Almost all hydraulic fracturing done in California happens in the southwest portion of the San Joaquin basin in Kern County, said a scientific study released by the California Natural Resources Agency, the California Council on Science & Technology (CCST), and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
“This assessment represents the consensus findings of this diverse group of scientists on the future of oil and gas production in California and on the types of well stimulation treatments occurring in the state,” said Steven Bohlen, state oil and gas supervisor and a former researcher at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
“With this data we can provide greater focus on the potential environmental impacts of these activities,” said Bohlen, who is also former associate chief geologist for science at the US Geological Survey. “The main concerns…will be to work towards ensuring these techniques are conducted transparently, based on sound science, and in ways that protect the environment and public safety.”
Other key findings in the assessment included:
• Current fracturing activities in California differ from those in other states. Fracturing practices in other states do not necessarily apply to current fracturing in California, which tends to be performed in shallower wells that are vertical as opposed to horizontal and requires much less water per well. Researchers said fracturing jobs in California use fluids with more concentrated chemicals than in other states.
• Geologic assessment indicates that large unconventional natural gas resources on a large, basin scale (such as the Marcellus and Barnett shales or in the Piceance basin) probably do not exist in California.
• Oil reserve forecasts from deep source rocks in the Monterey formation are highly uncertain. Investigators found no reports of significant production from the Monterey or other source rocks so far in California. If and when operators attempt production in these reservoirs, they will need innovative technology to make recovery economically feasible, the study said.
During a conference call after the report was released on Jan. 14, study co-leader Jane Long of CCST, said data does not exist yet to understand the potential of the Monterey formation.
First of three studies
The report was the first of three studies as required by California state legislation from 2013. The first report, or Volume 1, described well stimulation treatments, how they are conducted in general and practiced in California, and where fracturing is used in the state.
Researchers conducted independent scientific and technical assessment of well completion techniques primarily focusing on lands administered by the US Bureau of Land Management.
Final peer-reviewed copies of Volume 2 and Volume 3 are scheduled to be submitted to the Natural Resources Agency by July 1.
The second report will assess the potential impacts of WST with respect to water, air quality, and greenhouse gas emissions. It will also study seismicity, ecology, traffic and noise. The third report will present case studies to assess environmental issues and qualitative hazards for specific geographic regions, based on findings from the earlier two volumes.
Contact Paula Dittrick at [email protected].
*Paula Dittrick is editor of OGJ’s Unconventional Oil & Gas Report.
