| Title | A hypothetical geomechanics model for the assessment of potential environmental impact of shale gas fracking - Part I: from ground water perspective |
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| Author | Wang, B |
| Source | GeoMontréal 2013, Proceedings of the Canadian Geotechnical Conference; 2013 p. 1-8 |
| Image |  |
| Year | 2013 |
| Alt Series | Earth Sciences Sector, Contribution Series 20130043 |
| Publisher | Canadian Geotechnical Society |
| Meeting | GéoMontréal 2013, the 66th Canadian Geotechnical Conference and the 11th Joint CGS/IAH-CNC Groundwater Conference; Montreal; CA; September 29 - October 3, 2013 |
| Document | book |
| Lang. | English |
| Media | paper |
| File format | pdf |
| Subjects | fossil fuels; environmental geology; hydrogeology; shales; environmental impacts; groundwater; groundwater pollution; groundwater resources; models; modelling; mechanical analyses; fluid mechanics;
Utica Shale |
| Illustrations | location maps; cross-sections; graphs; plots |
| Program | Environmental
Geoscience Shale Gas - groundwater |
| Released | 2013 01 01 |
| Abstract | A hypothetical geomechanics model is presented for the assessment of ground condition change in response to shale gas extraction in the Utica shale region, eastern Canada. It is based on the fact that
hydraulic fracturing reduces the stiffness of the shale unit and alters the in-situ stress. If a large body of rock is fractured, stress would re-distribute itself in the overall rock structure. A discontinuum model was used for the analysis. The
results confirmed the hypothesis. Based on the level of ground deformation obtained from this study and other reported data, the hydraulic conductivity of the caprock may experience an increase by one to two orders of magnitude. This may cause
regional ground water flow regime change that should be further studied. |
| Summary | (Plain Language Summary, not published)
A hypothetical geomechanical model is presented for the assessment of ground condition change in response to shale gas extraction in the Utica shale
region, Eastern Canada. It is based on the fact that hydraulic fracturing reduces the stiffness of the shale unit. If a large body of rock is fractured, stress would re-distribute itself in the overall rock structure. A discontinuum model was used
for the analysis. The results confirmed the hypothesis. Based on the level of ground deformation obtained from this study and other reported data, the hydraulic conductivity of the caprock may experience an increase by one to two orders of magnitude.
This may cause regional ground water flow regime change that should be further studied. |
| GEOSCAN ID | 292567 |
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