December 11-15, 2017
Abstract Deadline: August 2, 2017
Unconventional production using hydraulic fracturing has transformed the oil and gas industry, becoming a critical part of our energy portfolio. Although this revolution is advancing worldwide, little is understood about the biogeochemical interactions and alterations taking place among reservoir rocks and fracture networks, formation waters, frac fluids, and the microbial communities within each of these systems. Lack of such knowledge may potentiate inefficiencies in extraction, produced water treatment, and biocide application. We invite fundamental and applied research from field, experiment, and theory regarding biogeochemical, hydrologic, and geomechanical processes. Areas of interest include:
- Organic-inorganic-microbial interactions among reservoir rocks, formation waters, and frac fluids;
- Microbiology and biogeochemistry of shale formations and deep subsurface waters;
- Mineral transformations and microbial metabolism of geological material;
- Biogenic gas production;
- Geochemistry and microbiology of frac fluids and produced waters;
- Fracture generation and propagation;
- Coupling between engineered micro-fracture networks and induced geochemical processes;
- Leakage and environmental impacts.
