RE: News up to Christmas20 Nov 2024 08:49
Disclaimer! I didn't write this, I copied and pasted it ok? lol Thought helpful to give some an idea of what stimulation can be (yes in Arizona laws I know lol)
Helium Gas Extraction & Aquifer Protection
Helium gas extraction, given Arizona's underlying geology, can typically be achieved through the drilling of gas extraction wells without the need for well stimulation. In these cases an APP is not required. For the few cases where well stimulation is needed to allow helium gas to flow more freely underground, ADEQ requires facility operators to obtain an APP to ensure Arizona’s aquifers are protected.
What is well stimulation?
Well stimulation involves injecting fluids into a well to open existing pathways between the particles in the rock formations to facilitate gas flow and collection. Stimulation varies in size and duration depending on the type; every effort is made to recover as much of the fluids as possible and all recovered fluids are removed from the project area for proper disposal | See Table 1 for Typical Measurements >. Arizona laws prohibit unpermitted discharge of recovered fluids. Related to helium gas recovery, there are two types of low-pressure well stimulation currently permitted in Arizona:
Acidic solution — Following well installation, a solution of water and acid is injected at low pressure into a well to clean out the wellbore and facilitate gas flow in an area not to exceed 300 feet surrounding the well. The solution is also used to eliminate clay particles that accumulate and reduce flow within a few feet of the well, similar to using an acidic wash to clean residential air conditioning unit coils as dirt builds up and reduces efficiency. Most of the acidic solution is neutralized when it comes in contact with the formation. Stimulation activities vary in duration from 30 minutes to several hours and use approximately 16,800 gallons of solution per well, which is similar to the volume of a residential swimming pool.
Proppant — Following well installation, a mixture of mostly sand and water is pumped at a well-specific, calculated rate and low pressure to facilitate increased gas flow by propping open spaces created from clay particle removal. Stimulation activities are generally 45 to 60 minutes in duration and use approximately 21,500 gallons of mixture per well.
As part of any helium gas extraction activity, each permitted gas extraction well requires authorization from both ADEQ and AOGCC before any well stimulation activities can take place. The operator needs to specify and ADEQ will review:
What type of stimulation is proposed,
The proposed location(s) for stimulation, and
When well stimulation is proposed.
How does helium well stimulation in Arizona differ from hydraulic fracturing in other states?
Hydraulic fracturing, used in other states across the country, is a process by which millions of gallons of fluid are injected thousands of feet underground at a well-specific, calculate
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