Activity
Hydraulic Fracturing
Well stimulation by hydraulic fracturing.
Documents
- 2015
Hydraulic Fracturing Primer 2015
An American Petroleum Institute overview presents hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling alongside their claimed energy and economic benefits. It explains well construction and stimulation, state and federal regulation, groundwater protection, water reuse, methane emissions and seismic monitoring, with examples of technologies intended to reduce environmental impacts.
- 2014Oct
guide to the health and safety regulatory regime
Guidance for planners explains HSE’s regulation of shale gas wells and its relationship with planning authorities and environmental regulators. It describes lifecycle well integrity, steel casing and cement, abandonment plugs, advance notifications, weekly reporting and independent well examination, alongside hydraulic fracturing consent requirements and routes for raising site concerns.
- 201120 Dec
Pressure Relief Valve Sprays Dilute Acid Across Location on a Frac Job
During hydraulic fracturing, a hydraulically activated pressure relief valve opened unexpectedly, spraying about six barrels of a diluted mixture of 15% HCL and gel across equipment. No injuries occurred. The alert describes acid neutralisation with soda ash, recovery from the cellar and a subsequent safety stand-down and investigation.
- 200826 Nov
Failure of Back Flow Valve During Nitrogen Foam Frac Results in a Fatality
This alert describes a fatal incident during a two-stage nitrogen foam fracturing treatment using four manifolded nitrogen pumps. During attempts to restore pump prime at the start of the second stage, gas backflow entered a storage vessel. Insufficient relief capacity led to catastrophic overpressurisation.
- Undated
Overboard Line Broke Free and Struck Worker Following Fracturing Job
An investigation describes an injury following a fracturing job on the Tarantula platform. An incompletely closed hydraulic choke allowed a pressure surge into a rubber overboard line, which broke free from its securing arrangements and struck a worker. The report identifies the open manifold choke as the probable cause.
- Undated
Engineered Safety and Environmental Aspects of Well Construction and Fracturing Design
Presentation on engineering well construction and hydraulic fracturing for pressure containment and groundwater protection. It covers casing and liner design, cement evaluation, treating-line ratings and testing, staged pump shutdowns, relief arrangements and wellhead valves. Surface planning addresses fluid storage, spill berms and logistics, alongside examples of fracturing-fluid ingredients.
- Undated
Environmental Regulation and Planning Conditions for Onshore Oil and Gas well sites in the UK
Presentation outlining environmental regulation and planning approval for UK onshore oil and gas wells. It addresses surface pollution, well design and hydraulic fracturing risks, extractive waste permits, waste management plans and monitoring after decommissioning. It also explains regulator coordination, protected areas and local planning conditions.
- Undated
Environmental Responsibility and Lean Innovations
Presentation outlining RockPile’s environmental and operational innovations for hydraulic fracturing. It contrasts pneumatic sand handling with box-based proppant delivery and describes chemical management improvements. Reported benefits include reduced silica dust, noise, vehicle idling, chemical exposure and waste, alongside less manual handling, manual gauging and work at height.
- Undated
Equinor – Gullfaks C – investigation of fractures in coiled tubing
PSA investigates coiled-tubing fractures during well clean-out following hydraulic fracturing at Gullfaks C. The report identifies hydrogen-sulphide-induced sulphide stress cracking and examines chemical compatibility, planning and risk communication. It describes well securing through the blowout preventer, deck personnel exposure during waste treatment, and shortcomings in applying previous incident experience.
- Undated
Hydraulic Fracturing and Onshore Oil and Natural Gas Development - Industry Standards for Safe and Responsible Development
Erik Milito’s presentation outlines API standards and regulatory frameworks for onshore oil and gas development, including hydraulic fracturing. It discusses groundwater protection through well construction, environmental management, chemical disclosure and community engagement, alongside occupational safety standards and hydrocarbon vapour hazards when opening storage-tank hatches.
- Undated
Hydraulic Fracturing Supporting Standards for Best Practices
This reference overview lists API standards and recommended practices supporting hydraulic fracturing. Entries cover well integrity, fracture containment, casing, cement testing, drilling fluids, proppant properties, production equipment and environmental practices. It also outlines API’s standards-development process and the citation of its standards in regulations.
- Undated
Incidents and Lessons Learned
Presentation examining fatal and serious oilfield incidents involving derrick falls, boiler maintenance, snubbing, rig dismantling, well control and hydraulic fracturing. Case-specific prevention points address harness anchoring, manufacturer procedures, task-specific training, BOP installation, escape arrangements, flame-resistant clothing, securing pressurised lines and communication between contractors.
- Undated
ND Regulations, Planning and Permissions
Presentation explaining hydraulic fracturing technology and North Dakota regulation across the well lifecycle. It examines water supply sustainability, geological confinement, well construction, chemical disclosure and flowback management. Specific measures include cemented casing strings, pressure testing, witnessed well plugging, restrictions on open-pit storage and permitted underground disposal.
- Undated
NIOSH Field Studies, Exposure Assessment, Silica Controls and Gauging and Thiefing
Presentation describing NIOSH field assessments of worker exposure in oil and gas extraction. It examines respirable silica during hydraulic fracturing, dust-source controls and mini-baghouse retrofits, alongside rapid hydrocarbon releases during tank gauging and sampling. Personal sampling, short-task exposure assessment, basin comparisons and closed or remote gauging controls are discussed.
- Undated
Role of the Oil & Gas Authority in Licensing, Consents and the Regulation of Induced Seismicity
This presentation explains the Oil & Gas Authority’s role in UK petroleum licensing and operational consents, particularly for hydraulic fracturing in England. It distinguishes exclusive licences from permission to operate and describes regulator coordination, hydraulic fracture plans, fault assessment, fracture monitoring and real-time traffic-light arrangements for induced seismicity.
- Undated
Silica Exposure during Hydraulic Fracturing
This information sheet explains respirable silica exposure during hydraulic fracturing, including dust released during sand handling and associated lung disease risks. It describes breathing-zone sampling, dust-reduction practices, equipment modifications, local exhaust ventilation and respiratory protection requirements, alongside hazard training and workers’ rights.
- Undated
Vorteq Manifold Trailer and The Quiet Fleet
Presentation examining hydraulic fracturing equipment improvements through the Vorteq manifold trailer and isobaric pressure exchangers, including pump wear, flow arrangements, testing and reduced red-zone exposure. It also describes Quiet Fleet noise measurements and modelling, occupational and community noise requirements, mitigation options and three-stage fire suppression.
- Undated
Working together agreement on regulating unconventional oil and gas developments
Joint Environment Agency and HSE statement sets out coordinated regulation of unconventional oil and gas developments, focusing on shale gas. It describes environmental permitting, well-design assessment, weekly construction reports and joint inspections of hydraulic fracturing operations. A November 2014 review retained the agreement without changes.