The HFIS workshop is intended for the oil and gas operators involved in the stimulation and completion practices in shale gas and liquid rich shale using hydraulic fracturing. The workshop is a prelude to the formation of a an international consortium of operators for the development of predictive tools and models as well as the associated hazard maps for induced seismicity (IS) caused by hydraulic fracturing (HF). The goal is to develop an effective scientific based road map for best operational practices, policy decisions, regulatory processes, and public communication with respect to the frac activities in the shale plays in the U. S. and elsewhere.
The consortium will be built from a unique combination of USC capabilities in petroleum engineering, earthquake seismology, civil and environmental engineering, public policy, and communication. A team of scientists from the USC Viterbi School of Engineering and SCEC (Southern California Earthquake Center) will conduct the workshop and its associated breakout sessions. Discussions on public policies will be led by James Slutz, the former assistant secretary of the DOE and State regulator. The workshop will include a description of steps taken for the formation of the consortium and opportunities for operators of any size to participate and benefit from the coordinated studies with specific model studies and predictive tools at various geographical locations.