Public Perceptions of High-Volume Hydraulic Fracking and Deep Shale Gas Development

Abstract

This document is one of the seven technical reports completed for the Hydraulic Fracturing in Michigan Integrated Assessment conducted by the University of Michigan. During the initial phase of the project, seven faculty-led and student-staffed teams focused on the following topics: Technology, Geology/Hydrogeology, Environment/Ecology, Human Health, Policy/Law, Economics, and Public Perceptions. These reports were prepared to provide a solid foundation of information on the topic for decision makers and stakeholders and to help inform the Integrated Assessment, which will focus on the analysis of policy options. The reports were informed by comments from (but do not necessarily reflect the views of) the Integrated Assessment Steering Committee, expert peer reviewers, and numerous public comments. Upon completion of the peer review process, final decisions regarding the content of the reports were determined by the faculty authors in consultation with the peer review editor. These reports should not be characterized or cited as final products of the Integrated Assessment.

The reports cover a broad range of topics related to hydraulic fracturing in Michigan. In some cases, the authors determined that a general discussion of oil and gas development is important to provide a framing for a more specific discussion of hydraulic fracturing. The reports address common hydraulic fracturing (HF) as meaning use of hydraulic fracturing methods regardless of well depth, fluid volume, or orientation of the well (whether vertical, directional, or horizontal). HF has been used in thousands of wells throughout Michigan over the past several decades. Most of those wells have been shallower, vertical wells using approximately 50,000 gallons of water; however, some have been deeper and some have been directional or horizontal wells. The reports also address the relatively newer high volume hydraulic fracturing (HVHF) methods typically used in conjunction with directional or horizontal drilling. An HVHF well is defined by the State of Michigan as one that is intended to use a total of more than 100,000 gallons of hydraulic fracturing fluid. The reports indicate if the text is addressing oil and gas development in general, HF, or HVHF.