D18.26 - Hydraulic Fracturing

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 A supply well provides groundwater for household, domestic, commercial, agricultural, or industrial uses.  
4.2 Using a standardized protocol based on an existing industry, domestic or international, standard or approved regulatory methods and procedures to collect water samples from a supply well is essential to obtain representative water quality data. These data can be critical to efforts to protect water uses, human health and safety, and identify changes when they occur. Use of this guide will help the project team to design and execute an effective water supply sampling program.  
4.3 It is important to understand the objectives of the sampling program before designing it. Water supplies may be sampled for various reasons including any or all of the following:
(1) identify health and safety risks for potable use prior to exploration in the vicinity,
(2) baseline sampling before an operation of concern,
(3) periodic sampling during such an operation,
(4) investigative responses to initial characterization, perceived changes in water quality, or
(5) ongoing monitoring related to known or potential groundwater constituents of concern in the area.  
4.3.1 Baseline Analysis on Water Wells—Select a comprehensive list of inorganic and organic analyses for the initial test on potable water wells for use by the well owner in developing a treatment system, if needed.  
4.4 Sampling programs should be based on these objectives and be developed in coordination with the prospective laboratory(ies) to ensure its procedures, capabilities, and limitations can be executed safely, meet the needs of the program, protect human health and fulfill regulatory requirements.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide presents a methodology for obtaining representative groundwater samples from domestic or commercial water wells that are in proximity to oil and gas exploration and production (E&P) operations. E&P operations include, but are not necessarily limited to, site preparation, drilling, completion, and well stimulation (including hydraulic fracturing), and production activities. The goal is to obtain representative groundwater samples from domestic or commercial water wells that can be used to identify the baseline groundwater quality and any subsequent changes that may be identified. While this guide focuses on baseline sampling in conjunction with oil and gas E&P activities, the principles and practices recommended for health and safety are based on well-established methods that have been in use for many years in other industrial situations. This guide recommends sampling and analytical testing procedures that can identify various chemical species present including metals, dissolved gases (such as methane and radon), hydrocarbons (and other organic compounds), radioactivity, as well as overall water quality.  
1.2 This guide provides information on typical residential and commercial water supply well systems and guidance on developing and implementing a sampling program, including determining sampling locations, suggested purging techniques, selection of potential analyses and laboratory certifications, data management, and integrity. It also includes guidance on personal safety. The information included pertains to baseline sampling before beginning any activities that could present potential risks to local aquifers, periodic sampling during and after such work, and ongoing monitoring relating to known or potential groundwater constituents in the area. This guide does not address policy issues related to frequency or timing of sampling or sampling distances from the wellhead. In addition, it does not address reporting limits, sample preservation, holding times, laboratory quality control, regulatory action levels, or interpretation of analytical results.  
1.3 These guidelines are not intended to replace or supersede regulatory requirements and technical methodology or guidance nor are these guidelines...

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 The ability to correlate results of analyzers to sieve sets enables the use of non-sieve methods to be employed that give comparable results to each other.  
5.2 The use of analyzers for proppant measurement has the benefit of providing particle shape characteristics which are important in the performance of these materials. Shape analysis is currently done by operator’s determination based on a visual observation of a small number of particles per API 19C. Available information from imaging analysis of many particles can be used to assess the proppant shape characteristics as opposed to just a small number.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice describes procedural steps to create a correlation that can be used to compare results of proppant size distributions between dynamic imaging analyzers (analyzers) and prescribed sieve sets.  
1.2 The proppant size and distribution specifications that are included in this practice are listed in API Standard 19C (API 19C) and shown in Table 1, however as industry evolves additional specifications may come into use and this practice can be used with those as well.  
1.3 This practice may not be applicable to all proppant types and designations. The acceptability of the correlations determined are judged by the operator.  
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard, except sieve designations are typically identified using the ‘alternative’ system in accordance with Practice E11, such as 3 in. and No. 200 instead of the ‘standard’ system of 75 mm and 75 µm, respectively.  
1.5 Observed and calculated values shall conform to the guidelines for significant digits and rounding established in Practice D6026, unless superseded by this standard.  
1.5.1 The procedures used to specify how data are collected/recorded and calculated in Practice D6026 are regarded as the industry standard. In addition, they are representative of the significant digits that generally should be retained. The procedures used do not consider material variation, purpose for obtaining the data, special purpose studies, or any considerations for the user’s objectives; and it is common practice to increase or reduce significant digits of reported data to be commensurate with these considerations. It is beyond the scope of these test methods to consider significant digits used in analysis methods for engineering data.  
1.6 This practice offers a set of instructions for performing one or more specific operations. This document cannot replace education or experience and should be used in conjunction with professional judgment. Not all aspects of this practice may be applicable in all circumstances. This ASTM standard is not intended to represent or replace the standard of care by which the adequacy of a given professional service must be judged, nor should this document be applied without consideration of a project’s many unique aspects. The word “Standard” in the title means only that the document has been approved through the ASTM consensus process.  
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.8 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 Limitations of Guide—This guide is for use by stakeholders involved with collecting, managing, reporting, and delivering data during oil and gas development operations using hydraulic fracturing. Some data collected for operational and business concerns regarding hydraulic fracturing is classified as proprietary and can be classified as such by individual operators based on state regulatory conditions. Accordingly, this guide will not address the collection, management, and reporting of proprietary operator data other than to note that significant benefits may be achieved by narrowing the classification of proprietary data, and standardizing the definition of “proprietary data” between regulators. Regulators’ interests in data vary widely based upon a specific agency’s charter, statutory/legislative mandates, legacy requirements, and considerations relating to operator compliance. Depending upon jurisdictional boundaries, multiple regulatory agencies generally have statutory responsibilities regarding oil and gas development operations. These agencies properly determine what information will be collected based on agency specific responsibilities. Accordingly, this guide will not address the selection of data elements to be collected by regulatory agencies other than to note that significant efficiencies may be achieved by using integrated or common, interagency, data management processes, protocols, systems, and best practices and by reviewing data collection activities against those of sister agencies to minimize gaps and overlaps.  
5.2 Oil and gas development operations include the entire well life cycle, as shown in Fig. 1.
FIG. 1 Phases of Oil and Gas Development Operations Well Life Cycle  
5.3 This guide distinguishes the term hydraulic fracturing from oil and gas development operations. Many consider the terms interchangeable. The industry typically refers to hydraulic fracturing as the explicit act of pressurizing a well in a shale formation to fra...
SCOPE
1.1 This guide presents a series of options regarding data collection, data management, and information delivery and reporting associated with oil and gas development involving hydraulic fracturing. Options presented for data management and reporting are intended to improve the transparent information exchange between three primary stakeholder groups: operators, regulators, and the public. Improved information exchange is expected to enhance public understanding of oil and gas development.  
1.2 Suggestions contained in this guide may not be applicable in all circumstances. This guide is not intended to represent or replace the standard of care by which the adequacy of a given professional service should be judged, nor should this guide be applied without consideration of a project’s many unique aspects. The word “Standard” in the title of this document means that the document has been approved through the ASTM process.  
1.3 Units—The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.  
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 A supply well provides groundwater for household, domestic, commercial, agricultural, or industrial uses.  
4.2 Using a standardized protocol based on an existing industry standard or approved regulatory methods and procedures to collect water samples from a supply well is essential to obtain representative water quality data. These data can be critical to efforts to protect water uses, and human health, and identify changes when they occur. Use of this guide will help the project team to design and execute an effective water supply sampling program.  
4.3 It is important to understand the objectives of the sampling program before designing it. Water supplies may be sampled for various reasons including any or all of the following:
(1) baseline sampling before an operation of concern,
(2) periodic sampling during such an operation,
(3) investigative responses to perceived changes in water quality, or
(4) ongoing monitoring related to known or potential groundwater constituents of concern in the area.
Sampling programs should be based on these objectives and be developed in coordination with the prospective laboratory(ies) to ensure its procedures, capabilities, and limitations meet the needs of the program, protect human health and fulfill regulatory requirements.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide presents a methodology for obtaining representative groundwater samples from domestic or commercial water wells that are in proximity to oil and gas exploration and production (E&P) operations. E&P operations include, but are not necessarily limited to, site preparation, drilling, completion, and well stimulation (including hydraulic fracturing), and production activities. The goal is to obtain representative groundwater samples from domestic or commercial water wells that can be used to identify the baseline groundwater quality and any subsequent changes that may be identified. While this guide focuses on baseline sampling in conjunction with oil and gas E&P activities, the principles and practices recommended are based on well-established methods that have been in use for many years in other industrial situations. This guide recommends sampling and analytical testing procedures that can identify various chemical species present including metals, dissolved gases (such as methane), hydrocarbons (and other organic compounds), as well as overall water quality.  
1.2 This guide provides information on typical residential and commercial water supply well systems and guidance on developing and implementing a sampling program, including determining sampling locations, suggested purging techniques, selection of potential analyses and laboratory certifications, data management, and integrity. It also includes guidance on personal safety. The information included pertains to baseline sampling before beginning any activities that could present potential risks to local aquifers, periodic sampling during and after such work, and ongoing monitoring relating to known or potential groundwater constituents in the area. This guide does not address policy issues related to frequency or timing of sampling or sampling distances from the wellhead. In addition, it does not address reporting limits, sample preservation, holding times, laboratory quality control, regulatory action levels, or interpretation of analytical results.  
1.3 These guidelines are not intended to replace or supersede regulatory requirements and technical methodology or guidance nor are these guidelines intended for inclusion by reference in regulations. Instances where this guide is in conflict with statutory or regulatory requirements, practitioners shall defer to the latter. These guidelines are intended to assist in developing sampling programs to meet project goals and objectives. However, site-specific conditions, regulatory requirements, site-specific health and safety issues, technical manuals and directives, and program data quality o...