Emerging Trends in Shal

Energy Development

May 14, 2014

Presented by Dave Yoxtheimer, P.G.

Penn State Marcellus Center 

for Outreach and Research 
Shale Energy: A Global Pl

Summary of PA Marcellus Production

• 4917 producing wells in 2013• 3.1 TCF of gas produced• 30.6 MMBBLs of brine produced
Summary of OH Production

• 397 producing wells in 2013• 9.7 MMBBLs of oil• 203 BCF of gas produced• Estimated 4 MMBBLs of brine produced


Well Site in Operation

Staying in Drilling Target Zone 

Source: Seneca Resources
More Wells and Footage Pe

• Di

OpMipa

• Bit 

Incrat

• Dr

Sewiusfor aneffeff

• Op

Deproof 

Source: Seneca Resources
Reduced Cluster Spacing= Gre

Stimulated Reservoir Volum

Twice stagestimuvolumspacifrom 3Increanear timproconduproppincrealbs/ft 

Source: Seneca Resources
Improving Production

Impdue • I

l

• I

pc

• R

cs

• S

wpf

Source: Seneca Resources
Drilling and Production Waste St

• Air emiss• Drilling c• Drilling m• Waste p• Flowbac• Produce• Treatme
Treatment and Disposal Facilities
Reducing Emissions and 

Cost

Drilling and Fracturing

• Emissions from drilling

and line leaks totaled 2metric tons of CO2 equduring 2011, 2nd only to 

• A single drill rig can co

80 gallons of diesel an 

• Compared to diesel, a 

emits ~30% CO2 and and particulate matter.

• A natural gas-run costs 

but switching to LNG oreduce annual fuel cos$1MM off the annual furig. 

• 700 million gallons of d

domestically in hydraulast year

• A gallon of diesel fuel c

$3.60, while equivalennatural gas blend costs 
Drilling Fluids Generatio

 1.6 MM BBLs of d

fluids generated d2013

– 92% of drilling flu

recycled (147 MM

– 7% of drilling fluid

disposed (119 MB

– 1% of drilling fluid

stored (11 MBBLs
2013 Drilling Cuttings Manag

 1.13 million tons 

cuttings generat

-Total of 1,210 we2013-Average of 937 tcuttings generate-Cuttings are prim(90%) with some minor amount of 

 136,000 tons of 

proppant genera

-Total of 1,352 we2013-Average of 101 tgenerated per weprimarily landfilled
Shale Gas Development Wate

*Assumes average of 4.4 million gallons of water used during hydraulic fracturing per SRBC

• 4917 producing wells in PA as of end of 2013

• Estimated total water use of 21.6 billion gallons of water (514 MM

• 1,352 new producing wells in 2013

• Estimated 2013 water use of 5.9 billion gallons or 16.3 million gal

• Approximately 6% of injected fluids return initially and 10 BBLs/1 

produced
2013 PA Unconventional En

Wastewater Figures

30.6 million barrels (MMBBLs

produced water generated in 

 8.1 MM BBLs of flowback (

after fracturing and before 

‐26% of total wastewate

‐5.8% of water used in fr

as flowback

 22.5 MM BBLs of produce

generated during producti

‐74% of total wastewate

 Generate ~10 BBLs of fluid

1 million cubic feet of ga

 87% of flowback and prod

recycled in 2013 in PA
2013 Wastewater Recycling Tr

 Flowback reuse trends

 2.2 MM BBLs trea

plants (WMGR123

 5.4MM BBLs reuse 71%% recycling oc

vs. 29% at WMGR

 94% overall reuse 

 Produced water reuse 

 3.3 MM BBLs trea

plants (WMGR123

 15.7 MM BBLs reu 83%% recycling oc

vs. 17% at WMGR

 84% overall reuse 
Produced Fluid Management Op

Produced fluid manoptions  Direct reuse (blend On-site treatment  Off-site treatment w UIC well disposalTreatment technolo Filter socks Chemical precipita Electrocoagulation Evaporation (MVR Filtration Costs of <$2 to $1

During 2013 in PA ~gas flowback and pwas recycled and ~(mainly via injection 
PA 2013 Wastewater Disposal T

 3.8 MM BLs of flowback and prod

disposed of

-15% disposal rate of produced water-6% disposal rate of flowback water

 3.2 MMBBLs in Class II-D UIC we

 85% disposal rate

 587 MBBLs via centralized plant d

 15% disposal rate

 3530 BBLs via landfill

 <0.1% disposal rate

 105 BBLs via road spreading

 <0.01% disposal rate

Source: API
Brine Disposal In Pennsylv

• 7 operating Class IId UIC well

recently issued permits

• Approximately 3.2 MMBBLs o

produced water generated in 2in UIC wells

• Every 1 MMCF of Marcellus g

~10 BBLs of produced water

• ~1.3 BBLs of flowback/produc

of via UIC wells for each 1 MMgas

• Distribution of UIC disposal in 

– 95% of the disposed brine 

into 42 of Ohio’s UIC well

– 4% of the disposed brine 

into 2 PA UIC wells

– 1% of the disposed brine 

into 4 WV UIC wells 
Class II-

Wells in 

• 191 Class 

in OH

• Injected ~1

BBLs in 20

• 51% of inje

from out of 

• Average in

rate of 235 per well 

Projected Increase in Marcel

Produced Fluids Disposal via UIC 
Generating Less Fluids and Mor
Getting More Bang Per Bar
Northeast US Production
U.S. Natural Gas Producti
Best Management Tren

Best management practices: Flowback and produced water reuse

 Closed loop drilling and fluids storage

 Lining well pads to minimize releases Use of natural gas‐powered rigs and f

 Use of green completions/vapor recoShale energy production is increasing an

do soEfficient and environmentally acceptabl

management strategies are crucial

PA has emerged as

a global leader in sha

treatment and recyclingSignificant volumes of solids are being la

there better management techniques?
Thank you!!

PSU MCOR320 EES BuildinUniversity Park, 814-865-1587 (owww.marcellus.p

The End