Shale Gas and Oil Terminology Explained: Products and Byproducts

The document distinguishes between dry gas (primarily methane) and wet gas (methane mixed with marketable higher hydrocarbons like ethane, propane, and butane). It identifies gaseous wastes including hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide, methane, and carbon dioxide. It further details liquid wastes, specifically produced water, which can contain carcinogenic chemicals, salts, and naturally occurring radioactive elements such as radium and uranium, noting that many wastewater treatment plants lack the capacity to remove these radioactive chemicals to meet federal drinking water standards.

• Natural gas is categorized as either 'dry gas', consisting primarily of methane with little to no liquid hydrocarbons, or 'wet gas', which contains methane and higher hydrocarbons that can be liquefied. Wet gas is more desirable for drillers because hydrocarbons like ethane, butane, and propane are marketable as energy sources or raw materials for petrochemical plants.
• Hydraulic fracturing produces several gaseous waste products: toxic hydrogen sulfide (H2S), reactive sulfur dioxide (SO2), carbon dioxide (CO2) separated at processing facilities, and methane (CH4), which is often released as a byproduct when oil recovery is more profitable.
• Produced water from fracking is a significant concern as it typically contains at least 26 chemicals, including carcinogens like benzene. The composition varies by geology; deep wells produce more salinated water, and in the Marcellus shale formation of the Northeast United States, minerals like pyrite and sulfides can lead to acid generation and metal mobility.
• Naturally occurring radioactive elements, including uranium and radium, are disturbed during drilling and enter produced water. Over 179 wells produce wastewater with high radiation levels, and over 116 facilities report radioactive chemical levels 100 times higher than federal regulations. Most sewage treatment plants cannot remove these chemicals sufficiently to meet federal drinking water standards.

APA

Glass, K. (2011). Shale Gas and Oil Terminology Explained: Products and Byproducts. Environmental and Energy Study Institute. https://www.eesi.org/files/fracking_products_120111.pdf

Chicago

Glass, Kate. Shale Gas and Oil Terminology Explained: Products and Byproducts. Environmental and Energy Study Institute, 2011. https://www.eesi.org/files/fracking_products_120111.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Glass |first1=Kate |title=Shale Gas and Oil Terminology Explained: Products and Byproducts |publisher=Environmental and Energy Study Institute |date=December 2011 |url=https://www.eesi.org/files/fracking_products_120111.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{glass2011shale, author = {Glass, Kate}, title = {{Shale Gas and Oil Terminology Explained: Products and Byproducts}}, institution = {Environmental and Energy Study Institute}, year = {2011}, month = dec, url = {https://www.eesi.org/files/fracking_products_120111.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }