Blog Post 1

Hydro Fracturing in Western Wisconsin: An Overview

Wisconsin and Fracture Sand: A Brief Introduction

Today, energy consumption in the United States is at an all time high, with no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Because of this national influence, states like Wisconsin has been put in a special situation. In order to increase domestic production of energy (mainly oil and natural gas), companies across the country have been increasing hydrolic fracturing operations. Hydrolic facturing requires a very specific type of quartz sand which can be used during the fracturing process. Wisconsin contains the greatest deposits of this quartz sand in the United States, and because of this has become a sand mining hot spot. 

Implications: In a variety of ways, frac-sand has become a much debated topic. From economic consequences, to environmental concerns, frac-sand is an important issue. Focusing only on how the sand mining influences the state, several issues can be discussed directly. Firstly, how the sand mining in western Wisconsin effects the local residents (health, and economic functions). Secondly, how the sand mining is transported out of the state to the operational sites where the holes are drilled and gas produced. 

For the purposes of this lab, we will analyze frac-sand efficiency in transportation and mine operations using Esri ArcGIS programs with information provided by the State DNR, and national data from NCRS soil survey, USDS and USDA. The purpose of this blog post specifically is to give background information on the mining operations and the logistics behind the fracturing process. 

Hydrolic Frac-Sand Mining

For decades, hydrolic fracture mining has been a technique used to extract natural gas and oil from deep within the earth surface for industrial, commercial, and residential energy production. Hydrolic-fracturing consists of drilling kilometers down into the earths crust, typically into the layer of shale rock which holds the natural gas and oil, pumping silica sand (Frac-sand for short), water and various chemicals into the hole. After the water and sand has been pumped in at great pressure, the rock fractures releasing the desired gas or oil which is normally trapped by the weight of the rocks pressing down.
This is a simplistic explanation of the highly technical process involved, called horizontal hydrolic fracturing, displayed below:

Figure 1: Horizontal fracturing technique

(http://www.enviromineinc.com/got-frac-sand/)

Silica Sand (Quartz)

Quartz sand is practically suited for use in hydrolic fracturing processes because of its perfectly rounded size, extreme pressure capabilities and uniformity in size. Once the sand is pumped into the the drilled hole, the rounded size props open the small fissures created by the pressure of the water. The water is then pumped out leaving the sand behind keeping the fissures open. If the sand could not withstand such great pressure, the cracks would close leaving the gas or oil unobtainable. 

Quartz sand is also particularly easy to mine, requiring only minimal hole creation and post-mining processes to obtain the completed product.

Figure 2: close up image of silica sand holding a crack open

(www.jasonmunster.com)

Where can the Sand be found?

Wisconsin is located in such a region that contains great deposits of silica sand. This is mainly because the Sands that meet these specifications are mined from poorly cemented Cambrian and Ordovician sandstone's which are abundant in western Wisconsin which were previously marine coastlines during the late Cambrian period. Another advantage of the location of the sand in Wisconsin is that during the periods of glaciation the part of western Wisconsin were left untouched by glaciers leaving the uniform size of the sand intact. 

Figure 3: locations in Wisconsin of Quartz sand 

(http://www.isthmus.com/media/2014/03/20/586CoverIndustrialSandPotential3912.jpg)

Primary regions of Natural gas production

Figure 4: Map of United States showing Natural gas (in red)

(Wisconsin DNR)

Overview of GIS in project

Primarily Geospatial information system can be used to implement efficient and effective routes to direct the traffic of trucks from the mine to a particular rail station for further transport across the country to specific fracturing sites. Another application of GIS programs is operational productivity of the mines. Monitering the volume of sand produced each day or month can be done in a GIS program and be used to ensure peak productivity of the mine and the workers. As we all know time is money, so being efficient and productive to the greatest extent is key to a profitable mining operation. 

Sources:

West Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission

http://wcwrpc.org/frac-sand-factsheet.pdf (accessed 10.20.15)

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/Mines/documents/SilicaSandMiningFinal.pdf (accessed 10.19.15)

Isthmus Online Newspaper

http://www.isthmus.com/media/2014/03/20/586CoverIndustrialSandPotential3912.jpg

Image of Quartz Sand:

www.jasonmunster.com (Accessed 10.20.15)

http://www.wintershall.com/

Image of Hydro fracturing Diagram

http://www.enviromineinc.com/got-frac-sand/ (Accessed 10.20.15)

(Courtesy of First Electric Newspaper (2012))