Update on ASTM’s Proposed Standard Guide for
Data Management and Reporting Associated with Oil
and Gas Development Involving Hydraulic Fracturing
AIPG Conference on the Expanding World of
Unconventional Shale Hydrocarbon Resources:
The role of Hydraulic Fracturing in the
Development of the Utica, Marcellus and other
Shales of the Appalachian Basin
Worthington, Ohio
28-29 April 2015
Rick Dunkin
President, Senior Geologist/Scientist
EcoRock Consulting, LLC
Environmental and Geological Consulting Services
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About ASTM International
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standards, and promotion of related
knowledge
 Over 12,000 ASTM standards operate
globally
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openness, impartiality, effectiveness,
relevance and transparency
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 Mandatory only when cited in a contractual
agreement or referenced by regulatory
body
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ASTM Serves Multiple Sectors
 Metals
 Construction Materials
 Petroleum and
Lubricants
 Environment
 Air
 Soil
 Water
 Consumer
Products
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Current ASTM D18.26 Hydraulic Fracturing
(HF) Sections
 D18.26 Hydraulic Fracturing Subcommittee
D18.26.01 Site Investigation and Monitoring
D18.26.02 Site Infrastructure and Construction
D18.26.03 Materials Characterization (fluids,
proppants, grouts, etc.)
D18.26.04 Reporting
D18.26.05 Terminology
Proposed New ASTM Standards for D18.26
 WK42923 New Guide for Standard Guide for Sampling
and Analysis of Private Water Supply Wells in Areas of
Petroleum Exploration and Production (E&P Operations)
 WK44896 New Test Method for Determining the Crush
Resistance of Materials Used as Proppants in Hydraulic
Fracturing of Subsurface Formations
 WK42600 New Test Method for Standard Test Method
for Dynamic Image Analysis of Natural Sand, Resin
Coated Sand, Ceramic and Other Manufactured
Materials Used as Proppants
 WK42803 New Guide for Data Management and
Reporting Associated with Oil and Gas Development
Including Hydraulic Fracturing
Key Sections of the Proposed Guide
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Identification of Stakeholders
Introduction to O&G Development Lifecycle
Data Collection and Information Management
Reporting
Information Delivery
Annex listing of best practices, guides, reports and
technical articles
Scope: WK42803 Proposed ASTM Guide for Data
Management and Reporting Associated with Oil and Gas
Development Including Hydraulic Fracturing
 Compendium of information and a series of options regarding
data management and reporting associated with North
American O&G development including HF.
 Options are recommended for data management and
reporting to enhance public stakeholders’ understanding of
O&G well drilling and operations in their communities.
 Two stakeholders - operators and the agencies - are generally
responsible for collecting, managing and reporting data. All
stakeholders are users of those data.
 Provides examples of information and reports for public.
 Cost considerations influence collaborative efforts amongst
stakeholders while considering public concerns for
transparency of O&G operations around their communities.
WK42803 Proposed Guide for Data Management
and Reporting…
Goals and Objectives
 To promote the efficacy (value) of providing oil and gas
development stakeholders:
 easy access to comprehensive data and information
management and reporting relevant to their particular areas
of interest
 in as efficient and cost-effective manner as practicable
 for the safe and responsible execution of O&G development
activities.
 To recommend standardized best practices that will
continue to evolve over time.
“There’s no such thing as a free lunch” – Milton Friedman
Oil and Gas Development Lifecycle
Exploration
Development
(1‐2 yr)
(2 wks ‐ 45 days)
•Lease Acquisition
•Prospect Evaluation
•Exploratory Drilling
•Resource Assessments
•Facility and Infrastructure Construction
•Drilling
•Well Completion (includes Well Stimulations)
From American Petroleum Institute
Production
(1‐30 yrs)
•Primary Recovery (0‐15yrs)
•Secondary Recov. ‐
declining pressure
•Tertiary Recovery ‐
inject other materials to sweep reservoir.
•Maintenance Closure (1‐2 yrs)
•Well Plugging‐
isolate zones and plug or remove wellhead at surface
•Restoration‐build and reclaim pad area and restore land
Data Collection and
Information Management
 Useful data must be relevant, timely, representative,
accurate, reliable, defensible and secure (see Information
Cycle Diagram)
 An open, transparent, consistent, and certain process
encourages all stakeholders to participate and may
promote a suitable and better-accepted balance of
participation and satisfaction amongst all stakeholders.
The Information Cycle
(Source: Meetings and Discussions ASTM D18.26.04)
Availability of Public Information
 Depending upon the scope of information sought by
public stakeholders, responsive reports often cannot be
produced because the underlying data:
 do not exist,
 are not easily accessible,
 are maintained in proprietary databases, or
 contain inaccurate or incomplete data in the area of interest.
“If we have data, let’s look at data. If all we have are opinions, let’s go with
mine” – Jim Barksdale, former Netscape CEO
WWAT Example Screening Results
Well Water Interpretation Tool
Benefits of Improved Information Delivery
 Public perceptions, trust of industry, and proper
regulatory oversight are enhanced by:
 comprehensive and reliable data;
 frequent and timely reporting;
 adequate regulatory agency resources;
 accessibility of relevant and critical information (especially
environmental) that may affect public health, safety, and
welfare; and
 a common understanding of technical data or translation of
technical data that could be easily understood by the nontechnical public.
In the end, people are persuaded not by what we say, but by
what they understand. – John C. Maxwell
Information Delivery Recommendations
 Focus on business processes to communicate data to assist
business and regulatory decisions regarding environmental
aspects of operations.
 The Proposed Guide offers choices to:
 Improve transparency/communication (i.e. better reporting)
of environmental and associated operations to all
stakeholders, particularly the public;
 Improve timeliness and frequency of information updates and
the manner in which information is communicated to
stakeholders, in particular the public (i.e. frequent updates
and reporting throughout lifecycle);
 Improve intergovernmental and industry coordination (i.e.
better data mgmt and info delivery or reporting design).
It's not good enough that we do our best; sometimes we have to do
what's required. – Winston Churchill
WK42803 Proposed ASTM Guide for Data
Management and Reporting - Summary
 The Oil and Gas Development Lifecycle and associated
Data Management and Reporting process (input, tools,
technique, and output) is technical and complex.
 Implementation of proposed Guide recommendations
should help:
 provide options for a common framework for data management,
reporting and information delivery;
 offer examples and suggestions to make reporting and information
delivery more accessible, transparent and understandable to all
stakeholders, especially the public;
 facilitate information sharing in terms that will allow the public to
better understand its health and safety risks; and
 Improve communication and build trust between stakeholders.
"Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the
rest." -- Mark Twain
For More Information
 ASTM web site – www.astm.org
 Robert J. Morgan (D18 Staff Manager) [email protected]
 Jeff Hale (D18.26 HF Subcommittee Chair)
[email protected]
 Caryl Alfaro (D18.26.04 HF Reporting Section Chair)
[email protected]
 Rick Dunkin (D18.26.4 HF Reporting Section Task Group
Member) [email protected]
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