EPA's Study of Hydraulic Fracturing and Its Potential Impact on Drinking Water Resources

Hydraulic Fracturing Study: March 2011 Technical Workshop on Well Construction and Operations

The proceedings from the Well Construction and Operations Workshop include a summary of the presentations and discussion sessions as well as abstracts for each presentation.

View Proceedings of Other 2011 Technical Workshops for the Hydraulic Fracturing Study

Related Information

Citing Information from the Abstracts and Presentations

To cite information found in the abstract, use the following:
Author. 2011. Title of Abstract. Proceedings of the Technical Workshops for the Hydraulic Fracturing Study: Well Construction & Operations, Arlington, Virginia.
Publication No. EPA 600-R-11-046.

To cite information found in the presentation, use the following:
Author. 2011. Title of Presentation. Presented at US EPA Technical Workshop for the Hydraulic Fracturing Study: Well Construction & Operations, Arlington, Virginia.

Disclaimer

The views expressed in these Proceedings are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Any mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.

► View and print the entire Proceedings of the Technical Workshops for the Hydraulic Fracturing Study: Well Construction and Operations (PDF) (158 pp, 3 MB) EPA 600-R-11-046, May 2011

Presentations and Individual Abstracts

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Well Construction Theme
Fracture Design and Stimulation Theme
Well Integrity Theme

Well Construction Theme

Technical Presentation Session 1: Considerations for Aquifer Protection
- Overview of the Well Construction Sessions (PDF) (11 pp, 1MB)
  Contributed by Bob Whiteside, Texas World Operations
- Public Water Sources and Hydraulic Fracturing – A State Drinking Water Perspective (PDF) (19 pp, 633K)
  Contributed by Mark Jensen, Utah Department of Environmental Quality
- Well Completion Methods for Aquifer Protection (PDF) (16 pp, 871K)
  Contributed by Bill Godsey, GeoLogic Environmental Services, LLC

Technical Presentation Session 2: Well Design
- Well Planning and Construction Techniques (PDF) (16 pp, 1MB)
  Contributed by Carolyn Debrick, Devon Energy
- Production Casing Design Considerations (PDF) (41 pp, 2MB)
  Contributed by Brad Hansen, Devon Energy
- Well Construction Practices in the Marcellus (PDF) (11 pp, 1MB)
  Contributed by Cody Teff, Shell Exploration and Production Company

Technical Presentation Session 3: Drilling and Completion
- Multi-Well Pad, Tight Gas, Directional Drilling Program Protects Aquifers (PDF) (23 pp, 2MB)
  Contributed by Jay Foreman, Williams Production
- Casing Perforating Overview (PDF) (27 pp, 2MB)
  Contributed by Brad Hansen, Devon Energy
- Cementing, Cement Quality Evaluation/Logs and Zonal Isolation
  for Hydraulically Fractured Wells (PDF) (19 pp, 1MB)
  Contributed by Talib Syed, TSA, Inc.

Fracture Design and Stimulation Theme

Technical Presentation Session 4: Geologic Assessment
- The Distribution of Natural Fractures Above a Gas Shale: Questions About Whether Deep Fracture Fluid Leaks into Groundwater Outside the Realm of Faulty Borehole Construction (PDF) (35 pp, 17MB)
  Contributed by Terry Engelder, Pennsylvania State University
- Evaluation of Well Records and Geophysical Logs to Determine the Presence of Freshwater, Saltwater, and Gas above the Marcellus Shale, South-Central New York (PDF) (23 pp, 2MB)
  Contributed by John Williams, US Geological Survey

Technical Presentation Session 5: Fracture Propagation
- Fracture Design in Horizontal Shale Wells – Data Gathering to Implementation (PDF) (36 pp, 3MB)
  Contributed by Tim Beard, Chesapeake Energy
- Evaluating Hydraulic Fracture Propagation in a Shallow Sandstone Interval (PDF) (21 pp, 2MB)
  Contributed by David Cramer, ConocoPhillips
- Hydraulic Fracturing in Coalbed Methane Development, Raton Basin, Southern Colorado (PDF) (10 pp, 2MB)
  Contributed by Hal Macartney, Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc.

Technical Presentations Session 6: Monitoring
- Fracture Design and Stimulation - Monitoring (PDF) (24 pp, 4MB)
  Contributed by Mike Eberhard, Halliburton Energy Services
- A Case History of Tracking Water Movement Through Fracture Systems
  in the Barnett Shale (PDF) (19 pp, 1MB)
  Contributed by Patrick Handren, Denbury Resources
- Measurements and Observations of Fracture Height Growth (PDF) (19 pp, 2MB)
  Contributed by Norman Warpinski, Pinnacle - A Halliburton Service

Technical Presentation Session 7: Verifying Zonal Isolation
- Sustainable Fracturing Rationale to Reach Well Objectives - The Impact of Uncertainties and Complexities on Compliance Assurances (PDF) (19 pp, 3MB)
  Contributed by Ahmed Abou-Sayed, Advantek International
- Design and Rationale for a Field Experiment using Tracers in Hydraulic Fracture Fluid (PDF) (17 pp, 4MB)
  Contributed by Daniel Soeder, US Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory
- Review of Stimulation Water Retention Mechanisms and Likelihood of Fluid Communication
  with Shallow Aquifers (PDF) (27 pp, MB)
  Contributed by Scott Cline, Unaffiliated

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Well Integrity Theme

Technical Presentation Session 8: Pre- and Post-Hydraulic Fracturing Well Integrity Test Methods
- Assessment Methods for Well Integrity during the Hydraulic Fracturing Cycle (PDF) (21 pp, 3MB)
  Contributed by Jim Bolander, Southwestern Energy
- Pre & Post Well Integrity Methods for Hydraulically Fractured/Stimulated Wells (PDF) (31 pp, 2MB)
  Contributed by Talib Syed, TSA, Inc.

Technical Presentation Session 9: Case Studies
- Case Study for Well Integrity over a Full Life Cycle (PDF) (36 pp, 935K)
  Contributed by Lloyd Hetrick, Newfield Exploration Company
- Risks to Drinking Water from Oil and Gas Wellbore Construction and Integrity:
  Case Studies and Lessons Learned (PDF) (44 pp, 1MB)
  Contributed by Briana Mordick, Natural Resources Defense Council

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