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

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Northeast PA - 200 wells

McKean County - 200 wells

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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.

Salt (sodium, chloride, total dissolved solids)

Metals (iron, manganese, barium, arsenic)

Chemical oxygen demand

Surfactants/detergents

Total suspended solids

Oil and grease

Methane gas (migration)

Additives

Wastewater Pollutants(drilling, brine, flow-back, production)

Challenges Limited existing capacity Volume of wastes Highly polluted, variable waste

Treatment methods Dedicated facilities – salt discharge Road spreading – limited circumstances Deep injection wells – limited number + capacity POTW’s – just diluting waste, stop gap measure Reuse / recycle – dilute waste for reuse

New regulations will prohibit high TDS discharges in 2011 New treatment plants to remove salts will be needed

Wastewater Treatment

Regulations and Enforcement Sufficient setback distances to water

Sufficient bonds during permitting

Well construction to prevent methane migration

Inspections on freshwater protection string

Zone of presumed responsibility (1,000’ enough?)

Water testing burden on homeowners

Waste fluid collection – pits with liners – leaks?

Proper chemical storage on sites – preventing spills

Tracking of waste fluids – preventing illegal dumping

Staff to investigate complaints (10 days / 45 days)

Educational ResourcesGas Drilling and Water Resources

Publications Web sites / webinars

Portable Classroom DVD • Gas drilling and your private water supply

• Water stipulations for gas leases

• Treatment options for gas waste fluids

• Gas well drilling and water resources

Presentations

Questions?