Overview of Hydraulic FracturingMay 31,2013

USDOL/OSHARonald Williams – Compliance Assistance Specialist 3300 Vickery Rd.North Syracuse, NY 13212315-451-0808 ext. 3002

Art Dube, Area DirectorGordon DeLeys, CASBuffalo Area Office130 S. Elmwood Avenue, Suite 500Buffalo, NY 14202(716) 551-3053 x244

Kim Castillon, Area DirectorAlbany Area Office401 New Karner Road, Suite 300Albany, NY 12205(518) 464-4338

Kay Gee, Area DirectorJohn Frowd, CASManhattan Area Office201 Varick Street, Room 908New York, NY 10014(212) 620-3200

Tony Ciuffo, Area DirectorLong Island Area Office1400 Old Country RoadSuite 208Westbury, NY 11590(516) 334-3344

Chris Adams, Area DirectorRon Williams, CASSyracuse Area OSHA Office3300 Vickery RoadN. Syracuse, NY 13212(315) 451-0808 x3002

Diana Cortez, Area DirectorTom McCarthy, CASTarrytown Area Office660 White Plains RoadTarrytown, NY 10591(914) 524-7510

• Introduction–What is hydraulic fracturing?–OSHA’s perspective–OSHA’s actions

• Safety concerns• Health concerns and hydraulic

fracturing fluid

Shale Plays

Hydraulic Fracturing

Picture from Plan to Study the Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing on Drinking Water Resources, EPA 2011

Top Side

Well head

Frac Control

Van

Sand Trailer

Water Storage Tanks

Blender

Chemical unit

Pumper Units

Hydraulic Fracturing is one in many upstream operations in an industry with a

high fatality rate (2006-2010)

Source: Private Sector Fatality Rates- Bureau of Labor Statistics Census of Fatal Occupational injuries (CFOI)O&G Fatality Rates - OSHA calculated using CFOI fatality counts and employment data from the BLS Quarterly Census of employment and Wages.

Rate per 100,000 Workers

Are HF Workers at Greater Risk of Occupational Injury?

• Increased Time On Site– Increased Potential for Injury– Longer hours/fatigue?

• Materials Transport – Increased Risk of MVAs

Possible risks for considerationAre HF Workers at

Greater Risk of Occupational Illness?

• Silica• Diesel• Chemicals• Increased Time On Site

– Increased Exposure to Chemicals

– Increased Exposure to Heat

OSHA is including HF into existing O&G activities to assess any new risks

• Local Emphasis Programs on Oil and Gas– HF is part of the Oil and Gas field– HF inspections are occurring

• Better understand hazards – gathering inspection information – working with partners (e.g. NIOSH)

Hydraulic Fracturing Safety Hazards

Hydraulic Fracturing Safety Hazards • Well Location/Pad

Drilling• High Pressure

• Loud Equipment• Silica Exposure• Permit-Required

Confined Space• Walking/Working

Surfaces• Fall Protection

• Control of Hazardous Energy (LOTO)

• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• Pre-Job Meeting• Flammable Gases and

Vapors

Well Location

Well head

Frac Control

Van

Sand Trailer

Water Storage Tanks

Blender

Chemical unit

Pumper Units

Multiple or Pad Location

Wireline Logging Unit

Well

head

s

Manifold TrailerWireline Perforation truck

Truck mounted crane

High Pressure Hazards (cont’d)

Chokers

Chokers

High Pressure Hazards (cont’d)

Loud Equipment

Manifold Trailer

Blender

Triplex Pumper

Quintuplex Pumper

Proppant Use

Silica Exposure(discussed later)

Field Sand Storage Trailer (aka Sand Hog)

Sand Conveyor

Sand Conveyor

Permit-RequiredConfined Space(PRCS)

Cellar Waste Water Pit

Portable Frac Tank

OtherExamplesof PRCS

Sand Dump Truck

Field Sand Storage Trailer

Chemical Unit

Acid transporttruck

Walking/Working Surfaces

FallProtection

Control of Hazardous Energy (LOTO)

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

PPE (cont’d)

Pre-Job Meeting

Flammable Gasesand Vapors

Hydraulic Fracturing Health Hazards

Hydraulic Fracturing Health Hazards

• Background• Water

• Base Fluids• Silica

• Chemicals• Potential Hazards &

Solutions

Background• Chemicals typically make up just 0.5 and 2.0

% of the total volume of the fracturing fluid.  When millions of gallons of water are being used, however, the amount of chemicals per fracking operation is very large. For example, a four million gallon fracturing operation would use from 80 to 330 tons of chemicals.

• Fracture fluids may be based on either acid, gel, water, or oil– Most fracturing work is water based

Background (cont’d)

• Toxic chemicals exist in frack fluids• Top health effects include: skin,

eye, respiratory, & gastrointestinal effects, and brain and nervous system effects

• “NORM” in relatively small quantities of radium, radon and uranium

NORM: Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material

Background (cont’d)• Myth: Flow back and Produced Water pose a

real risk to employees• Fact: The chemicals used in fracking pose the

highest risk when in bulk, concentrated form• There is a X to X ratio of water to chemicals• Health

– Proper PPE– Portable Eyewash/Shower – Training

Water

• Water is the driving fluid used in the hydraulic fracturing process

• Depending upon the characteristics of the well and the rock being fractured a few million gallons of water can be required to complete a hydraulic fracturing job

Water and Sand: 99.51%• This water can be fresh water or

recycled water

• Sand is the proppant

• Silicosis

• Alternatives are often available (e.g. ceramics)

Silica Exposures

OSHA/NIOSH Hazard Alert

• Summarizes some preliminary data on silica exposure

• Critical for raising awareness about this hazard

– Exposure data and operations where over exposures can occur• 47% samples collected exceeded OSHA’s PEL• 79% samples collected exceeded NIOSH REL

– Control measures (engineering and respirators)– Assistance/Services/Tools

Controls for Silica Exposure• Use local exhaust

ventilation• Enclose points

where dust is released

• Reduce drop on sand transfers

• Replace transfer belts with screws

• Use water for dust control

• Limit worker exposure, rotations

NIOSH designed control

• Water• Friction reducers• Corrosion inhibitors• Clay stabilizers• Acids• Gelling agents• Oil

Many Types of Fluids

Constituent Examples Purpose Volume % Gallons

Water Delivery 90 2,700,000

Proppant Sand Keep fracture open

9.51 285,300

Acid Hydrochloric Dissolves minerals, opens fracture

0.123 3.690

Friction Reducer

Polyacrylamide, mineral oil

Reduce friction between fluid and pipe

0.088 2,640

Surfactant Isopropanol Increase fluid viscosity

0.085 2,550

Potassium Chloride

Make brine 0.06 1,800

Gelling Agent Guar gum Suspend proppant in fluid

0.056 1,680

The following table shows an example of what hydraulic fracturing fluid contains: Note that this is an example of what may be used in hydraulic fracturing operations. 

Constituent Examples Purpose Volume % Gallons

Scale inhibitor Ethylene glycol Prevent scale deposits in fluid

0.043 1,290

pH buffer Carbonate Protect pH sensitive chemicals

0.011 330

Prerservative Ammonium persulfate

Delay gel breakdown

0.01 300

Crosslinker Borate salts Maintain viscosity with temperature

0.007 210

Iron Control Citric Acid Prevent metal oxide precipitates

0.004 120

Corrosion Inhibitor

n,n-dimethyl formamide

Prevent corrosion 0.002 60

Biocide Glutaraldehyde Inhibit bacterial growth

0.001 30

The following table shows an example of what hydraulic fracturing fluid contains: Note that this is an example of what may be used in hydraulic fracturing operations.

Potential Health Hazards• Ignition and respiratory hazards• Potential ignition of flammable or

combustible carrier or base fluids

• Chemical hazards (such as, silica, toxics, asphyxiants)

• Radiation associated with radioactive tracer materials

Possible Solutions• Wear proper respirators• Provide bonding and grounding

for blending, pumping, and sand transfer equipment

• Use hose covers/shielding for transfer or suction lines containing flammable liquids

• Prevent contamination and exercise proper personal hygiene

Summary• Steps to Safety and Health

• Site Preparation• Traditional Safety Hazards traditionally

found in oil and gas are present• Management of Fluids and Proppants• Controls, Safe Work Practices and PPE• HazCom• Monitoring and Measurement Equipment• Emergency Response Procedures

Industry Reference and OSHA InfoMost widely used industry consensus standards include:

• American Petroleum Institute (API)• RP 54 Oil and Gas Well Drilling and Servicing Operations

• International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC)• Safety on the Rig• Accident Prevention Reference Guide

• American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)• 2733 Standard Specification for FR rainwear

• National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)• 2113 Selection, Care, Use, and Maintenance of FR garments

OSHA Website

• Oil and Gas Well Drilling and Servicing eTool• Stimulation• Wireline Operations• Well Logging• Perforating

www.osha.gov

Ronald Williams(315) 451-0808 ext. 3002williams.ronald@dol.gov