| dc.description.abstract |
Wastewater generation poses significant challenges to the future of shale oil and
gas extraction. With the rapid expansion of hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling
operations, solutions for wastewater management are in high demand. This client project
for Waste Management, Inc. reviews characteristics of produced and flow-back water
in ten active shale formations, federal and state regulatory constraints on water
supply and management practices in thirteen states, current wastewater management
practices, and current and emerging wastewater treatment technologies. We conclude
that recycling wastewater for reuse in additional hydraulic fracturing activities
is preferred over other management practices. We evaluate current and emerging treatment
technologies using criteria based on cost, potential environmental impact, potential
community impact, regulatory requirements, suitability for waste stream characteristics,
and other technological considerations. We employ a combination of qualitative and
quantitative methods to rank technologies and propose technologies for each shale
formation.
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