Seminar and Discussion Series

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Open Access
Hydraulic fracturing and water in Colorado: can they coexist?
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2013-09-10) Carlson, Ken, author
Colorado has a long history of water and energy development although these have largely happened independently. In the future, energy development will rely more on water and water development more on energy. Currently, the overlap between water and energy is manifested most prominently in the shale oil and gas industry and the use of hydraulic fracturing. Extraction of shale-derived oil and gas has increased significantly over the last five years due to advances in the drilling and stimulation processes including hydraulic fracturing. Unlike previous oil and gas booms in the state, water is a critical operating material for the extraction process and the industry is now in the position of competing for the scarce water resources with other water users. This presentation will discuss water usage for hydraulic fracturing, prospects for recycling the water and the issues that need additional research.