The water footprint of hydraulic fracturing for shale gas extraction in China.

The rapid expansion of shale gas extraction worldwide has raised significant concerns about its impact on water resources. China is expected to undergo a shale revolution following the U.S.

Shale gas wastewater geochemistry and impact on the quality of surface water in Sichuan Basin.

Shale gas wastewater (SGW) disposal is a major challenge in the areas in central China due to its increasing volume associated with intensification of shale gas exploration and its high levels of contaminants. In the Fuling shale gas field of Sichuan Basin, a small amount of SGW originated from the flowback and produced water (FPW) is treated and then discharged to a local stream. This study investigated the inorganic water geochemistry and Sr isotopic composition of the FPW in Fuling shale gas field, the SGW effluent that is generated in the treatment facility, and the quality of a local river after the disposal of treated SGW.

Hydrochemistry of flowback water from Changning shale gas field and associated shallow groundwater in Southern Sichuan Basin, China: Implications for the possible impact of shale gas development on groundwater quality.

The worldwide expansion of shale gas production and increased use of hydraulic fracturing have raised public concerns about safety and risks of groundwater resources in shale gas extraction areas. China has the largest shale gas resources in the world, most of which are located in the Sichuan Basin. Shale gas extraction in the Sichuan Basin has been increasing rapidly in recent years.

Origin of Flowback and Produced Waters from Sichuan Basin, China.

Shale gas extraction through hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling is increasing in China, particularly in Sichuan Basin. Production of unconventional shale gas with minimal environmental effects requires adequate management of wastewater from flowback and produced water (FP water) that is coextracted with natural gas. Here we present, for the first time, inorganic chemistry and multiple isotope (oxygen, hydrogen, boron, strontium, radium) data for FP water from 13 shale gas wells from the Lower Silurian Longmaxi Formation in the Weiyuan gas field, as well as produced waters from 35 conventional gas wells from underlying (Sinian, Cambrian) and overlying (Permian, Triassic) formations in Sichuan Basin.

The water footprint of hydraulic fracturing in Sichuan Basin, China.

Shale gas is likely to play a major role in China's transition away from coal. In addition to technological and infrastructural constraints, the main challenges to China's sustainable shale gas development are sufficient shale gas production, water availability, and adequate wastewater management. Here we present, for the first time, actual data of shale gas production and its water footprint from the Weiyuan gas field, one of the major gas fields in Sichuan Basin.

Water Availability for Shale Gas Development in Sichuan Basin, China.

Unconventional shale gas development holds promise for reducing the predominant consumption of coal and increasing the utilization of natural gas in China. While China possesses some of the most abundant technically recoverable shale gas resources in the world, water availability could still be a limiting factor for hydraulic fracturing operations, in addition to geological, infrastructural, and technological barriers. Here, we project the baseline water availability for the next 15 years in Sichuan Basin, one of the most promising shale gas basins in China.