How to Gather and Analyze

Useful Frack Data

Jack Tuschall, Ph.D.
TestAmerica Laboratories
 Key Points
 Wise use of analytical $ to get right
balance of tests – type and frequency
 Designing a monitoring program to
anticipate emerging environmental
regulations
 Ensuring environmental data passes
scrutiny
 Legally defensible reports – composition
and key attributes
RISK = HAZARD + OUTRAGE
Peter Sandman
 What are the Common
Environmental Hazards?
 Exposure of workers and public to harmful
airborne materials
 Contamination of Drinking Water sources
 Disposal or discharge of waste flowback
water
 Contamination of surface waters
 Impact on Fish and Wildlife
 What Sources to Monitor?
 Matrices to Evaluate:
 Drinking Water
 Surface waters

 Drilling Spoils

 Flowback and Production Waters

 Ambient and Source Air Emissions

 Frack Fluids – including consideration of hazardous

components
Characterize site before and after drilling activities occur
even if Regulations Don’t Require it
 What Parameters to Monitor?

 Select analyses that reflect the composition of

fluids used:
 e.g., Anions (Cl, Br, Sulfate), metals,
surfactants, biocides, and light petroleum
hydrocarbons.
 and Character of Geological Formation Fracked.
 e.g., Naturally Occurring Radiological
Materials (NORM), metals (Ba, Mg, B),
dissolved gases (methane), petroleum oils.
 Examples of Hazardous
Components of Frack Fluids
 HCl  Light Petroleum distillates
 Boric Oxides  Methanol
 Boric Acid  Various proprietary
 Sulfuric acid components
 Various alcohols
 Glycol Ethers
 Gluteraldehyde
 Acetic Anhydride
 Mineral Spirits
 Baseline Methane Sampling Prior
to Drilling – 4000 ft Radius
Baseline Methane Sampling - 4000 ft2 Radius from Well Pad XXXXX

30

25
MG/L Methane

20

15 MG/L Methane

10

0
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Well Sample ID
Baseline Methane Sampling Prior to
Drilling – 4000 ft Radius

 Blue: No Detection
 Green: < 3 mg/L
 Yellow: 3-25 mg/L
 Red: > 25 mg/L
 Why Not Just Focus on
Meeting Regulations?

 Federal and State Regulations still emerging

 Future Regulations uncertain – will depend on
several factors –
 geography
 public perceptions and pressure
 demographics
 political climate
 economics
Field Samples –> Analysis –> Final Report
 Requirements for Laboratory
Support
 Experience with unusual samples (high
salt brine 10x higher than seawater)
 Track record with similar samples
 Able to produce rapid results when
necessary
 Quality control samples to defend data
 Legally Defensible Data Reports
 Components of Quality Program
 Quality Program – should be designed to ensure
laboratory data conforms to standards set by state
and federal regulations. Implemented through
SOPs.
 Quality Control: specific components of analytical
process that collectively ensures tests conform to
set standard limits.
 e.g., Blanks, LCS, MS/MSD, calibration verification, MDL
verification.
 Control Limits for each QC item – report outcome on client
reports for transparency.
 Data Deliverables
 Data reports may be reviewed by several
groups
 Internally and by your firm’s consultants
 Regulators

 Community groups

 Industry watchdogs

 Legal Counsel if lawsuits involved

Most will be looking for flaws in data

Key Components of Environmental Data

 Accurate and reliable measurements

 Reproducible data; reporting limits supported by
blanks; anion/cation balance.
 Report format that is legally defensible and able
to withstand diverse scrutiny.
 Include calibration data and QC results in stand-alone
data package that holds up in court.
 Quality control samples within defined limits.
 Solid technical responses to inquiries after
delivery.
A solid Analytical Strategy, designed
specifically to address the potential
environmental impact to local surroundings,
will reduce the risk of drilling.