Overview of Hydraulic Fracturing May 31,2013 USDOL/OSHA Ronald Williams – Compliance Assistance Specialist 3300 Vickery Rd. North Syracuse, NY 13212 315-451-0808.
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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
Hydraulic Fracturing
Picture from Plan to Study the Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing on Drinking Water Resources, EPA 2011
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 consideration
Are 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
• 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
heads
Manifold TrailerWireline Perforation truck
Truck mounted crane
Proppant Use
Silica Exposure(discussed later)
Field Sand Storage Trailer (aka Sand Hog)
Sand Conveyor
Sand Conveyor
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)
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
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