title: Characterization of hydraulic fracturing flowback water in Colorado: implications for water treatment.
abstract: A suite of analytical tools was applied to thoroughly analyze the chemical composition of an oil/gas well flowback water from the Denver-Julesburg (DJ) basin in Colorado, and the water quality data was translated to propose effective treatment solutions tailored to specific reuse goals. Analysis included bulk quality parameters, trace organic and inorganic constituents, and organic matter characterization. The flowback sample contained salts (TDS=22,500 mg/L), metals (e.g., iron at 81.4 mg/L) and high concentration of dissolved organic matter (DOC=590 mgC/L). The organic matter comprised fracturing fluid additives such as surfactants (e.g., linear alkyl ethoxylates) and high levels of acetic acid (an additives' degradation product), indicating the anthropogenic impact on this wastewater. Based on the water quality results and preliminary treatability tests, the removal of suspended solids and iron by aeration/precipitation (and/or filtration) followed by disinfection was identified as appropriate for flowback recycling in future fracturing operations. In addition to these treatments, a biological treatment (to remove dissolved organic matter) followed by reverse osmosis desalination was determined to be necessary to attain water quality standards appropriate for other water reuse options (e.g., crop irrigation). The study provides a framework for evaluating site-specific hydraulic fracturing wastewaters, proposing a suite of analytical methods for characterization, and a process for guiding the choice of a tailored treatment approach.
authors: Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado, UCB 428, Boulder, CO 80309, United States.
authors: Yaal
authors: Y
authors: Lester
authors: Center for Environmental Mass Spectrometry, University of Colorado, UCB 428, Boulder, CO 80309, United States.
authors: Imma
authors: I
authors: Ferrer
authors: Center for Environmental Mass Spectrometry, University of Colorado, UCB 428, Boulder, CO 80309, United States.
authors: E Michael
authors: EM
authors: Thurman
authors: Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado, UCB 428, Boulder, CO 80309, United States.
authors: Kurban A
authors: KA
authors: Sitterley
authors: Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado, UCB 428, Boulder, CO 80309, United States.
authors: Julie A
authors: JA
authors: Korak
authors: US Geological Survey, 3215 Marine Street, Boulder, CO, 80303, United States.
authors: George
authors: G
authors: Aiken
authors: Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado, UCB 428, Boulder, CO 80309, United States. Electronic address: karl.linden@colorado.edu.
authors: Karl G
authors: KG
authors: Linden
mesh_terms: D003120:Colorado; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D019652:Extraction and Processing Industry / Q000379:methods*; D061329:Oil and Gas Fields; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Denver–Julesburg basin; Flowback; Fracking; Hydraulic fracturing; Water quality; Water reuse; Water treatment