Potential release of additives used in the hydraulic fracturing process into the atmosphere

火炬燃烧通常用于能源和石化行业，以处理不需要的易燃气体。燃烧优于简单地排放气体，因为CO2的全球变暖潜能值比甲烷低得多。据估计，2008年全世界有1220亿立方米的天然气被燃烧或排放，而在阿尔伯塔，2008年上游部门约有11.4亿立方米的天然气被燃烧或排放。 压裂液已成功地用于石油和天然气工业多年，以提高井场生产率。然而，近年来，公众和政府监管机构对这些液体可能对地下水和空气质量产生的影响表示担忧。上游电池位置的分离过程可能会产生一些液滴可能进入火炬烟囱的情况。这种液体主要是水，但也可能含有其他物质，如盐和压裂液。 拟议的研究项目将调查稀释返排压裂液对火炬的影响。将采取双管齐下的办法。首先，卡尔顿火炬设施将用于测量燃料中夹带此类液体时的火炬效率和排放系数。其次，将使用阿尔伯塔大学的实验室大小的静态火焰来完成对含压裂添加剂的火焰所排放的气体和颗粒相排放物的化学和物理性质的详细研究。在该实验室火焰中，采样系统将被设计为在整个燃烧过程中对气体和颗粒进行采样（即，燃烧前燃料/流体混合物、火焰区域和燃烧后产物）。 在两种火焰的情况下，将根据对压裂液数据库和其他资源的广泛审查来选择测试的稀释压裂液。

Flaring is often used in the energy and petrochemical sectors to dispose of unwanted flammable gases. Flaring is preferred to simply venting gases since the global warming potential of CO2 is much lower than that of methane. It has been estimated that 122 billion m3 of gas was flared or vented worldwide in 2008, while in Alberta approximately 1.14 billion m3 was flared or vented in the upstream sector in 2008. Fracturing fluids have been successfully used for many years in the oil and gas industry to increase well-site productivity. However, in recent years the general public and government regulators have voiced concerns about the possible effects these fluids might have on ground water and air quality. The separation processes at upstream battery sites can potentially create scenarios where some droplets of liquid can enter the flare stack. This liquid is mostly water but can contain other substances like salt and fracturing fluid. The proposed research project will investigate the effects of diluted flowback fracturing fluids on flares. A two-pronged approach will be used. Firstly, the Carleton Flare Facility will be used to measure flaring efficiency and emission factors when such fluids are entrained in the fuel. Secondly, a laboratory-sized quiescent flame at the University of Alberta will be used to complete a detailed study of the chemical and physical properties of the gas and particle-phase emissions emitted by flames with fracturing additives. In this laboratory flame, the sampling system will be designed to sample gases and particulates throughout the combustion process (i.e., pre-combustion fuel/fluid mixture, the flame region, and post-combustion products). In the case of both flames, the diluted fracturing fluids tested will be chosen based on an extensive review of fracturing fluid databases and other resources.