A new oil and gas workshop entitled “Appalachian Basin Technology” will present updates of environmental research on hydraulic fracturing, which includes three experimental well site laboratories by West Virginia University, Ohio State University and others.
The workshop will take place on Wed., July 20, at the Hilton Garden Inn/Southpointe, Canonsburg, Pa., south of Pittsburgh. WVU’s Petroleum Technology Transfer Council’s Appalachian Region (PTTC) and the Research Partnership to Secure Energy for American (RPSEA) are sponsoring the event.
The three hydraulic fracturing well site experiments received major funding from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory and industry to improve the technology and reduce the environmental footprint of these wells.
Dr. Paul Ziemkiewicz, director of the WVU Water Research Institute, will give an environmental research update on the Marcellus Shale Energy and Environmental Laboratory (MSEEL) near Morgantown, WV. Zachary Arnold, general manager – Operations, Northeast Natural Energy, will give an operations update for the same drill site.
Dr. Jeff Daniels, director, Utica Shale Energy and Environmental Lab, Ohio State University, will present environmental research on the Utica Shale Hydraulic Fracturing Field Test (USEEL).
The third experiment was conducted in the West Texas Permian basin resulting in lessons learned that can be applied to all fracturing operations, including those in the Appalachian basin. Jordan Ciezobka, Gas Technology Institute, will present.
Additional research to be presented includes:
• modeling stress measurements in the Marcellus Shale,
• brine disposal in the northern Appalachian basin,
• water handling and enhanced productivity from gas shales, and
• guidance for water sampling for development of shale oil and gas plays.
The idea for this new Appalachian basin workshop came from PTTC Director Doug Patchen. He was inspired by a new workshop RPSEA was developing for the Gulf Coast. “RPSEA was creating a workshop in which ‘the best of RPSEA’ projects for the last 10 years in the Gulf Coast would be presented. My immediate thought was, why can’t we do a similar workshop in this area?
“I wanted to present the best projects of direct interest to industry in the Appalachian basin, thus saving time and travel costs. RPSEA agreed. Working with them we produced this workshop that highlights the best of RPSEA- and DOE-funded research projects in the Appalachian basin,” Patchen said.
Registration is $50. For individuals needing professional development hours, certificates will be provided. Agenda and registration at www.rpsea.org/events/515.
-WVU-
tn/06/28/16
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