Review on Groundwater Contamination Risk Assessment Methods in Shale Oil and Gas Development

Abstract:

The application of in-situ extraction techniques such as the horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing sparked a global shale oil and gas extraction boom， but the potential risk of the groundwater contamination has raised significant concerns among the public. In this paper， we review main pathways and risk assessment methods of the groundwater contamination associated with the shale oil and gas development. Building upon the existing research， the characteristic pollutants， contamination pathways and migration driving forces of the groundwater contamination in the shale oil and gas development are presented. Subsequently， the principal assessment methods of the groundwater contamination risk caused by the shale oil and gas development are summarized， and the research status and future directions of the index-based method， process-based method and statistical method within the shale oil and gas landscape are discussed. Finally， potential areas for future research are outlined.