Purification of flowback fluids after hydraulic fracturing of Polish gas shales by hybrid methods

ABSTRACT

Hydraulic fracturing is a process that is used for the stimulation of impermeable rocks in order to release the trapped natural gas. Flowback fluid contains many different chemical ingredients used in the fracturing process; it also holds compounds leached from the bedrock. The production of a large amount of toxic fluids leads to the necessity of purification for recycling to reduce environmental impact. In this paper, the results of studies on the purification of flowback fluids by the combination of various processes such as filtration, advanced oxidation, and ion exchange are presented. The technological scheme of the treatment is proposed.

KEYWORDS:

• Flowback treatment
• hydraulic fracturing
• shale gas

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the team from Laboratory of Nuclear Analytical Methods, INCT, for their valuable help in carrying out the chemical analysis.

Funding

The research was supported by NCBR Research Project BG2/PYROGAS/14, Conspan – BlueGas – technology of purification of flowback with recovery of water and valuable metals.

Additional information

Funding

The research was supported by NCBR Research Project BG2/PYROGAS/14, Conspan – BlueGas – technology of purification of flowback with recovery of water and valuable metals.