BACKGROUND: Over the past decade hydraulic fracturing, the high-pressure injection of water and chemicals into an oil or gas well, has been widely adopted to maximize oil and gas recovery despite debate about potential health impacts. Often the debate is contentious and complicated by incomplete information. The purpose of this dissertation was to implement and assess the usefulness of a process for communities to identify, prioritize, and respond to potential health effects of hydraulic fracturing. METHODS: The study was conducted in a community in Kern County, California, the epi-center of hydraulic fracturing in the state. Mixed methods were used to develop an inventory of known or potential health effects associated with exposure to hydraulic fracturing: a systematic review of literature published before April 1, 2017 to determine health outcomes reported in exposed communities; a Delphi study to elicit expert opinion; and focus groups to determine residents’ health concerns. The resulting inventory of 60 health effects derived from one or more of these sources was presented to community residents in ballot form and multi-voting was used to prioritize health effects. Focus group and multi-voting results were used to develop an action plan. RESULTS: The Delphi panel endorsed 13 health outcomes associated with hydraulic fracturing for oil and/or gas; all but one were reported in the scientific literature. Focus groups generated 17 health effects; 13 of these were reported in the scientific literature and/or endorsed by the Delphi panel. Multi-voting results indicated that priority health effects were: problems with sleep; breathing; eyes, ears, nose, and throat; heart disease and hypertension; cancer; headache; nausea; and a group of symptoms known as “Shale Gas Syndrome”. CONCLUSION: The process described in this dissertation could be used by communities across the US that are debating the potential health impacts of hydraulic fracturing. It engages community residents, requires few resources, and can be completed in a relatively short period of time. The results can inform a community-specific response to the priority health concerns identified.

AN ABSTRACT OF THE DISSERTATION OFSUMAN SAURABH, for the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Engineering Science, presented on August 30, 2019, at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.TITLE: GEOMECHANICAL STATE OF ROCKS WITH DEPLETION IN UNCONVENTIONAL COALBED METHANE RESERVOIRSMAJOR PROFESSOR: Dr. Satya HarpalaniOne of the major reservoir types in the class of unconventional reservoirs is coalbed methane. Researchers have treated these reservoirs as isotropic when modeling stress and permeability, that is, mechanical properties in all directions are same. Furthermore, coal is a highly sorptive and stress- sensitive rock. The focus of this dissertation is to characterize the geomechanical aspects of these reservoirs, strain, stresses, effective stress and, using the information, establish the dynamic flow/permeability behavior with continued depletion. Several aspects of the study presented in this dissertation can be easily extended to shale gas reservoirs. The study started with mechanical characterization and measurement of anisotropy using experimental and modeling work, and evaluation of how the sorptive nature of coal can affect the anisotropy. An attempt was also made to characterize the variation in anisotropy with depletion. The results revealed that the coals tested were orthotropic in nature, but could be approximated as transversely isotropic, that is, the mechanical properties were isotropic in the horizontal plane, but significantly different in vertical direction. Mechanical characterization of coal was followed by flow modeling. Stress data was used to characterize the changes in permeability with depletion. This was achieved by plotting stress path followed by coal during depletion. The model developed was used to successfully predict the permeability variation in coal with depletion for elastic deformations. As expected, the developed model failed to predict the permeability variation resulting from inelastic deformation given that it was based on elastic constitutive equations. Hence, the next logical step was to develop a generalized permeability model, which would be valid for both elastic and inelastic deformations. Investigation of the causes of coal failure due to anisotropic stress redistribution during depletion was also carried out as a part of this study. It was found that highly sorptive rocks experience severe loss in horizontal stresses with depletion and, if their mechanical strength is not adequate to support the anisotropic stress redistribution, rock failure can result. In order to develop a generalized permeability model based on stress data, stress paths for three different coal types were established and the corresponding changes in permeability were studied. Stress path plotted in an octahedral mean stress versus octahedral shear stress plane provided a signal for changes in the permeability for both elastic as well as inelastic deformations. This signal was used to develop a mechanistic model for permeability modeling, based on stress redistribution in rocks during depletion. The model was able to successfully predict the permeability variation for all three coal types. Finally, since coal is highly stress- sensitive, changes in effective stresses were found to be the dictating factor for deformations, changes in permeability and possible failure with depletion. Hence, the next step was to develop an effective stress law for sorptive and transversely isotropic rocks. For development of an effective stress law for stress sensitive, transversely isotropic rocks, previously established constitutive equations were used to formulate a new analytical model. The model was then used to study changes in the variation of Biot’s coefficient of these rocks. It was found that Biot’s coefficient, typically less than one, can take values larger than one for these rocks, and their values also change with depletion. The study provides a methodology which can be used to estimate the Biot’s coefficient of any rock. As a final step, preliminary work was carried out on the problem of under-performing coal reservoirs in the San Juan basin, where coal is extremely tight with very low permeability. An extension of the work presented in this dissertation is to use the geomechanical characterization techniques to unlock these reservoirs and improve their performance. The experimental data collected during this preliminary study is included in the last chapter of the dissertation.

A presente dissertação de mestrado consiste na realização de um estudo geológico acerca do potencial para exploração e produção de gás natural não convencional na Bacia do Paraná, regiões sul e sudeste do Brasil e norte do Uruguai. Com essa finalidade, foram analisadas as formações geológicas Irati e Ponta Grossa, situadas na porção sul da bacia e caracterizadas por seu potencial gerador de hidrocarbonetos. O estudo também inclui a avaliação da viabilidade do abastecimento da usina termoelétrica de Uruguaiana a partir desse recurso, considerando os aspectos geológicos, socioeconômicos e ambientais associados. O projeto visa incentivar o estudo à temática de recursos energéticos não convencionais, com destaque para o shale gas, principal fonte de gás natural não convencional explorada no mundo, além de ressaltar os benefícios na crescente implantação do gás natural na matriz energética brasileira, tanto em aspectos estratégicos quanto econômicos. O projeto propõe a elaboração de um modelo descritivo-comparativo baseado nos aspectos geológicos dos principais campos produtores de shale gas nos Estados Unidos, principal produtor mundial, por meio do qual é avaliado o potencial para ocorrência desse recurso nos folhelhos negros correspondentes às Formações Irati e Ponta Grossa, segundo parâmetros geoquímicos, petrofísicos e geológicos presentes em formações comprovadamente produtoras nos EUA: Marcellus, Barnett e Eagle Ford. O modelo descritivo tem finalidade de avaliar o potencial para exploração, produção e distribuição de gás natural não convencional nas regiões sul e sudeste do Brasil, as quais representam o maior mercado consumidor e demanda por energia no país. Com base na análise comparativa realizada, atribui-se às formações brasileiras potencial moderado a elevado para a geração de shale gas. Entretanto, a viabilidade no abastecimento da usina termoelétrica de Uruguaiana depende, além da geologia local, de fatores político-regulatórios ainda pouco consolidados no país para a incentivar a produção de recursos energéticos não convencionais. / The presented Masters Thesis consists on a geological study of the potential for exploration and production of unconventional natural gas in the Paraná Sedimentary Basin, southern and southeastern Brazil, and northern Uruguay. Therefore, the geological formations Irati and Ponta Grossa, located in the southern portion of the basin, were analyzed in terms of its hydrocarbon generating potential. The study also includes the viability evaluation of this occurrence as a supply for a thermal power plant in Uruguaiana, considering the geological socio-economic and environmental associated aspects. The project aims to promote studies on the topic of unconventional energy resources, especially shale gas, the main unconventional source of natural gas exploited in the world; in addition to emphasizing the advantages in increasing the implement of natural gas into the Brazilian energy matrix, both in strategic and economic aspects. The project proposes the development of a descriptive and comparative model based on geological aspects of the major shale gas producing fields in the United States, the world\'s leading producer; by which we are able to evaluate the potential for occurrence of this resource in the corresponding black shale formations Irati and Ponta Grossa according to geochemical, petrophysical and geological parameters present in these proven producing formations: Marcellus, Barnett and Eagle Ford. The descriptive model was elaborated in order to evaluate the potential for exploration, production and distribution of unconventional natural gas in the southern and southeastern regions of Brazil, which correspond to the largest consumer market and energy demand in the country. Based on a comparative analysis, the Brazilian geological formations are quantified with a moderate to high potential for generating shale gas. However, the viability of using this resource as supply for thermal electricity generation in Uruguaiana depends, in addition to the local geology, to political and regulatory aspects, which are still poorly consolidated among the country, in order to encourage the production of unconventional energy resources.

A presente dissertação de mestrado consiste na realização de um estudo geológico acerca do potencial para exploração e produção de gás natural não convencional na Bacia do Paraná, regiões sul e sudeste do Brasil e norte do Uruguai. Com essa finalidade, foram analisadas as formações geológicas Irati e Ponta Grossa, situadas na porção sul da bacia e caracterizadas por seu potencial gerador de hidrocarbonetos. O estudo também inclui a avaliação da viabilidade do abastecimento da usina termoelétrica de Uruguaiana a partir desse recurso, considerando os aspectos geológicos, socioeconômicos e ambientais associados. O projeto visa incentivar o estudo à temática de recursos energéticos não convencionais, com destaque para o shale gas, principal fonte de gás natural não convencional explorada no mundo, além de ressaltar os benefícios na crescente implantação do gás natural na matriz energética brasileira, tanto em aspectos estratégicos quanto econômicos. O projeto propõe a elaboração de um modelo descritivo-comparativo baseado nos aspectos geológicos dos principais campos produtores de shale gas nos Estados Unidos, principal produtor mundial, por meio do qual é avaliado o potencial para ocorrência desse recurso nos folhelhos negros correspondentes às Formações Irati e Ponta Grossa, segundo parâmetros geoquímicos, petrofísicos e geológicos presentes em formações comprovadamente produtoras nos EUA: Marcellus, Barnett e Eagle Ford. O modelo descritivo tem finalidade de avaliar o potencial para exploração, produção e distribuição de gás natural não convencional nas regiões sul e sudeste do Brasil, as quais representam o maior mercado consumidor e demanda por energia no país. Com base na análise comparativa realizada, atribui-se às formações brasileiras potencial moderado a elevado para a geração de shale gas. Entretanto, a viabilidade no abastecimento da usina termoelétrica de Uruguaiana depende, além da geologia local, de fatores político-regulatórios ainda pouco consolidados no país para a incentivar a produção de recursos energéticos não convencionais. / The presented Masters Thesis consists on a geological study of the potential for exploration and production of unconventional natural gas in the Paraná Sedimentary Basin, southern and southeastern Brazil, and northern Uruguay. Therefore, the geological formations Irati and Ponta Grossa, located in the southern portion of the basin, were analyzed in terms of its hydrocarbon generating potential. The study also includes the viability evaluation of this occurrence as a supply for a thermal power plant in Uruguaiana, considering the geological socio-economic and environmental associated aspects. The project aims to promote studies on the topic of unconventional energy resources, especially shale gas, the main unconventional source of natural gas exploited in the world; in addition to emphasizing the advantages in increasing the implement of natural gas into the Brazilian energy matrix, both in strategic and economic aspects. The project proposes the development of a descriptive and comparative model based on geological aspects of the major shale gas producing fields in the United States, the world\'s leading producer; by which we are able to evaluate the potential for occurrence of this resource in the corresponding black shale formations Irati and Ponta Grossa according to geochemical, petrophysical and geological parameters present in these proven producing formations: Marcellus, Barnett and Eagle Ford. The descriptive model was elaborated in order to evaluate the potential for exploration, production and distribution of unconventional natural gas in the southern and southeastern regions of Brazil, which correspond to the largest consumer market and energy demand in the country. Based on a comparative analysis, the Brazilian geological formations are quantified with a moderate to high potential for generating shale gas. However, the viability of using this resource as supply for thermal electricity generation in Uruguaiana depends, in addition to the local geology, to political and regulatory aspects, which are still poorly consolidated among the country, in order to encourage the production of unconventional energy resources.