Coal mine drainage for Marcellus Shale natural gas extraction : proceedings and recommendations from a roundtable on feasibility and challenges / [compiled by] Aimee E. Curtright, Kate Giglio.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Curtright, Aimee E.

Giglio, Kate.

Marcellus Shale Coalition.

Rand Environment, Energy, and Economic Development (Program)

Series:

Conference proceedings (Rand Corporation) ; CF-300-MSC.

Rand Corporation conference proceedings series ; CF-300-MSC

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Natural gas--Marcellus Shale--Congresses.

Natural gas.

Shale gas industry--Marcellus Shale--Congresses.

Shale gas industry.

Coal mine waste--Marcellus Shale--Congresses.

Coal mine waste.

Acid mine drainage--Marcellus Shale--Evaluation--Congresses.

Acid mine drainage.

Hydraulic fracturing--Evaluation--Congresses.

Hydraulic fracturing.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xvii, 47 pages) : illustrations, maps (some color).

Place of Publication:

Santa Monica, CA : Rand Corporation, 2012.

Summary:

On December 14, 2011, the RAND Corporation hosted and moderated a roundtable conference, Feasibility and Challenges of Using Acid Mine Drainage for Marcellus Shale Natural Gas Extraction, with funding from the Marcellus Shale Coalition. The event brought together representatives from industry, academia, and nonprofit organizations to examine the use of coal mine water and, specifically, drainage from actively managed and abandoned coal mines to support hydraulic fracturing (popularly known as fracking) operations in the Marcellus Shale formation. The goal of the one-day conference was to assess the feasibility of such approaches, to examine the potential economic and environmental impacts, and to identify the data and regulatory gaps whose resolution would permit further exploration or use of these approaches. The participants concluded that the feasibility, cost, environmental benefits, and regulatory framework for using coal mine drainage in hydraulic fracturing will depend on the water's quantity and quality (including the need for pretreatment), its proximity to natural gas extraction sites, the cost of such water sources compared with that of fresh water, and whether the regulatory and legal environment is amenable to industry exploration and development of the option. These proceedings provide an overview of the topics and discussions at the roundtable conference and are accompanied by a collection of online appendixes containing the papers and slides prepared by the panelists and presented at the event.

Contents:

Background on Water Use for Hydraulic Fracturing in the Marcellus Shale Session 1: Volumes and Characteristics of Coal Mine Water Session 2: Technical Uncertainties and Challenges in Using Coal Mine Drainage for Hydraulic Fracturing Session 3: Economic Feasibility Session 4: Regulatory and Legal Barriers Opportunities, Challenges, and Future Research Directions Appendix: Roundtable Agenda, Participants, and Speaker Biographies

Notes:

Conclusions from a one-day conference, "Feasibility and challenges of using acid mine drainage for Marcellus Shale natural gas extraction," held on December 24, 2011.

"RAND Environment, Energy, and Economic Development."

Includes bibliographical references (p. 45-47).