Risk Analysis in the Process of Hydraulic Fracturing

Abstract

This chapter focuses on risk to the environment from hydraulic fracturing operations, starting with transport of materials and ending when the well is routed to the production facilities. The initial assumption for the fracturing risk analysis is that the well is new and was constructed correctly so that all producible formations are securely isolated behind the barriers of casing and competent cement. The justification for this assumption is that the vast majority of fracturing is the first major stimulation in a well and occurs immediately after completing a new well. Although many well development problems are blamed on fracturing, there are only excluded problems that are real and worthy of the discussion to help define boundaries of the fracturing risk (King, 2012).