Effect of oxidative breakers on organic matter degradation, contaminant mobility and critical mineral release during shale-fracturing fluid interactions in the Marcellus Shale

Oil and gas production from organic-rich shale formations has become viable through advancements in multistage hydraulic fracturing. However, fluctuations oil prices, coupled with the sharp decline after initial days of fracturing operations, drive operators to devise strategies for enhancing hydrocarbon production. The use highly reactive fluids that include strong oxidizing agents, also known as breakers, can potentially increase well productivity. oxidative breakers are used reduce viscosity gel-based proppant is transported into fracture zones target formation. These degrade organic matter, release hydrocarbons. chemical byproducts generated by interaction matrix have not been extensively studied. This study investigated fluid-rock interactions between Marcellus Shale synthetic fluid (HFF) solutions comprising three different i.e., ammonium persulfate, sodium bromate, hypochlorite, commonly Appalachian Basin, USA. Our results demonstrate type HFF controlled amount volatile compounds (VOCs) semi-volatile (SVOCs) produced. In all reacted effluents, we observed transformation VOCs presence acids variable amounts. effluents containing bromate hypochlorite showed several halogenated compounds. Changes major ions mineralogy indicate carbonate dissolution barite precipitation were ubiquitous effluents. addition increased concentration trace elements fall under critical mineral (CM) or element category due their high demand emerging technologies susceptibility supply chain disruption variety factors. before be at a larger field scale enhance recovery CM hydrocarbons, better understanding required potential environmental impacts associated generation contaminants during breaker-fluid-rock interaction.