A topic of significant discussion in society and politics over the past few years is hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking. This is the practice of using highly pressurized water for the purpose of fracturing sub-surface rocks to get easier access to the fluids within the rock at incredibly fast rates. Using his research award from the Department of Energy’s Office of Science Graduate Student Research Program, University of Wyoming Ph.D. candidate Ryan James Herz-Thyhsen, seeks to shed a little bit of light on the subject not just for industrial professionals, but for politicians and the general public.
Herz-Thyhsen’s scientific research specifically pertains to the interaction between the water that is initially injected during the process of hydraulic fracturing and the rocks containing hydrocarbon in the subsurface of the Earth. Herz-Thyhsen wants to research how the water and the hydrocarbons move in the subsurface. By researching the movement, Herz-Thyhsen hopes to understand the storage space changes in the rock, such as possible differences in the rocks’ pore sizes.
“Answering questions concerning fluid movement allows us to better understand what happens to the injected water, and how to optimize hydrocarbon recovery from the target formations,” Herz-Thyhsen said.
Answering these questions is a priority for Herz-Thyhsen, thanks to what was happening near his home when he was only an undergrad. Being from Pennsylvania, he was always in close proximity to the Appalachian Mountain Range, where he would hike and bike often during the summer. While he was working on his bachelor’s degree in geology, the Marcellus Shale that was quite abundant in Pennsylvania was a subject of national contention. Since natural gas is produced from the Marcellus Shale only by the process of hydraulic fracturing, Pennsylvania was at the center of public and political debate.
“It occurred to me that hydraulic fracturing was, in part, such a divisive issue because nobody could answer about the details of important questions concerning hydraulic fracturing. That realization has motivated me to conduct scientific research that can help us begin to answer question concerning the fate and transport of water and hydrocarbons in the subsurface,” Herz-Thyhsen said.
Herz-Thyhsen will have plenty of resources to use that the award covers. From the end of October to the beginning of February, he will be conducting research on hydraulic fracturing in the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Knoxville, Tennessee. From the various techniques needed to examine the pores inside the rocks, to having the support of some of the best scientists and scientific tools, Herz-Thyhsen will be more than prepared to do his research effectively.
“I will be able to interact with top scientists that will provide guidance and insight into my research,” Herz-Thyhsen said.
According to Herz-Thyhsen, hydraulic fracturing is not only an easy way to have access to natural gases but is also an important subject for the entire future of global energy.
“This technology combined with horizontal drilling has spurred a paradigm shift in the energy sector that has altered the global energy landscape, and we don’t really understand the details,” Herz-Thyhsen said.
Herz-Thyhsen has a decent idea of what he wants the future to hold for him and his research. The topic of hydraulic fracturing is so contentious, he wants to help communicate his current and future research to not only industrial professionals, but also to politicians and to the general public.
“I aim to solve societally relevant problems, contentious problems and serve as a liaison between academic and industrial professionals. I will also inform the public of complex and contentious problems, including social problems that induce tension between the individual public and industrial spheres,” Herz-Thyhsen said.
