i have my doubts that fracturing with petroleum liquids or liquified natural gas will gain widespread acceptance. There are hazards that do not exist with water. The concern is not so much of local residents; rather the crews working on the well site and in transportation are the concern. I wouldn't be surprised if one accident could bankrupt GFS.
There are many advantages to using water aside from safety and material cost. Compression is an obvious example. The ability of the fluid to carry proppant is another (GFS and SeekingAlpha portray this as less proppant used).
There is much that is not understood about hydraulic fracturing but things like fracture lengths are probably not as important as surface area. In addition, it's not clear how much hydrocarbon is sorbed on mineral surfaces and solid hydrocarbons versus being discrete liquid or gas and the chemistry of the fracturing fluid may play an important role in the liberation of the hydrocarbon. Just because hydrocarbons are more soluble in other hydrocarbons than in water ignores some significant "components" of the reservoir.
The entire spin that use of liquified natural gas is more environmentally friendly and a lower threat to ground water contamination is hogwash and I'm certain that if this technology does gain more widespread use then GFS will find no shortage of 'environmentalists' attacking them.
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