Sustainable Shale Oil and Gas: Analytical Chemistry, Geochemistry, and Biochemistry Methods

Shale oil and gas have altered the energy landscape, possibly permanently. They burst upon the fossil energy scene with a suddenness that initially defied prediction. Even the political balance of the world has changed. But, with the methods employed, the vast majority of the oil and gas remains in the ground. At the same time, serious environmental impact issues have been raised. A new volume in the Emerging Issues in Analytical Chemistry series, Sustainable Shale Oil and Gas: Analytical Chemistry, Geochemistry, and Biochemistry Methods was written on the premise that analytical methods to inform these areas were wanting. While not attempting to be comprehensive, it describes important analytical methods, some still in development. These methods are underpinned primarily by chemistry, but geochemistry and even biochemistry play significant roles. The book has a solutions flavor; problems are posed together with approaches to ameliorate them.

Provides a clear understanding of the potential environmental issues as well as a path to solutionsIncludes background information for understanding potential impacts of shale operations from both an environmental and public health perspectiveAuthored by leaders from diverse disciplines with expertise in a variety of areas: groundwater quality, petroleum-related operations, microbial ecology, and electronic technologiesReviews new sensing and evaluation methods that could be key enablers to sustainable fracking: portable mass spectrometry, microbiome analysis, DNA as tracers, and a microparticulate matter detector

1. Background

Part I: Air Emissions 2. Fugitive Methane and Emissions From Flaring 3. Detection of Methane and Amelioration 4. Particulate Matter and Volatile Organic Chemicals

Part II. The Potential for Contaminating Ground Water 5. Methane in Groundwater 6. Potential for Liquid Contamination of Groundwater

Part III: Improving Economics of Recovery 7. Illuminating the Reservoir 8. Improving Net Recovery of Fluids 9. Subsurface DNA Sequencing: A New Tool for Reservoir Characterization

Part IV: Informing Policy 10. Enabling Regulations and Empowering the Public