Hydraulic fracturing water use variability in the United States and potential environmental implications

Tanya J Gallegos; Brian A Varela; Seth S Haines; Mark A Engle

doi:10.1002/2015WR017278

Hydraulic fracturing water use variability in the United States and potential environmental implications

Water Resour Res. 2015 Jul;51(7):5839-5845. doi: 10.1002/2015WR017278. Epub 2015 Jul 24.

Authors

Tanya J Gallegos¹, Brian A Varela², Seth S Haines², Mark A Engle³

Affiliations

¹ U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Energy Resources Science Center Reston Virginia USA.
² U.S. Geological Survey, Central Energy Resources Science Center Denver Colorado USA.
³ U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Energy Resources Science Center Reston Virginia USA; Department of Geological Sciences University of Texas at El Paso El Paso Texas USA.

Abstract

A U.S. map of water volumes used to hydraulically fracture oil and gas wells, 2011-2014Hydraulic fracturing water volumes differ regionally across the U.S.Discussion of variation in water use and potential environmental implications.

Keywords: hydraulic fracturing; shale gas; unconventional oil and gas; water use; well stimulation.