Undersecretary of Environmental Promotion and Regulation Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources
SEMARNAT
Exploration and
extraction of shale gas
and oil in Mexico
An Environmental
point o view
Environmental criteria for the exploration and exploitation of
shale oil and gas in México
Water sources
Drilling and fracturing fluids
Aquifer monitoring
Flowback
Waste management
Faults
Flaring and venting Preservation of
interconnectivity
of the habitat
Distances among pads
Environmental criteria: Water sources
Operators must:
• Consult the water availability
• Propose a water supply program, which includes:
• other supply sources • local and regional needs
• a water consumption forecast for the project life cycle (well drilling, fracturing, emergencies, among others).
• Consider the use of water from different
Injection of fracturing fluid: Mix of water and chemicals.
Source: API 2013 Shale Energy: 10 Points Everyone Should Know
Environmental criteria: Drilling and fracturing fluids
Operators must:
• Only use a base water fluid for drilling below groundwater detected
• Reveal the chemical compounds used in the fracturing fluids.
• Handle MSDS sheets to the environmental authority.
• Classify substances according to the
standards, considering CAS number.
• Register in a report book information about the volume of water and additives used.
Environmental criteria: Aquifer monitoring (1/3)
• A continuos aquifer monitoring
system must be placed.
• Monitoring results must be compared to pre-operating data (baseline).
• Activities must stop if significal
difference arise. A specific sampling of
must be made.
• Parameters to be continuosly monitored:
methane, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulphur, total disolved solids, conductivity, pH, total salinity, main ions, and temperature.
Environmental criteria: Aquifer monitoring (2/3)
3000 m 1500 m 4500 m 5250 3750 6000 mWhen aquifer is ≤ 1300 m beneath surface
Minimum distance of 600 m, between the horizontal well and the aquifer
6
0
0
m
Any aquifer which is 1.5 * X
X : Horizontal well distance
Horizontal well 2 Horizontal well 1
Environmental criteria: Aquifer monitoring (3/3)
In other countries/studies:
The results of nearly 2,400 fractures in the Barnett shale (prior to mid-2010), shows that there is considerable variability in fracture height, 600 m is considered to be the maximum vertical fracture length that can be observed in a fault; most of the fractures range between 200-300 m. Fisher & Warpinski.
However…
Environmental criteria: Flowback
In other countries/studies:
A sizable fraction of the water injected-roughly 10% to 40%- flows back up the well following the completion (Stephan et al 2010, Galusky 2011)
Mauter, et al. The Next Frontier in United States Unconventional Shale Gas and Tight Oil Extraction: Strategic Reduction of Environmental Impact. Energy Technology Innovation Policy Discussion Paper No. 2013 – 04. Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School, March 2013.
Flowback must be treated
and 90% of flowback water recovered.
Eliminate the use of
open pits
Environmental criteria: Flaring and venting
In other countries/studies: 5 States, venting banned 12 States, venting restricted
1 State, notice and approval required 4 States, discretionary standards 9 States, no evidence of regulation.
The State of State Shale Gas Regulation, Resources for the future, 2013.
98% México’s flaring efficiency
• Venting is allowed only when
critic conditions take place in the
opetaration.
• Porcetage of Flaring should be
determ
according
to
the
infraestructure of the region
Its not the same in Burgos than in
Chihuahua
Environmental criteria: Baseline studies
• As part of the Evaluation
Impact
Assessment
operators must include a
baseline study of the site
where the project will be
developed.
• Such study must consider
information about: air
quality, aquifers, flora and
fauna, soil status, polluted
and
abandoned
sites,
seismicity, fractures and
faults.
Distance between pads
The surface of the pad should not exceed 32,500 m2.
Distance between pads should be of at least 3 km.
Energy Reform, DOF December-20-2013
Operadores petroleros
Art. 27 … la Nación llevará a cabo las actividades de exploración y extracción del petróleo y demás hidrocarburos mediante asignaciones a empresas productivas del Estado o a través
de contratos con éstas o con particulares, en los términos de la Ley Reglamentaria
Empresa Productiva del Estado: PEMEX
(2 años) Privados Es tad o contratos contratos asignaciones contratos
Artículo 1
La Agencia tiene por objeto la protección de las personas, el medio ambiente y las instalaciones del sector hidrocarburos a través de la regulación y supervisión de:
I. La Seguridad Industrial y Seguridad Operativa;
II. Las actividades de desmantelamiento y abandono de instalaciones, y III. El control integral de los residuos y emisiones contaminantes.
Las áreas identificadas como restricción presentan por lo menos uno de los criterios de restricción considerados, por ejemplo ANP.
Sensibilidad ambiental ex situ Distribución desagregada de los criterios
Es decir, los sitios con sensibilidad ex situ adquiere mayor relevancia cuando coincide geográficamente con sitios que presenta un criterio de sensibilidad in situ. La suma de ambas sensibilidades alteraría con mayor intensidad áreas importantes de servicios ambientales o áreas que tienen una función de amortiguamiento.
En resumen, hay que considerar la protección in situ (de carácter estático), al igual que la protección ex situ (de carácter dinámico)
Coincidencia territorial de sensibilidad in situ y ex situ
Coincidencia de sensibilidad in situ y ex situ El operador deberá proteger los activos
ambientales detectados in situ, pero si además la zona tiene características de sensibilidad ex situ, el operador deberá proteger los activos ambientales aguas abajo
