Marcellus Gas Drilling and Water Resources PA’s abundant water resources - a blessing and a concern Bigger rigs More wastewater More water More disturbance arcellus drilling involves …. Hydrofracturing 83,000 miles of streamsThousands of ponds/lakes 80 trillion gallons of groundw
Marcellus Gas Drilling and Water Resources. Marcellus drilling involves …. Bigger rigs. More disturbance. More water. Hydrofracturing. More wastewater. PA’s abundant water resources - a blessing and a concern. 83,000 miles of streams. Thousands of ponds/lakes. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Marcellus Gas Drilling and Water Resources
PA’s abundant water resources - a blessing and a concern
Bigger rigs More wastewaterMore waterMore disturbance
Marcellus drilling involves ….
Hydrofracturing
83,000 miles of streams Thousands of ponds/lakes 80 trillion gallons of groundwater
Water Resources Concerns
Photo courtesy – Paul Hart, Hart Resource Technologies, Inc
Regulations and enforcementImpact of water withdrawals
Protection of drinking water
Fracing chemicals
Adequate wastewater treatment
Protection of Drinking Water Supplies
• One million homes, 3.5 million residents
• Use groundwater
• Are drilling regulations protective enough?
• Are homeowners aware of water testing documentation needed and leasing stipulations?
Wells drilled 1966-1994
Water Well Studies
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Northeast PA - 200 wells
McKean County - 200 wells
% E
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edi
ng
Dri
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ng
Sta
nda
rds
Contaminant
Some recent western U.S. studies indicate higher contamination rates
Symptoms of Problems Erosion/sediment in surface water
Changes in water appearance Sediment during construction or drilling Effervescence, spurting faucet Foaming
Changes in drinking water taste
Metallic (iron, manganese) Salty (chloride)
Changes in water odor
Changes in well or spring yield
Freshwater Use During Shale Drilling
Access + Allocation
Typically 3 to 4 million gallons of water per gas well
Freshwater Use for Drilling Withdrawal must be permitted
River basin commissions DEP permit Clean Streams Law
Water withdrawals Purchase water from communities Large rivers and impoundments Small streams and groundwater Incentives – wastewater use and
storage of water during spring
Biggest concerns Withdrawals in western PA with no
river basin oversight Illegal withdrawals - enforcement
Hydrofracturing
• Several million gallons of water mixed with sand (proppant) and various additives
• 30-40% return of frac fluids = >100,000 gallons
Hydrofracturing Mixtures
Source: Arthur et al. 2008. Hydraulic Fracturing Considerations for Natural Gas Wells of the Marcellus Shale. The Ground Water Protection Council , 2008 Annual Forum, Cincinnati, OH.