# Appalachian)Shale)Energy)) Produced)Fluids)Management)) and)UIC)Well)Disposal)Trends

Dave) Yoxtheimer ,)PG) Hydrogeologist Penn!State!Marcellus!Center!for!Outreach!and!Research



## Low))Cost)Produced)Water)Management) Marcellus)and)UFca)Shale)2016) March)30,)2016

# PA Shale Energy Water Use and Brine Generation

Average)use)about)1.5)million)gallons)(~36)MBBLs))per)1,000)feet)of)lateral))

• About)7)million)gallons)per)well)(~120)MBBLs))

Average)return)of) flowback )in)Marcellus)approximately)7%)per)well)

• 7.23)MMBBLs)of) flowback )generated)in)PA)in)2015)from)668)wells)

Average)produced)fluids)of)6.7)BBLs)for)every)1)MMCF)of)gas))

• 31)MMBBLs)of)produced)fluid)generated)in)2015)with)) 4.6)TCF)of)gas))

# Average Water Use Per Well in PA

Schmid !and!Yoxtheimer,!2015!

# Well length vs Water use per foot in PA

Schmid !and!Yoxtheimer,!2015!

# Relative Volumes of Frac Water Used in PA

Schmid !and!Yoxtheimer,!2015!

# Shale Fluid Management Options

Produced fluid management options  Direct reuse (blending)  On-site treatment w/reuse  Off-site treatment w/reuse  UIC well disposal
Recycling treatment technologies include  Filter socks  Chemical precipitation  Electrocoagulation  Filtration (micro, nano , ultra)  Evaporation (MVR common)  Costs of <$2 to $10+/BBL
Disposal technologies include  Desalination with discharge  Class IID UIC well injection
In Pennsylvania during 2015 a total of 38 MMBBLs of fluids generated -87.5% of shale gas return fluids recycled -6.4% disposed via injection wells -4.5% treated to meet discharge standards 70% of fluids management for recycling occurring in the fieldSummary of PA Shale Production in 2015

• 6626 producing wells

• 4.6 TCF of gas produced

• 38 MMBBLs of brine produced

• 8.25 BBLs brine produced per MMCF gas

# Marcellus Shale Energy and Brine Production

Current Production

• 17 BCFD of Marcellus gas w/12.6 BCFD in PA

• Current estimate of 105,000 BBLs/D of produced fluids in PA

• In PA 87.5% recycled, 6.4% to Class IID wells, 4.5% to NPDES facility, balance in storage, landfills, transfer

• Disposing of ~6,600 BBLs/D of brine via UIC wells

• Currently require ~13 UIC wells capable of 500 BPD to dispose of brine in PA

Source:!EIA!

# PA Class IID Disposal Well Locations

-11 EPA-permitted Class IID UIC wells in PA w/ 5 permits in review -278,700 BPM of total capacity with 90,000 BPM of commercial capacity via 3 wells
-Most wells targeting depleted sandstone gas reservoirs ( Oriskany , Medina, Elk Sands)
-Total 2014 unconventional brine injection in PA UIC wells was 157K BBLs (430 BPD)
-Nearly 95% of PA unconventional brine disposed of via OH wells

# Example of Injection CapacityOriskany Sandstone
Oriskany sandstone -calcite-cemented quartzite to chert with variable primary and fracture porosity -depleted conventional gas reservoir -used for brine injection and gas storage



### Estimated Brine Injection Capacity (Volumetric) -Using effective porosity of 4%, 50 feet of pay, and 40-ac injection zone area -A typical injection well in the depleted Oriskany sandstone could ultimately accommodate an estimated 620,000 BBLs (~26 million gallons) of brine before filling available porosity -Need to determine reservoir frac pressure to determine actual upper limit of injection

Source:! Kostelnik !and!Carter,! 2009!Summary of WV Shale Production for 2014

• 2878 producing wells (1420 horizontal wells)

• 851.8 BCF of gas production (1.4 BCF/D)

• 8.4 MMBBLs of liquids production (12.9 MBBLs/D)

• Estimated 7.2 MMBBLs brine or 19,800 BBLs/ D of brine Source:WVGES

# WV Class IID Disposal Wells

• 46 active disposal wells

• 14 commercial disposal wells

• Target formations include:

– Oriskany
,

– Newburg,

– Upper Devonian (Gordon, Gantz )

– Mississippian units



### • Geology and injection rates similar to PA wells (estimated range of 100-1,000 BPD)0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

*+ *20,000,000 *40,000,000 *60,000,000 *80,000,000 *100,000,000 *120,000,000

2014 2019 2024 2029 2034 2039Number'of'WellsGas'and'Brine'Production'

Axis'Title Projected'Marcellus'Gas'and'Brine'Production' with'Number'of'Brine'Disposal'Wells''

Gas*Production (MCF/yr)

Brine*Production (BBLs/yr)

Number*of*500 BPD*Class*IID*UIC Wells*Needed

Number*of*Existing Commercial*Class IID*Wells*in*WV and*PA

# Utica-Pt. Pleasant Production in OH

2015 Summary of Ohio’s Utica and Point Pleasant Shale Production



### • 1246 producing wells (to date)

• 21.9 MMBBLs oil

• 954 BCF of gas produced

• 13.5 MMBBLs of brine produced

• 12.5 BBLs of brine/MMCF of gas (including BOE)

Source: ODNR Records

# Utica/Pt. Pleasant Shale Energy and Brine Production

Current Production

• 3.6 BCF/D of gas

• 90 MBBLs/D of oil

• Current estimate of 37,000 BBLs/D of produced fluids (assuming 12.5 BBLs brine per MMCF gas)

Source:!EIA!

# Class IID UIC Wells in Ohio

• 227 permitted with 215 operational Class IID wells in OH

• Estimated 31.2 MMBBLs injected in 2015

• Approximately 47% of injected fluids from out of state

• Average injection rate of 400 BPD/well

# Considerations for Class IID Siting and Use

 Finding suitable areas for projects, ideally away from residential areas yet near production

 Locating area with appropriate geologic setting with sufficient depth and permeability and lack of faulting

 Proper maintenance to ensure well integrity

 Permitting can take several years

 Public opposition

# Questions??

Thank)you!!)

David) Yoxtheimer ,)P.G.)) Extension)Associate) PSU)MCOR) 320)EES)Building) University)Park,)PA)16802) 814]865]1587)(office)) day122@psu.edu) www.marcellus.psu.edu)