Potential Treatment Options for Hydraulic Fracturing Return Fluids: A Review

Return fluids (flowback and produce water) are one of the highest quantity by‐product in oil and gas industry. These fluids are treated in wastewater treatment plants, reused as part of hydrofracking fluids, and reinjected into the ground by injection wells. The treatment and management process effects the environment and surrounding ecosystem. In this review, the fate and impacts of hydrofracking fluids and return fluids along with different treatment options published in literature are summarized. The life cycle of hydraulic fracturing from shale resource to return fluids and their possible implications are discussed from an environmental point of view. Observed shift in microbial communities is reported. Physocochemical and biotechnological approaches practiced by several scientists suggest a possible treatment option under optimized conditions on the surface which could not only reduce the impact on the ecosystem but can also provide a huge quantity of reclaimed water.