Impact of Hydraulic Fracturing on Ohio’s Infrastructure Impact of Hydraulic Fracturing on Ohio’s Infrastructure David Nash

Potential Impacts Landsliding and roads Water supply Seismic activity

Full Disclosure: I’m a geologist Relationship with extractive industries Placement of students Alumni relations Prudent development (know total cost) Geomorphic focus

Ohio’s Geology

Source: ODNR, Geologic DivisionODNR, Geologic Division

Devonian Shale

Source: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report

Source: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report

Influence of Geology on Geography

Fracking’s Effect on Roads

500 bbl Frac Trailer 500 x 42 g/bbl x 8.35 lbs/g ≈87 tons

Source: ODNR Landslides in OhioLandslides in Ohio

Fracking’s Effect on Water

Fracking’s and Seismic Activity

Potential Environmental Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing Amy Townsend-Small

Impacts Groundwater depletion Water quality impacts Air quality impacts Greenhouse gas emissions

Impacts on Cincinnati DIRECT environmental impacts on the Cincinnati region are unlikely – Except if wastewater is imported here for disposal Image source: ODNR Division of Oil and Gas Resources ManagementODNR Division of Oil and Gas Resources Management

Impacts on Cincinnati May have positive and/or negative economic impacts – Positive: due to increased commerce in Ohio – Negative: increased infrastructure and pollution control costs Also: increased withdrawal and combustion of fossil fuels will negatively impact us all due to air pollution and climate change

Groundwater Depletion Each new well will require tens of millions of gallons for initial development Will this come from surface waters (Lake Erie, Ohio River) or groundwater aquifers? Unknown For reference: water use in Cincinnati is about 100 million gallons per day – so effects will likely be localized to fracking areas

Water Pollution Two issues: Chemicals added to water by drilling company – Salts – Acids – Ethylene glycol (antifreeze) – Biocides and algicides – “Proprietary” chemicals Chemicals produced by interactions with shales – Hydrocarbons (BTEX: benzenes, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene) – Additional salts – Radioactive isotopes

Water Pollution Disposal of fracking water – Surface disposal – Deep injection – Recycling – Treat and release Image source: Journal of Petroleum TechnologyJournal of Petroleum Technology

Atmospheric impacts Ozone and smog from diesel-powered equipment Methane release – Explosive in high concentrations – Greenhouse gas (25 x carbon dioxide) “Fugitive” methane emissions may result in a higher overall carbon footprint for fracking than for coal Noise pollution

Source: FrocFocus.orgFrocFocus.org

Source: FrocFocus.org FrocFocus.org