T150 Geochemistry of Flowback and Produced Waters from Hydraulically Fractured Black Shale (Posters)
Monday, 28 October 2013
9:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Hall D
GEOCHEMICAL VARIATIONS OF RARE EARTH ELEMENTS IN MARCELLUS SHALE FLOWBACK WATERS AND MULTIPLE-SOURCE CORES IN THE APPALACHIAN BASIN
Paper number: T150-5
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM
Authors
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Jinesh JainNational Energy Technology Laboratory, Pittsburgh, PA
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J. Alexandra HakalaNational Energy Technology Laboratory, Pittsburgh, PA
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Karl T. SchroederNational Energy Technology Laboratory - U.S. Department of Energy, Pittsburgh, PA
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David A. DzombakCarnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
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Athanasios KaramalidisNational Energy Technology Lab; U.S. Department of Energy, Pittsburgh, PA
Abstract
Rare earth elements (REE) – encompassing the naturally occurring lanthanides, yttrium, and scandium – are potential tracers for subsurface groundwater-brine flows and geochemical processes. Application of these elements as naturally occurring tracers during shale gas development is reliant on accurate quantitation of trace metals in hypersaline brines. We have modified and validated a liquid-liquid technique for extraction and preconcentration of REE from saline produced waters from shale gas extraction wells with quantitative analysis by ICP-MS. This method was used to analyze time-series samples of Marcellus shale flowback and produced waters. Additionally, the total REE content of core samples of various strata throughout the Appalachian Basin were determined using HF/HNO3 digestion and ICP-MS analysis. A primary goal of the study is to elucidate systematic geochemical variations as a function of location or shale characteristics. The results of these analyses and discussion of their significance will be presented.