Effect of hydraulic fracturing of shale gas reservoirs on groundwater in Algeria
			
	
 
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				Laboratoire de Gestion et Traitement des Eaux (LGTE), Université des Sciences et de la Technologie d’Oran Mohamed Boudiaf (USTO-MB), BP 1505, El M’naouer, 31000, Oran, Algérie
				 
			 
										
				
				
		
		 
			
			
		
		
		
		
		
		
	
							
					    		
    			 
    			
    				    					Autor do korespondencji
    					    				    				
    					Rabah  Bounoua   
    					Laboratoire de Gestion et Traitement des Eaux, Université des Sciences et de la Technologie d’Oran Mohamed Boudiaf, BP 1505, El M’naouer, 31000, Oran, Algeria
    				
 
    			
				 
    			 
    		 		
			
												 
		
	 
		
 
 
Ecol. Eng. Environ. Technol. 2025; 2:27-44
		
 
 
SŁOWA KLUCZOWE
DZIEDZINY
STRESZCZENIE
The exploration of shale gas reservoirs in Algeria has led to significant debate in the oil and gas sector due to potential risks to the country's declining water resources. This study focuses on assessing the risk of groundwater contamination from hydraulic fracturing (HF) in the Algerian southeast region, where the Frasnian shale gas reservoir lies between 3575m and 3720m deep, and the nearest aquifer Lias Horizon B is located at 1572m. A model was developed using MODFLOW software, incorporating the characteristics of the geological layers traversed by well P-1, recently drilled in the region. A hypothetical, homogeneous, and continuous permeable pathway connecting the top of the Frasnian reservoir to the Lias Horizon B aquifer was included in the model. The study is based on simulating a reference scenario to which values observed in the region were assigned for factors influencing the migration of HF fluid. Subsequently, due to incomplete data regarding the real-world case study, a sensitivity analysis was conducted through the simulation of 11 scenarios to evaluate impact of each factor. The tracking of HF fluid pathways was performed using MODPATH software. The results show that HF fluid can reach the aquifer in 99.05 years. Sensitivity analysis identifies key factors in HF fluid migration, including the hydraulic conductivity of the permeable pathway, the fractured shale, and the extent of the induced fracture. In contrast, the lack of a permeable pathway and the limited length of the induced fracture prevent any migration of HF fluid to the aquifer.