Horizontal hydraulic fracturing (fracking) has transformed oil and gas production, especially in shale-rich states like Ohio. However, it generates large volumes of wastewater—including brine and chemical-laden flowback fluids—that must be safely disposed of. The primary method of disposal is injection into deep underground wells.

As injection activity has grown, concerns have surfaced about its potential side effects on nearby production wells. There is evidence that pressure changes from injection may influence neighboring reservoirs, alter production patterns, or even cause wastewater to migrate into unintended areas. These risks create both operational challenges and strategic decisions for oilfield service companies.

This project investigates the spatial and production-related impacts of injection wells in Ohio. Using publicly available data, students will examine whether injection activity is associated with detectable changes in nearby production wells and whether these effects vary by distance or well type.

The ultimate goal is to identify specific wells that may be approaching end-of-life and should be plugged to stabilize injection disposal operations.

The client, Stonebridge Oilfield Solutions, is seeking to:

• Detect potential communication between injection and production wells,
• Identify production wells at risk of causing or experiencing injection-related interference,
• Prioritize wells for capping to maintain reservoir integrity and minimize environmental risks.

Phase 1 – Data Collection

Teams will gather well-level data from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources

(ODNR), including:

• Injection volumes and locations,
• Production volumes and well activity timelines,
• Geographic coordinates and depths.
• 
  

Teams will construct a working dataset that links injection wells to surrounding production

wells based on spatial and temporal proximity.

Phase 2 – Descriptive Analysis and Visualization

Teams will visualize the spatial layout of injection and production wells using Tableau or

Python geospatial tools (e.g., GeoPandas).

Analysis will explore:

• Temporal shifts in production volumes near active injection wells,
• Wastewater production changes over time,
• Anomalies in production performance that may correlate with injection activity.
• 
  

A key outcome will be identifying the approximate geographic radius within which

production anomalies appear most frequently.

Phase 3 – Opportunity and Risk Identification

Based on spatial and temporal analysis, teams will:

• Flag production wells that show signs of impact from injection activity,
• Estimate which wells are likely nearing obsolescence,
• Make business recommendations to Stonebridge Oilfield Solutions for well capping or further investigation.

Deliverables

Phase 1:

A cleaned dataset integrating injection and production well data for Ohio.

Phase 2:

• Tableau dashboards or equivalent geospatial visualizations.
• A short written analysis summarizing spatial and temporal patterns.

Phase 3:

• A business-facing briefing identifying specific at-risk wells and recommending next
• steps.
• A 5-minute video presentation delivering the business case.