An integrated hazard screening and indexing system for hydraulic fracturing chemical assessment

Various chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing have raised environmental and human health (EHH) concerns regarding water resources contamination, leading to the transition towards the use of chemicals with minimum EHH hazards. Chemical hazard screening and indexing approaches have been used to measure the chemical hazard of hydraulic fracturing, and each approach is associated with inherent advantages and limitations. In this study, the two chemical hazard assessment approaches were discussed, and an integrated chemical hazard screening and indexing system was developed to combine the strengths of the two approaches. The integrated system was applied to assess the EHH hazards of representative hydraulic fracturing chemicals used in British Columbia, Canada. The hazard screening results showed that more than half of the ingredients and additives were classified into high hazard groups. Moreover, the integrated system generated more critical hazard assessment results than two hazard indexing systems, revealing that using the individual hazard indexing approach could result in underestimated EHH hazards for chemicals. The integrated system can significantly improve the data confidence levels of hazard assessment results compared to a previously developed indexing system. The integrated system can also help formulate fracturing fluids with low EHH hazards by identifying ingredients of high hazard concerns.