attend so our county elected officials know their constituents are paying close attention to this issue."

Lately I have been attending a lot of County hearings about oil and gas drilling. I have listened to elected officials trying to wrap their heads around the many issues – jobs, energy, environmental protection, wildlife, and so on. I have heard elected officials say incredible and sometimes, frankly ridiculous things. I have listened as Industry reps and staff and state regulators put their message through the spin cycle and then all come out saying the same things.

I am trying to report on the issue in an objective way. Trying to get a response from Industry about various events, and about what is unfolding. But when the same things are repeated, and when some folks keep saying things that make no sense, and have no basis in fact, I feel compelled to provide correct information.

Recently, Ventura County Supervisor Peter Foy said (and was quoted in the May 30 issue of the VC Reporter) that oil operators don’t spill any “water” on the ground. He was referring to “produced water.” Which is the water that comes up with the oil and gas. This water is considered hazardous. It has been sealed for thousands of years underground with oil, gas, methane, radioactive compounds, just to name a few. If the well has been fracked, well then it will also contain fracking chemicals - 29 are known carcinogens. And when the oil comes up, it comes up to. A lot of it. More water than oil in fact is extracted in oil drilling operations. I found it a bit ridiculous for an elected official to say, during a public hearing, that operators don’t spill this water on the ground. 

I thought it was ridiculous because I have reports that state otherwise. The Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources (DOGGR) VC Spill list, (posted in the right column of this blog) lists 868 spills since 1994 in VC, many of which include produced water. But there was a big one I’d heard about, but couldn’t find any record of.

I got the year nailed down, I knew it happened in 2006 in Upper Ojai and I knew which field. In the DOGGR VC Spill list I located a spill on Topa Vista Road that concluded with the well being abandoned. It listed a spill of 9000 (no note on whether that is barrels or gallons) water. And that was about it.

Then this well record surfaced (well DOGGR has well records posted on its website) and it contains a detailed description of this spill that lasted for three months. Yep, a spill that lasted for three months. They flew in THE expert – Mike Shackelford-  on problem wells from Kazakhstan with the company Boots and Coots ( now owned by Halliburton) – you know the guys who put out the burning Iraq oil fields. This is serious business. Click Here to see the DOGGR well record for Ojai 36

Here are two photographs of the water coming up and of the rigs and work to the plug the well. 

No media coverage. Zip. Zilch. I have questions about what kind of pollution inspections were done by someone other than the oil company. Was it cleaned up completely? Or are there still traces in the soil?

Today the hilltop is clearly flattened, and this year residents have noticed what looks like a natural “seep” flowing down the hill. For me this raises questions of whether the industry has a record of seep locations, and if this seep could in fact be this Ojai 36 well trying to again wreak havoc.

By Robert Dodge, MD "With fracking: First do no harm"