Understanding the fate of residual hydraulic fracturing fluids and the mechanisms
that control flowback fluid composition are necessary components to the environmentally sustainable development of shale gas reservoirs. Fracturing fluids contain an array of chemical additives that will influence mineral dissolution reactions and water imbibition at the shale fracture/matrix interface. This presentation will summarize results from a series of experimental studies that examined the impact of acid and surfactants commonly used in slickwater fracturing fluids with respect to their ability to mobilize contaminants from and influence water imbibition into the shale matrix.

Brian Ellis is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Michigan (U-M).His research interests cover topics related to the sustainable development of subsurface energy resources and geologic CO2 sequestration.