The objective of this paper is to review different risk assessment techniques applicable to onshore unconventional oil and gas production to determine the risks to water quantity and quality associated with hydraulic fracturing and produced water management. The most appropriate risk assessment method is selected to perform a holistic and integrated analysis of risks at every stage of the water life cycle. 

Constraints to performing risk assessment are identified including gaps in databases, which require more advanced techniques such as modeling. Discussions on each risk associated with water and produced water management, mitigation strategies, and future research direction are presented. The paper focuses on shale formations in the U.S.: Bakken, Barnett, Eagle Ford, and Marcellus.

Luisa Torres, Om Prakash Yadav and Eakalak Khan, 2016, A review on risk assessment techniques for hydraulic fracturing water and produced water management implemented in onshore unconventional oil and gas production.

Science of the Total Environment 539 (2016) 478–493 (weblink)