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In North Texas, the Barnett Shale underlies large areas of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex (DFW), which magnifies debates about the externalities of shale gas development (SGD). Continued demand for natural gas and expansive urbanization in DFW will cause more people to come in contact with drilling rigs, gas transport, and other urban shale gas landscapes. Thousands of gas wells within the DFW region occupy a large, yet scattered land surface area. DFW city planners, elected officials, and other stakeholders must deal with current and future urban growth and the surface impacts that are associated with gas development. This research examines how shale gas landscapes affect urban land uses, landscapes, and patterns of development in DFW. The study focuses on multiple fast growing DFW municipalities that also have high numbers of gas well pad sites. This study asks what are the spatial characteristics of gas well production sites in DFW and how do these sites vary across the region; how do gas well production sites affect urban growth and development; and how are city governments and surface developers responding to gas well production sites, and what are the dominant themes of contestation arising around gas well production sites and suburban growth?

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[pt] Esta dissertação teve por objetivo expor os principais diferenciais entre um software comercial de projeto de fraturamento hidráulico (FH) com desenvolvimento de rede de fraturas discretas tridimensional e softwares de projeto de fraturamento convencional, apresentando uma análise dos efeitos da variação dos principais parâmetros que influenciam os resultados da simulação em cima de um caso real (Coeficiente de Filtrado Total e Espaçamento entre Planos de Fratura). Como esclarecimento do principal cenário de fraturamento não convencional foram apresentadas a descrição e principais propriedades de shale gas/oil (gás de folhelho e óleo de folhelho), expondo em seguida as teorias das geometrias ortogonais e a importância das fraturas naturais que embasam as doutrinas do DFN. Enquanto no fraturamento convencional adota-se um modelo de fratura planar com duas asas simétricas em relação ao poço, no fraturamento em shale gas/oil o modelo atualmente aceito é o de criação/ativação de uma fratura dominante e uma rede de fraturas paralelas e fraturas ortogonais à dominante. Foram apresentados as premissas da modelagem, as equações adicionais em relação ao FH convencional, os critérios adotados para a solução destas equações e os dados de entrada adicionais relativos à rede de fraturas. Para ilustrar os diferenciais de modelagem convencional e com rede de fraturas discretas foram apresentadas as equações governantes de um simulador pseudotridimensional convencional (P3D) e as equações governantes do simulador com criação de rede de fraturas estudado (MShale). Uma vez que os dados de entrada adicionais são o maior desafio para os projetistas de FH, apresentou-se um capítulo sobre os mesmos, com um exemplo de entrada de dados real comentado e um capítulo descrevendo as formas de saída de dados do simulador. Concluiu-se que o coeficiente de filtrado total tem grande impacto na geometria e condutividade da fratura dominante e rede de fraturas secundárias, influenciando também as concentrações de agente de sustentação, como também ficou provado que a interação entre fraturas responde pela variação do espaçamento assumido entre os planos de fratura. Verificou-se que não se deve usar softwares de projeto de fraturamento convencional em cenários de reservatórios não convencionais, pois os resultados são irrealistas. Apontou-se deficiências do software de projeto de fraturamento hidráulico com rede de fraturas analisado, como a falta de opção de se considerar, para cada fluido utilizado, o seu respectivo coeficiente de filtrado total. Espera-se que esta dissertação seja útil aos projetistas de fraturamento hidráulico ao lidar com reservatórios não convencionais como shale gas/oil e que estimule o interesse da academia por este tema. / [en] This dissertation aimed to present the main differences between commercial software for hydraulic fracturing with the development of a three - dimensional discrete fracture network and conventional fracture design software, presenting an analysis of the effects of the variation of the main parameters that influence the simulation results on a real case (Total Leakoff Coefficient and Spacing between Fracture Plans). As a clarification of the main unconventional fracturing scenario, the description and main properties of shale gas/oil were presented. Following the theories of the orthogonal geometries and the importance of the natural fractures that support the doctrines of the DFN. While in the conventional fracture, a planar fracture model with two symmetrical wings is used in relation to the well, in the shale gas/oil fracturing, the currently accepted model is the creation/activation of a dominant fracture and a network of parallel fractures and fractures orthogonal to the dominant. The modeling assumptions, the additional equations in relation to the conventional hydraulic fracture, the criteria adopted for the solution of these equations and the additional input data related to the fracture network were presented. To illustrate the conventional modeling differences and discrete fracture network, we have presented the governing equations of a conventional pseudo-three-dimensional simulator (P3D) and the governing equations of the simulator with the creation of a fracture network studied (MShale). Since additional input data is the biggest challenge for hydraulic fracturing designers, a chapter on them has been presented, with an example of actual commented data input and a chapter describing the simulator data output. It was concluded that the total filtration coefficient has a great impact on the geometry and conductivity of the dominant fracture and the network of secondary fractures, also influencing the concentrations of proppant, as it was also proved that the interaction between fractures corresponds to the variation of the assumed spacing between the fracture planes. It was verified that conventional fracture design software should not be used in scenarios of non-conventional reservoirs, because the results are unrealistic. It was pointed out deficiencies of the software of hydraulic fracturing with analyzed network of fractures, as the consideration of constant coefficient of filtration throughout the operation. It is hoped that this dissertation will be useful to hydraulic fracturing designers when dealing with unconventional reservoirs such as shale gas / oil and to stimulate the interest of the academy on this subject.

Cause-specific mortality (CSM), among other global health estimates, has garnered prominence in the contemporary public health field. CSM has been associated with several factors, however, research comparing CSM for prefracking versus postfracking periods is sparse. Hydraulic fracturing or fracking is a technique of extracting oil and gas from deep underground. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the difference among mean CSM scores from 1975 through 2015 in the available cities and counties of residence in Colorado and to determine the impact of gender, marital status, county of residence, and city of residence on CSM scores (prefracking period 1975-1977 versus postfracking period 1999-2015) among adults aged 45-70 years. In this retrospective quantitative study, the socioecological model of health was used to analyze 73,251 cases obtained from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. One-way analysis of variance and multiple regression were used to analyze data. Results showed that Denver County had a higher mean CSM score compared to other counties in Colorado. Regression results revealed a significant but weak association between CSM scores and gender, marital status, city of residence, and county of residence. If gender, marital status, and county of residence can be significant predictors of CSM, this information could have social change implications by influencing decisions regarding CSM and fracking.

The process of natural gas recovery by horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing, known as fracking, is a major scientific advance in unconventional energy development. Attention has largely been focused on its economic advantages and potential negative environmental repercussions, while less consideration given to its social dimensions. The purpose of this study was to explore the social consequences of fracking for communities in the Appalachian Basin's Marcellus shale. Research questions focused on the role of stakeholders and the resource needs of localities in shaping public policy. This study was guided by the tenets of the Boomtown theory along with key issues in fracking research such as environmental impacts, water resources, public health and safety, economics, and ethical concerns. An embedded case study research design was employed, using a purposive sample of 8 economic and policy subject matter experts from the 3 most prolific drilling counties in Pennsylvania. Data were collected by semi-structured interviews and were analyzed using open and axial coding with cross-case comparison. Results suggested that positive economic social consequences of fracking involved sustainability in providing generational and employment stability. Negative consequences, such as traffic, damaged infrastructure, and housing shortages, were temporary and manageable. Logistical and demographic information were valuable resources for community leadership, and stakeholders favored autonomy in decision making. The implications for social change include informing policy makers how to prepare the local workforce to be adaptable, establish sufficient infrastructure to support change, and educate communities to leverage opportunity in advance of new industry.

The permitting process to determine whether high volume hydraulic fracturing (HVHF) should be allowed in New York State has been controversial and protracted. There have been intense disputes between those who see HVHF as an economic benefit and those who assert it will jeopardize health and the environment. Using the case study research method, perceptions of directly affected stakeholders regarding the issues, benefits and limitations associated with the public participation process were explored. Purposive sampling yielded participants from the natural gas industry, municipal governments, local landowners and residents. Data collection methods involved in-depth interviews, focus groups and document analysis. Since the HVHF conflict concerned a future possibility of environmental degradation, theoretical foundations included complex systems and green ideology, the enactment of power and social dominance, environmental conflict resolution, and principles of collaborative management. Findings demonstrate that the public participation process was embedded in a traditional top-down policy development approach that did not accommodate conditions of high uncertainty, nor did it allow for the broader and deeper discourse needed when development involves socio-economic and environmental justice issues. Implications include the potential to apply principles and methods of collaborative management typically used for natural resource management. In particular, the adaptive co-management approach provides a framework for managing issues that require problem solving over time, an essential missing element of the current HVHF stakeholder engagement process where diverse stakeholders identified issues of trust, empowerment, rights and fairness.

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