251268 Unconventional gas development from shale plays: Myths and realities related to human health impacts

Tuesday, November 1, 2011: 4:30 PM

A. R. Ingraffea, PhD, PE , School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
     
We will explore some myths and realities concerning large-scale development of the unconventional natural gas resource in Marcellus and other shale deposits in the Northeast. On a local scale, these concern geological aspects of the plays, and the resulting development and use of directional drilling, high-volume, slickwater, hydraulic fracturing, multi-well pad arrangements, and the impacts of these technologies on waste production and disposal. On a global scale, we will also explore the cumulative impact of unconventional gas development on greenhouse gas loading of the atmosphere.

Learning Areas:
Environmental health sciences
Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines

Learning Objectives:
1. Explain the need for large volumes of wastes produced by unconventional gas development. 2. Identify human exposure possibilities routes for harmful chemicals used in unconventional gas development.

Keywords: Public Health, Environmental Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Background, Publications, and Projects Related to Hydraulic Fracturing and Gas Pipeline Safety PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES American Rock Mechanics Association/Foundation • Founding Member • Member of the Board, 1999-2003 International Society for Rock Mechanics AWARDS IN ROCK MECHANICS National Research Council/U.S. National Committee for Rock Mechanics 1978 Award for Outstanding Research in Rock Mechanics at the Doctoral Level National Research Council/U. S. National Committee for Rock Mechanics 1991 Award for Applied Research for the paper, "Simulation of Hydraulic Fracture Propagation in Poroelastic Rock with Application to Stress Measurement Techniques", co-authored by TJ Boone, Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci. & Geomech. Abstr., 28, 1, 1-14, 1991. International Association for Computer Methods and Advances in Geomechanics 1994 Significant Paper Award: One of Five Significant Papers in the category of Computational/Analytical Applications in the past 20 years, “A Numerical Procedure for Simulation of Hydraulically-driven Fracture Propagation in Poroelastic Media”, co-authored with TJ Boone, Int. J. Num. Analyt. Meth. in Geomech., 14, 1, 1990. ARCHIVAL JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS 1. Ingraffea AR, Heuze FE. Finite Element Models for Rock Fracture Mechanics. Int. J. Num. Analyt. Meth. Geomech., 4, 1980, 25 - 43. 2. Ingraffea AR, Gunsallus KL, Beech JF, Nelson PP. A Short - Rod Based System for Fracture Toughness Testing of Rock. ASTM STP 855: Chevron - Notched Specimens: Testing and Stress Analysis, 1984, 152 - 166. 3. Boone TJ, Wawrzynek P, Ingraffea AR. Simulation of the Fracture Process in Rock with Application to Hydro-fracturing. Int. J. Rock Mech. Mining Sciences, 23, 3, 1986, 255 - 265. 4. Boone TJ, Wawrzynek P, Ingraffea, AR. Finite Element Modeling of Fracture Propagation in Orthotropic Materials. Eng. Fract. Mech., 26, 2, 1987, 185 - 201. 5. Ingraffea AR, Barry A. Analytical Study of Transmission, Distribution Lines under Railroads. Pipe Line Industry, October 1989, 34 - 39. 6. Boone TJ, Ingraffea AR. A Numerical Procedure for Simulation of Hydraulically - Driven Fracture Propagation in Poroelastic Media. Int. J. Num. Analyt. Meth. Geomech., 14, 1990, 27-47. 7. Boone TJ, Ingraffea AR, Roegiers J - C. Visualization of Hydraulically- Driven Fracture Propagation in Poroelastic Media Using a Super – Workstation. J. Petroleum Tech, June 1989, 574 - 580. 8. Heuze F, Shaffer RJ, Ingraffea AR, Nilson RH. Propagation of Fluid-driven fractures in Jointed Rock. Part 1 - Development and Validation of Methods of Analysis. Int. J. Rock Mech. Mining Sci. & Geomech. Abstr., 27, 4, 243 - 254, 1990. 9. Boone TJ, Ingraffea AR, Roegiers JC. Simulation of Hydraulic Fracture Propagation in Poroelastic Rock with Application to Stress Measurement Techniques. Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci. & Geomech. Abstr., 28, 1, 1-14, 1991. 10. Sousa J, Carter B, Ingraffea AR. Numerical Simulation of 3D Hydraulic Fracture Using Newtonian and Power-Law Fluids. Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci. & Geomech. Abstr., 30, 7, 1265-1271, 1993. 11. Shah KR, Carter BJ, Ingraffea AR. Hydraulic Fracturing Simulation in Parallel Computing Environment. Int. J. Rock Mech. & Min. Sci., 34, 3-4, Paper 282, 1997. 12. Hwang CG, Wawrzynek, PA, Ingraffea AR. On the virtual crack extension method for calculating the derivatives of energy release rates for a 3D planar crack of arbitrary shape under mode-I loading. Eng. Fract. Mech., 68:925-947, 2001. 13. Hwang CG, Ingraffea AR. Shape prediction and stability analysis of Mode-I planar cracks. Eng. Fract. Mech., 71:1751-1777, 2004. 14. Hwang CG, Ingraffea AR. Virtual crack extension method for calculating the second order derivatives of energy release rates for multiply cracked systems. Eng. Fract. Mech., 74:1468-1487, 2007. EXTERNALLY FUNDED RESEARCH PROJECTS 1. "An Investigation into Mixed - Mode Fracture Propagation in Rock," National Science Foundation Research Initiation Grant ENG78 - 05402, 4/78 - 3/80, $25,000, Principal Investigator. 2. "Laboratory Testing of the Crack - at - an - Interface Problem," Sandia National Laboratories Contract No. 13 - 5038, 5/79 - 5/80, $42,000, Principal Investigator. 3. "Research in Fracture Mechanics", Exxon Education Foundation, 9/89-9/92, $30,000, Principal Investigator. 4. "Numerical Investigations into Crack Propagation in Rock," National Science Foundation Grant CEE - 8316730, 6/1/84 - 5/30/86, $150,000. Principal Investigator 5. "Influence of Perforations Upon Subsequent Hydraulic Fracturing," Digital Equipment Corp. and Dowell Schlumberger, 1/88 - 12/96, $448,000. Principal Investigator. 6. “Computational Simulation of Hydrofracturing”, NSF CISE Postdoctoral Associate Award for Dr. K. Shah. 11/95-10/97, $46,200. Principal Investigator. 7. "Evaluation of Cased and Uncased Gas Distribution and Transmission Piping Under Railroads and Highways”, Gas Research Institute, 11/86 - 1/94, $ 3,602,035. Co-Principal Investigator. T. D. O'Rourke and H. Stewart, Co-Principal Investigators.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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