Matrix acidization, a sister technology to hydraulic fracturing, is used throughout the United States as an unconventional oil stimulation technique. The chemicals used in this stimulation technique are similar to those used in hydraulic fracturing. Our research group recently gathered publically available information about the chemicals used in matrix acidization. In this paper we take a deeper look at these chemicals in terms of their potential toxicity and the environmental fate of these chemicals. Understanding where these chemicals are likely to end up in our environment is critical in predicting how vulnerable populations will be affected. Furthermore, understanding the toxicity will help us identify possible impacts to look for in the future on humans and ecological systems. This paper summarizes the meager toxicology information as well as the knowledge of the environmental fate of the chemicals of concern. Based upon this information we have identified what we believe are potentially the most hazardous chemicals, in terms of their toxicity, amount used and their ability to reach target receptors. We also look at various chemical release scenarios to the environment to see the fate of these chemicals. We have run Fugacity 2 models on these chemicals of concern to help determine effects in the environment from possible spills, or storage of matrix acidization flowback water in pits. Lastly our group has run some lab tests to understand the stability of some of these chemicals in very acidic solutions. This is an important parameter because the fluid being pumped in matrix acidization is very acidic and can affect chemical stability.

Toxicity and fate of the chemicals of matrix acidization, an unconventional oil stimulation technique

249th National Meeting (2015)

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