FURI | Spring 2019

Shale Fracking Waste Characteristics

Fracking processes produce shale waste due the water used to create fractures deep underground to release natural gases being imbibed by the shale rock common in these basins. Characterizing research has been conducted on the shale waste in order to further research in obtaining oil and shale products from the waste and reducing the amount of waste needed to be disposed of. Cleaned shale were mixed with illite and kaolin clay at varying compositions and made into tablets at varying pressures of 1000 lb_f, 2000 lb_f, and 3000 lb_f. Drop tests with silicone oil were done to determine a relationship between the shale, clay, pressure of the shale-clay mixture, and how they interact with oils.