>>Hello. My name is Dr. Robert Puls. I'm with the University of Oklahoma. I'm the Director
of the Oklahoma Water Survey and Associate Professor at the University of Oklahoma. This
course is called Hydraulic Fracturing and Water Resources. So what is hydraulic fracturing?
How did it develop? How is it done? Where is it done? Why is hydraulic fracturing important
for our energy future? Is hydraulic fracturing a threat to our freshwater resources? Who
regulates the hydraulic fracturing industry? These are some of the questions we will be
exploring in this course.
I want to talk about the course objectives. One of those is to provide information on
the science of hydraulic fracturing and its role in oil and gas production. Also, to provide
a balanced and comprehensive understanding of the background, processes, and regulations
relevant to hydraulic fracturing and oil and gas production. Also, to provide information
on the role of water in oil and gas production processes and best management practices in
protecting those water resources. Finally, to provide an appreciation for differences
in perspectives on a very complex and controversial topic.
So what are the course outcomes that we're looking for? Students will understand the
importance of questioning information sources and separating fact from fiction. Students
will gain a fuller understanding of the role that hydraulic fracturing plays in oil and
gas production. Exposure to oil and gas industry experts, academic experts, and people who
regulate the oil and gas industry will be provided as an integral part of this course.
Students will receive up-to-date information on current policies and trends for the sustainable
development of oil, gas, and water resources in our country.
So our course outline is going to be looking at hydraulic fracturing background, the history
of oil and gas production and hydraulic fracturing, politics and perceptions related to oil and
gas production, the role of U.S. energy production in our economy, site preparation and construction
for oil and gas activities involving hydraulic fracturing. Where does hydraulic fracturing
occur in the United States? How are the resources characterized? We'll also address well pad
construction (what goes into the construction of a well pad?), production well construction
(how are these wells constructed?), and then hydraulic fracturing itself--the process,
the chemicals that are used. We'll look at policies and regulations, both state and federal.
And then finally we'll be looking extensively at the intersection between water and oil
and gas production, particularly in the context of hydraulic fracturing. We'll examine the
current EPA national study that's looking at hydraulic fracturing and its potential
impacts on water resources, the role of water in hydraulic fracturing, water resource protection
and conservation, the issue of drought and how that affects oil and gas production. We'll
be looking at case studies related to hydraulic fracturing across the country, and then we'll
focus particularly on issues related to Oklahoma. We'll look at issues related to water usage,
policies and regulation, seismic events, and then finally future directions for hydraulic
fracturing in the context of sustainable water management, an example being trends toward
looking at baseline water quality testing. And then finally, we will have a review and
a final exam for the course.