Posted on 08/13/2013 9:35:06 AM PDT by thackney
Anyone following the spread of fracking in California should check out an interesting — and frustrating — report this week from former San Francisco Chronicle journalist Rob Collier.
It’s about “acidizing,” an oil production technique that involves pouring large amounts of hydrofluoric or hydrochloric acid down wells. Collier argues that it could be more effective than hydraulic fracturing as a way to unlock the Monterey Shale, an immense rock formation beneath central California that could hold more than 15 billion barrels of oil.
The report, issued by the Next Generation think tank, gives a good introduction to the process and its potential dangers. It does not offer any hard data on how often oil companies are using acidization to wrest oil from the Monterey Shale. Hence the frustration mentioned above.
But that’s one of Collier’s main points. We know very little about how common this practice is in California. State senators didn’t fare much better when they held a hearing on acidization in June.
The practice would receive more scrutiny under a bill from Sen. Fran Pavley to tighten regulations on fracking. The bill would trigger a state study on the potential risks of fracking and other well stimulation techniques, including acidization.
But the bill is facing a tough fight in the legislature. And it has also come under attack from some of Pavley’s allies in the environmental community. On Monday, activists from MoveOn.org and CREDO will gather at Pavley’s district office in Calabasas to urge the senator to withdraw her bill and push for a fracking ban instead.
“Sen. Pavley thinks regulation will protect the environment and the public,” said activist and organizer Lauren Steiner, in a press release announcing Monday’s action. “But regulations cannot make fracking safe.”
Question! What is the chemical composition of the back flush and how is that disposed?
So the industry has been doing acid treatment on wells for over 100 years. Do you think we should stop now because you just learned about it, or do you think a century or more of safe usage in enough of a demonstration period?
oops I was thinking about nitro-hydrochloric acid
I expect since there are different types of acid treatments there are likely very different types of backwash.
You can learn more here for starters:
http://www.halliburton.com/en-US/ps/stimulation/acidizing/default.page
Acidizing in San Francisco? Hasn’t that been going on since the 60s?
This is not a new practice.
Just new to those trying to scare the uninformed...
What an utterly ignorant thing to say.
Is this a good idea? That stuff will disolve glass.
NO.. it will ETCH glass not dissolve it..
Nothing will dissolve glass.. depending on “THE” kind of glass..
“After an acid job is performed, the used acid and sediments removed from the reservoir are washed out of the well in a process called backflush.”
I guess one of the environmental questions would be if backflushing is as equally possible in a “fracking” situation as it might be with a conventional well. Can hydrochloric and hydroflouric acid solutions be effectively “back flushed” out of the cracks and fissures in an othewise solid (other than the cracks and fissurews) rock formation upon which a fracking operations is being done?
That question comes on top of the precursor concern - that is usually answered in the negative when it comes to fracking - does the fracking take place above or below the normal water table in the area? Mining operations occuring ABOVE the level of the water table pose a concern about chemicals used in the operation and water-born toxic-waste from the operation drifting down into the water table. What I have usually read in articles about fracking is that it is USUALLY being done at a depth below the water table.
“Unless you can get free, clean power from unicorn farts, the greens will oppose producing more energy.”
LOL
“Even then, they would likely protest the harmful effects of free energy.”
You hit the nail on the head - that is exactly what they oppose. Their biggest nightmare would be free, abundant energy. Their goal is to stop or slow down development.
The left has been telling us to do Acid and Stimulate everything if ya get my drift for years...
But Noooo, you can't do that to an oil well........
No their goal is to continue their dysfunctional behavior i.e. Control by a continued march to take away our liberties, as their on going socialist revolution that tries to destroy the will of man and his desire to be free continues....
If by the luck or divine intervention the land under your feet makes you wealthy enough to get involved with the tax code and managing your money and seeing that they are trying to fubar that sector of your life, you might have a change of heart and tell them up yours leave me alone dang it, and start voting Republican / Conservative and or Libertarian.
They can't have that.
We have been doing acid fracs for many years. It is nothing new or radical. When using HCl acid the product produced is Calcium Chloride Salt and CO2. If using HFL acid, the product is Calcium Fluoride Salt and CO2. Both of the salts will be produced out of the well with gas and oil in the water phase of the production fluids. It is not toxic and easily disposed of.
This is strictly more fear mongering by the Luddites.
I'd agree with pouring large amounts of hydrofluoric or hydrochloric acid on the activists from MoveOn.org and CREDO.
Is acidizing anything like acidifying?
As I understand the terms, no.
Acidifying is to make something acid or more acidic.
Acidizing in this process is using an acid to remove material in the production zone of the well to allow more flow. The acid treatment is backwashed out prior to going into production. Some acid likely remains behind and is removed over time with the volume of flow of oil/gas.
After busting it they got the chem dept at Berkley for something stronger which was Sulfuric acid mixed with a "special sauce", which they wouldn't reveal the composition of.
I think it’s normally stored in plastic or wax-lined glass bottles.
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