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Submit a ProposalFracking
 | The Operations and Environmental Consequences of Hydraulic Fracturing By Michael D. Holloway and Oliver Rudd Copyright: 2013 | Expected Pub Date:May 2013// ISBN: 9781118496329 | Hardcover | 250 pages Price: $175 USD  |
One Line Description
This book explores the history, techniques, and materials used in the practice of induced hydraulic fracturing, one of the hottest and most contested issues of today, for the production of natural gas, while examining the environmental and economic impact.
Audience
Anyone working in the energy sector, especially in hydraulic fracturing. Engineers and other technical professionals will benefit from the technical expertise, while general readers can learn about "fracking" in the non-technical chapters.
Anyone working in the energy sector, especially in hydraulic fracturing. Engineers and other technical professionals will benefit from the technical expertise, while general readers can learn about "fracking" in the non-technical chapters.
Description
You can't squeeze blood from a turnip but you can release trapped natural gas from rock. At least that is what is being accomplished now throughout North America. Natural gas which is primarily methane has been proven to be an excellent fuel source. It can be safely burned to create heat to power engines, boilers in factories and homes as well as powering turbines for generating electricity. Projections on natural gas volumes trapped under ground suggest a nearly inexhaustible supply of this product.
Yet with such abundance comes controversy. A popular and economical technique relies on the gas from subterranean sources and requires fracturing rock bed. This process is actually carried out naturally everyday with water or magma. Magma may flow into rock beds superheating water to generate steam. The resulting pressure of the expanding water molecule can be so great it can lift and separate thousands of tons of rock deep beneath the earth’s surface. This same practice can be carried out artificially (induced) using high powered pumps and various liquid compounds. This technique combined with new horizontal directional drilling machines have enabled the harvest and distribution of natural gas. But at what cost? Does this practice contribute to greenhouse gas? Does it create earthquakes? Does it contaminate the ground water supply? These are important ideas to consider yet and with proper examination and logic I am confident you will gain insight and reason in a practice fueled by profit and civil concern.
While induced hydraulic fracturing (also known as fracking) utilizes many different engineering disciplines, this book explains these concepts in an easy to understand format. The primary use of this book shall be to increase the awareness of a new and emerging technology and what the various ramifications can be. The reader shall be exposed to many engineering concepts and terms. All of these ideas and practices shall be explained within the body. A science or engineering background is not required.
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You can't squeeze blood from a turnip but you can release trapped natural gas from rock. At least that is what is being accomplished now throughout North America. Natural gas which is primarily methane has been proven to be an excellent fuel source. It can be safely burned to create heat to power engines, boilers in factories and homes as well as powering turbines for generating electricity. Projections on natural gas volumes trapped under ground suggest a nearly inexhaustible supply of this product.
Yet with such abundance comes controversy. A popular and economical technique relies on the gas from subterranean sources and requires fracturing rock bed. This process is actually carried out naturally everyday with water or magma. Magma may flow into rock beds superheating water to generate steam. The resulting pressure of the expanding water molecule can be so great it can lift and separate thousands of tons of rock deep beneath the earth’s surface. This same practice can be carried out artificially (induced) using high powered pumps and various liquid compounds. This technique combined with new horizontal directional drilling machines have enabled the harvest and distribution of natural gas. But at what cost? Does this practice contribute to greenhouse gas? Does it create earthquakes? Does it contaminate the ground water supply? These are important ideas to consider yet and with proper examination and logic I am confident you will gain insight and reason in a practice fueled by profit and civil concern.
While induced hydraulic fracturing (also known as fracking) utilizes many different engineering disciplines, this book explains these concepts in an easy to understand format. The primary use of this book shall be to increase the awareness of a new and emerging technology and what the various ramifications can be. The reader shall be exposed to many engineering concepts and terms. All of these ideas and practices shall be explained within the body. A science or engineering background is not required.
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Author / Editor Details
Michael Holloway’s background includes organic and polymer synthesis as well as lab to pilot scale material manufacturing for Olin Chemical, military and aerospace product development for Parker-Hannifin, product engineering for Rohm & Haas / Dow Electronic Chemicals, technical marketing and application engineering for GE Plastics, product management for Graco, and most currently as director reliability and technical development for NCH Corporation. He has served as a contributing writer for Manufacturing.net, Assembly Magazine, Plant Services Magazine, and Lubrication and Fluid Power Magazine. He holds a BA in philosophy and a BS in chemistry from Salve Regina University and an MS in polymer engineering from the University of Massachusetts. He is a master black belt trained in Six Sigma, served as an adjunct professor at the University of North Texas, and was managing editor for Porsche Club of America’s magazine, Slipstream.
Michael Holloway’s background includes organic and polymer synthesis as well as lab to pilot scale material manufacturing for Olin Chemical, military and aerospace product development for Parker-Hannifin, product engineering for Rohm & Haas / Dow Electronic Chemicals, technical marketing and application engineering for GE Plastics, product management for Graco, and most currently as director reliability and technical development for NCH Corporation. He has served as a contributing writer for Manufacturing.net, Assembly Magazine, Plant Services Magazine, and Lubrication and Fluid Power Magazine. He holds a BA in philosophy and a BS in chemistry from Salve Regina University and an MS in polymer engineering from the University of Massachusetts. He is a master black belt trained in Six Sigma, served as an adjunct professor at the University of North Texas, and was managing editor for Porsche Club of America’s magazine, Slipstream.
Oliver Rudd has twenty years of environmental experience centered on the petroleum industry. He graduated from the University of Houston with degrees inEnvironmental Science and English and is known in the environmental sector of the petroleum industry for his level-headed guidance in providing logically sound, honest feedback in tough situations. Rudd began his career working as a fluid engineer in international drilling operations and his environmental experience continued in the petroleum industry with positions ranging from environmental field technician to senior project manager overseeing all levels of comprehensive site investigations. He is a lifelong Texan where he currently resides with his wife and two daughters on a never-ending quest to convince them his job isn’t boring.
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Introduction 1
Environmental Impact 5
Production Development 7
Fractures: Their orientation and length 10
Fracture orientation 11
Casing and Cementing 12
Pre-Drill Assessments 14
Well Construction 15
Well Operation
Failure and Contamination Reduction 44
Frac Fluids and Composition 47
So where do the Frack Fluids Go? 55
Common Objections to Drilling Operations 57
Air Emissions Controls 73
Chemicals and Products on Locations 82
Public Perception, The Media and the Facts 101
Notes from the Field 111
Appendix 1 - Chemicals Used in Fracing 124
State Agency Web Addresses 337
References 338
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Table of Contents
Introduction 1
Environmental Impact 5
Production Development 7
Fractures: Their orientation and length 10
Fracture orientation 11
Casing and Cementing 12
Pre-Drill Assessments 14
Well Construction 15
Well Operation
Failure and Contamination Reduction 44
Frac Fluids and Composition 47
So where do the Frack Fluids Go? 55
Common Objections to Drilling Operations 57
Air Emissions Controls 73
Chemicals and Products on Locations 82
Public Perception, The Media and the Facts 101
Notes from the Field 111
Appendix 1 - Chemicals Used in Fracing 124
State Agency Web Addresses 337
References 338
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BISAC SUBJECT HEADINGS
TEC031030: TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING / Power Resources / Fossil Fuels
TEC010000: TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING / Environmental / General
SCI024000: SCIENCE / Energy
BIC CODES
THF: Fossil fuel technologies
RNFY: Energy resources
RBGK: Geochemistry
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