Natural Gas DevelopmentNatural Gas DevelopmentNatural Gas Development Natural Gas Development Impacts to Shallow AquifersImpacts to Shallow Aquifers

(Is there a monitoring silver (Is there a monitoring silver bullet?)bullet?)bullet?)bullet?)

Gregory Oberley Gregory Oberley –– USEPA Region 8USEPA Region 8303303--312312--70437043

oberley.gregory@epa.govoberley.gregory@epa.govy g g y@ p gy g g y@ p g

Discussion TopicsDiscussion TopicsDiscussion TopicsDiscussion Topics

Review of Current Practices andReview of Current Practices andReview of Current Practices and Review of Current Practices and ConditionsConditions

Potential for new analytical methods to bePotential for new analytical methods to be Potential for new analytical methods to be Potential for new analytical methods to be used for monitoring and impact used for monitoring and impact investigationinvestigationinvestigation investigation

Review of Current ConditionsReview of Current ConditionsReview of Current ConditionsReview of Current Conditions

Review of RulesReview of RulesReview of RulesReview of RulesReview of Current Monitoring and Review of Current Monitoring and

Investigation PracticesInvestigation PracticesInvestigation PracticesInvestigation Practices Review of Potential Sources Review of Potential Sources

R i f P t ti l G d tR i f P t ti l G d t Review of Potential Groundwater Review of Potential Groundwater Contaminants or PollutantsContaminants or PollutantsC t P l A l tC t P l A l t Current Popular AnalytesCurrent Popular Analytes

GWPC May 2009 ReportGWPC May 2009 Report

Past Rule Changes Initiated to Past Rule Changes Initiated to P G dP G dProtect GroundwaterProtect Groundwater

TexasTexas –– 1950s drought brought changes1950s drought brought changes Texas Texas 1950s drought brought changes 1950s drought brought changes to protect groundwaterto protect groundwater

New MexicoNew Mexico Pit study brought aboutPit study brought aboutNew Mexico New Mexico –– Pit study brought about Pit study brought about changes to pit requirementschanges to pit requirementsC l dC l d N l t t t SN l t t t SColorado Colorado –– New rules to protect Source New rules to protect Source Water Protection AreasWater Protection Areas

Potential Sources of GroundwaterPotential Sources of GroundwaterPotential Sources of Groundwater Potential Sources of Groundwater Contamination in a Gas FieldContamination in a Gas Field

Leaking pits Leaking pits Inadequate surface casing and cementInadequate surface casing and cementgg Inadequate production casing and cement Inadequate production casing and cement Improperly P&Ad wellsImproperly P&Ad wells Improperly P&Ad wells Improperly P&Ad wells Loss of well control during drillingLoss of well control during drilling SpillsSpills

Potential Groundwater Potential Groundwater C i P llC i P llContaminants or PollutantsContaminants or Pollutants

Production fluidsProduction fluidsC d ilC d il Crude oil Crude oil

WaterWater CondensateCondensate

Production gasesProduction gases Production gasesProduction gases MethaneMethane EthaneEthane PropanePropane

B tB t ButaneButane Drilling fluidsDrilling fluids

MudsMuds AdditivesAdditives AdditivesAdditives

Hydraulic Fracturing FluidsHydraulic Fracturing Fluids Pit fluids (fluids returned to the surface)Pit fluids (fluids returned to the surface) Pit solidsPit solids

Current Popular AnalytesCurrent Popular AnalytesCurrent Popular AnalytesCurrent Popular Analytes

HydrocarbonsHydrocarbons HydrocarbonsHydrocarbons PurgeablePurgeable ExtractableExtractable DRO/GRODRO/GRO

Light gasesLight gases MethaneMethane

BETXBETX VOC (Typically Method 8260VOC (Typically Method 8260 SVOC (Typically Method 8270)SVOC (Typically Method 8270)

O&G Rules Protecting O&G Rules Protecting G dG dGroundwaterGroundwater

StateState StateState BLM BLM

BIABIA BIABIA EPAEPA

GWPC has a good review of state programGWPC has a good review of state programGWPC has a good review of state program GWPC has a good review of state program rules in the May 2009 GWPC Reportrules in the May 2009 GWPC Report

GWPC 5 Key Messages and GWPC 5 Key Messages and S d A iS d A iSuggested ActionsSuggested Actions

Review current regulations for gapsReview current regulations for gapsReview current regulations for gapsReview current regulations for gaps Study hydraulic fracturing and develop Study hydraulic fracturing and develop

BMPsBMPsBMPsBMPs Better MOAs in States with jurisdictional Better MOAs in States with jurisdictional

lit ilit isplits among agenciessplits among agenciesContinue state reviews and expand to Continue state reviews and expand to

include all program elementsinclude all program elements Improve electronic data systemsImprove electronic data systemsp yp y

Key Action Item # 3 Key Action Item # 3 -- Better MOAs in States Better MOAs in States ith j i di ti l lit iith j i di ti l lit iwith jurisdictional splits among agencieswith jurisdictional splits among agencies

Development and incorporation of Development and incorporation of h i “ f ” l dh i “ f ” l dcomprehensive “near surface” geology and comprehensive “near surface” geology and

hydrology studies into oil and gas field operation hydrology studies into oil and gas field operation and design decisionsand design decisionsand design decisionsand design decisions

Geologic and hydrologic studies can assist well Geologic and hydrologic studies can assist well design engineers with the information to protect design engineers with the information to protect fresh water zones on a field by field basisfresh water zones on a field by field basis Surface casing Surface casing

Production casingProduction casing Production casingProduction casing Pit design or areas where pits should not be usedPit design or areas where pits should not be used Proper P&A requirementsProper P&A requirements Potential for hydraulic fracturing impactsPotential for hydraulic fracturing impacts

Key action item #4 Key action item #4 --Continue state reviews Continue state reviews d d t i l d ll l td d t i l d ll l tand expand to include all program elementsand expand to include all program elements

Monitoring analytes for groundwater Monitoring analytes for groundwater background parameters prior tobackground parameters prior tobackground parameters prior to background parameters prior to development and investigation of development and investigation of groundwater impactsgroundwater impactsgroundwater impactsgroundwater impacts

Monitoring and Investigation Monitoring and Investigation A lA lAnalytesAnalytes

What are the current popular analytes?What are the current popular analytes?What are the current popular analytes?What are the current popular analytes?What fluid components do we need to be What fluid components do we need to be

looking for as contaminants or pollutants?looking for as contaminants or pollutants?looking for as contaminants or pollutants?looking for as contaminants or pollutants?What analytes are missing from the What analytes are missing from the

t li t?t li t?current list?current list?

Current Popular AnalytesCurrent Popular AnalytesCurrent Popular AnalytesCurrent Popular Analytes

Total Petroleum HydrocarbonsTotal Petroleum Hydrocarbons Total Petroleum HydrocarbonsTotal Petroleum Hydrocarbons PurgeablePurgeable

ExtractableExtractable ExtractableExtractable Light gasesLight gases

MethaneMethane BETXBETX VOCVOC SVOCSVOC SVOCSVOC

Fluids That Contain Groundwater Fluids That Contain Groundwater C i P llC i P llContaminants or PollutantsContaminants or Pollutants

P d i fl idP d i fl id Production fluidsProduction fluids Crude oil Crude oil Produced water associated with oil (?)Produced water associated with oil (?) Produced water associated with gas (?)Produced water associated with gas (?) Condensate (?)Condensate (?)

Production gasesProduction gases MethaneMethane EthaneEthane PropanePropane ButaneButane Other VOCs (?)Other VOCs (?)

Drilling fluidsDrilling fluidsgg Muds (?)Muds (?) Additives (?)Additives (?)

Hydraulic Fracturing Fluids (?)Hydraulic Fracturing Fluids (?) Pit fluids (fluids returned to the surface) (?)Pit fluids (fluids returned to the surface) (?) Pit fluids (fluids returned to the surface) (?)Pit fluids (fluids returned to the surface) (?) Pit solids (?)Pit solids (?)

Constituents in Production WaterConstituents in Production WaterConstituents in Production WaterConstituents in Production Water

Dispersed OilDispersed OilHydrocarbons that occur naturally in

produced water includeproduced water include Organic acids

P l li ti h d b (PAH ) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) Phenols Volatiles

Constituents in Production Water Constituents in Production Water ( )( )(cont.)(cont.)

Treatment ChemicalsTreatment Chemicals Treatment ChemicalsTreatment Chemicals Produced solidsProduced solids Scales (precipitates)Scales (precipitates) Scales (precipitates) Scales (precipitates) BacteriaBacteriaM t lM t lMetalsMetals pHpH SulfatesSulfatesNaturally Occurring Radioactive MaterialsNaturally Occurring Radioactive Materials

DOE Jan 2004

Assessment of the Usefulness of Assessment of the Usefulness of h P l A l Lih P l A l Lithe Popular Analyte List the Popular Analyte List

Not all of the organic compounds potentially Not all of the organic compounds potentially found in the groups listed above are included on the 8260 and 8270 list

Additional analytical methods and instruments are available to identify and quantify TICs

Instrument capabilities are being improved or expanded.

Therefore, the analyte list can be expanded in some cases when necessary.

Pilot InvestigationPilot InvestigationPilot InvestigationPilot Investigation

H d b Fi i iH d b Fi i iHydrocarbon Fingerprinting Hydrocarbon Fingerprinting Light Gases C1Light Gases C1--C5C5Polar FractionsPolar FractionsChromatogram Finger PrintingChromatogram Finger PrintingLow concentration TPH/TEHLow concentration TPH/TEH

Pilot Investigation (cont )Pilot Investigation (cont )Pilot Investigation (cont.)Pilot Investigation (cont.)

Stable Isotope AnalysesStable Isotope Analyses Stable Isotope AnalysesStable Isotope Analyses Deuterium/Hydrogen, Deuterium/Hydrogen, δδ1818O in groundwaterO in groundwater

Deuterium/HydrogenDeuterium/Hydrogen δδ1212CC δδ1515NN δδ3434S ofS of Deuterium/Hydrogen Deuterium/Hydrogen δδ1212C, C, δδ1515N, N, δδ3434S of S of petroleum crude, fuels petroleum crude, fuels

1313C/C/1212C Methane + ethane propane butaneC Methane + ethane propane butane C/C/ C Methane, + ethane, propane, butaneC Methane, + ethane, propane, butane

Deuterium/Hydrogen of methaneDeuterium/Hydrogen of methane

Pilot Investigation (cont )Pilot Investigation (cont )Pilot Investigation (cont.)Pilot Investigation (cont.)

Specific Analyte TestingSpecific Analyte Testing Specific Analyte TestingSpecific Analyte Testing Alcohols, Ketones, 2Alcohols, Ketones, 2--Butoxy Ethanol and Butoxy Ethanol and

Glycols by 8015 or 8300Glycols by 8015 or 8300Glycols by 8015 or 8300Glycols by 8015 or 8300 Low concentration SVOCs by GC/MS Low concentration SVOCs by GC/MS

(SIM/Full Scan) (Large volume(SIM/Full Scan) (Large volume(SIM/Full Scan) (Large volume (SIM/Full Scan) (Large volume extraction/injection)extraction/injection)

Low concentration VOCs by GC/MSLow concentration VOCs by GC/MSyy Time of Flight LC/MSTime of Flight LC/MS GRO/DRO 8015GRO/DRO 8015 GRO/DRO 8015GRO/DRO 8015

Pilot Investigation ResultsPilot Investigation ResultsggIs there a monitoring and Is there a monitoring and

investigation silver bullet?investigation silver bullet?investigation silver bullet?investigation silver bullet?

Slow going (not done)Slow going (not done) ExpensiveExpensive

N d dditi l it t t t th dN d dditi l it t t t th d Need additional sites to test methodsNeed additional sites to test methods Need better information on what has gone down Need better information on what has gone down

the holethe holethe holethe hole Working on better Data Quality Objectives for Oil Working on better Data Quality Objectives for Oil

and Gas Impact sitesand Gas Impact sites

Thank YouThank YouThank You Thank You

Luke Chavez EPA Region 8Luke Chavez EPA Region 8 Luke Chavez, EPA Region 8Luke Chavez, EPA Region 8Mark McDaniel, UOSMark McDaniel, UOS

M k M h R i 8 L bM k M h R i 8 L bMark Murphy, Region 8 LabMark Murphy, Region 8 Lab Vince Marty, Region 8 LabVince Marty, Region 8 LabMark Burkhardt, Region 8 LabMark Burkhardt, Region 8 Lab

Contact InformationContact InformationContact InformationContact Information

Gregory Oberley EPA Region 8Gregory Oberley EPA Region 8Gregory Oberley, EPA Region 8Gregory Oberley, EPA Region 8

Phone 303Phone 303 312312 70437043Phone 303Phone 303--312312--70437043Email oberley.gregory@epa.govEmail oberley.gregory@epa.gov