Tracing environmental impacts associated with shale gas production with novel integration of isotopologue thermometry and noble gases
Lead Research Organisation:
Lancaster University
Department Name: Lancaster Environment Centre
Abstract
With recent government green light for Lancashire fracking, concerns have arisen over the potential environmental impacts associated with drilling and shale gas production. One issue is whether fracking would introduce elevated hydrocarbon gas levels in drinking-water wells in the area of fracking. Several studies suggested that shale gas drilling could lead to fugitive gas contamination in a subset of drinking-water wells near drill sites, while others argue that methane is natural and unrelated to shale gas development. Much of this debate results from a lack of geochemical tracers that can constrain simultaneously the source, timing, and mechanism of hydrocarbon migration into shallow aquifers.
The stable carbon (13C/12C) and hydrogen (D/H) isotopic composition of methane are traditional tools to identify the origin of methane in nature and trace fugitive gases from shale gas production. However, methane with different origins often yield overlapping isotopic compositions, which make such data inconclusive. Clumped methane has been validated as a thermometer, it is particularly useful to trace origin of methane gas, but the full potential and range of uses is yet to be developed. In contrast, noble gases have long been proven as a versatile tool in the investigation of origin and physical processes occurring in natural gas and hydrocarbon systems. This project will combine noble gases and clumped methane as a new set of tracers for identifying the origin and migration processes of stray gases from shale gas production.
The stable carbon (13C/12C) and hydrogen (D/H) isotopic composition of methane are traditional tools to identify the origin of methane in nature and trace fugitive gases from shale gas production. However, methane with different origins often yield overlapping isotopic compositions, which make such data inconclusive. Clumped methane has been validated as a thermometer, it is particularly useful to trace origin of methane gas, but the full potential and range of uses is yet to be developed. In contrast, noble gases have long been proven as a versatile tool in the investigation of origin and physical processes occurring in natural gas and hydrocarbon systems. This project will combine noble gases and clumped methane as a new set of tracers for identifying the origin and migration processes of stray gases from shale gas production.
Planned Impact
Beyond academia, the main beneficiaries are
Oil and gas industry - Understanding the sources and migration pathways of methane gas and assess the environmental impacts associated with hydrocarbon production, particularly shale gas exploration and extraction.
UK mass spectrometer companies - Further developing the laser technology proposed in this work, as laser systems rival traditional mass spectrometry capability at a fraction of the cost.
Local schools and community - The subject matter of this proposal may be of particular interest to the local community around Lancaster University where shale gases and fracking are a local concern. There will be technique development progress web pages within Lancaster University where scientific overview, objectives and updates can be posted. Public understanding and knowledge transfer activities will be organised for local schools and general public.
Wider public community - New findings are anticipated in this project and journalistic interests will be generated. Both the Lancaster University and NERC press offices will be used, as well as media in China to communicate the achievements of this project. There are further plans to provide material for use in interaction with schools both in the Northwest of UK and shale gas producing areas in China. Results of general interest will be posted on the Lancaster isotope geochemistry website.
Oil and gas industry - Understanding the sources and migration pathways of methane gas and assess the environmental impacts associated with hydrocarbon production, particularly shale gas exploration and extraction.
UK mass spectrometer companies - Further developing the laser technology proposed in this work, as laser systems rival traditional mass spectrometry capability at a fraction of the cost.
Local schools and community - The subject matter of this proposal may be of particular interest to the local community around Lancaster University where shale gases and fracking are a local concern. There will be technique development progress web pages within Lancaster University where scientific overview, objectives and updates can be posted. Public understanding and knowledge transfer activities will be organised for local schools and general public.
Wider public community - New findings are anticipated in this project and journalistic interests will be generated. Both the Lancaster University and NERC press offices will be used, as well as media in China to communicate the achievements of this project. There are further plans to provide material for use in interaction with schools both in the Northwest of UK and shale gas producing areas in China. Results of general interest will be posted on the Lancaster isotope geochemistry website.
People |
ORCID iD |
Zheng Zhou (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Cao C
(2020)
Tracing the sources and evolution processes of shale gas by coupling stable (C, H) and noble gas isotopic compositions: Cases from Weiyuan and Changning in Sichuan Basin, China
in Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering
Li Y
(2020)
Tracing interaction between hydrocarbon and groundwater systems with isotope signatures preserved in the Anyue gas field, central Sichuan Basin, China
in Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
Li Y
(2021)
Performance of the NGX High-Resolution Multiple Collector Noble Gas Mass Spectrometer
in Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems
Chen C
(2022)
High temperature methane emissions from Large Igneous Provinces as contributors to late Permian mass extinctions.
in Nature communications
Description | Noble gas isotope studies in natural gases show that water plays an important role in preserving gases produced underground. Methane can dissolve into groundwater and be preserved over a significant period of time in geological history. Dissolved methane is released back into gas phase when geological conditions change during tectonic activities, such as uplifting. One of the key objectives of this project is to generate methane at various temperatures in a lab environment and use the generated methane to calibrate the dual laser quantum cascade laser clumped methane analyser (Aerodyne QC-TILDAS) at Lancaster University. In 2020, all three main types of kerogen were used in pyrolysis experiment for methane generation, including lacustrine shale (type I), marine shale (type II) and coal (type III). Experimental results show that methane generated by coal (type I) have reached isotope equilibrium. It is ideal for instrument calibration. Gases generated by type II and type III kerogen are mixture of gases at various equilibrium stages, which cannot be used for instrument calibration. |
Exploitation Route | Petroleum companies might use the research findings of this project for gas exploration. Researchers might use the findings from the pyrolysis experiment to generate methane which has reached thermodynamic equilibrium. |
Sectors | Energy |
Description | Research findings produced in this project, such as applying noble gas and methane clumped isotopes in understanding processes associated with origin, migration and accumulation of shale gas, have been discussed with project partner PetroChina. They have also been presented in a webinar (October 2020) to SinoPec. Both are China's state-owned petroleum companies. This has generated economic benefit in searching for shale gas as a natural resource. Concerns on the integrity of the shale gas producing wells have been raised to the petroleum companies. Suggestions on casing reinforcement have been discussed. There will be a societal impact. |
First Year Of Impact | 2020 |
Sector | Energy,Environment |
Impact Types | Societal,Economic |
Description | China Scholarship Council Studentship |
Amount | £16,200 (GBP) |
Organisation | Chinese Scholarship Council |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | China |
Start | 11/2019 |
End | 11/2020 |
Title | Data for: Tracing interaction between hydrocarbon and groundwater systems with isotope signatures preserved in the Anyue gas field, central Sichuan Basin, China |
Description | Noble gas and stable isotope data from Anyue gas field, China |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2021 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Composition and isotopic data of noble gases in deep oil and gases fields are rare. They provide critical tracers for understanding the migration of crustal fluids and associated geological processes. Data set generated in this project has improved our understanding on the Himalayan movement in Earth's history. In addition, it provides insights into the formation of commercial oil/gas reservoirs associated with tectonic processes. |
URL | https://data.mendeley.com/datasets/ffc365bkfr |
Title | Noble gas and clumped methane data for samples from Anyue gas field, China |
Description | This dataset contains 6 tables covering all analytical data for samples collected from the Anyue gas field, central Sichuan Basin, China. Table 1 includes major gas species and stable carbon and hydrogen isotopes. Table 2 includes results for methane clumped isotopes and calculated methane formation temperatures of gas samples. Table 3 includes noble gas concentrations. Table 4 includes noble gas isotopic ratios. Table 5 includes parameters used in methane emission model and calculating total volume of methane emission. Table 6 includes gas composition and stable carbon and hydrogen isotope characteristics of major gases produced in the pyrolysis experiments (thermally equilibrated methane between 400~500 in theory) and working reference gas, and their methane clumped isotope values. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2022 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Scientists from several countries have used this dataset in their studies. |
URL | https://www2.bgs.ac.uk/nationalgeosciencedatacentre/citedData/catalogue/d7094583-4564-4651-85ea-d19e... |
Description | Chinese Academy of Sciences |
Organisation | Chinese Academy of Sciences |
Country | China |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | We discuss research data with this partner and write publications together. |
Collaborator Contribution | This partner carries out pyrolysis experiment to generate methane gas for the research project. |
Impact | We have published a research paper together. |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | PetroChina |
Organisation | PetroChina Company Limited |
Country | China |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | We share some analytical data with this partner and discuss the data interpretation with the partner. |
Collaborator Contribution | This partner covers sampling and shipping costs and provide gas samples to support my research project. It also provides funding to cover consumables for sample analysis. |
Impact | One research paper has been published with a researcher in this partner organization. |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | Nature World News |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | News article in an international web-media to raise awareness of geological sources of greenhouse gases which have not been discovered previously. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/54425/20221202/great-dying-methane-emissions-hold-clue-worl... |
Description | Webinar |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | The topic "Clumped methane isotopologues in gas reservoirs: Understanding origin, migration and accumulation processes and the evolution of volatiles in the Earth over geological time" was presented to the geologists in the petroleum company SinoPec, which is one of the major state-owned companies in China. Application of isotope techniques in gas exploration and control of pollution associated with gas production were discussed. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |