2012 WRC Presentation FINAL

7/29/2019 2012 WRC Presentation FINAL

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MARCELLUS SHALE IMPACTS ON WATER QUALITY

What is know and what needs to be known

Marc Glass

Principal

Downstream Strategies

Morgantown, WV

Water Research Conference

October 31, 2012

Morgantown, WV


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Environmental consultants

Link economic development with naturalresource stewardship

Started in 1997

Staff of 9

Two locations: Morgantown, Alderson

Company background


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Outline

1. Potential impacts to water resources

2. DS experiences

3. Other routes for contamination4. Needed research and data gaps

Fate and transport of HF fluids

Natural and man-made migration conduits Fluid disposal challenges


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SURFACE SPILLS


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Surface spills

Probably the highest probability of human

health exposure pathways

This is the pathway that we have witnessed inW.Va.

Drill cuttings and fluids

Fracturing fluids

Flowback

Produced water


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`


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Soil pollution (mg/kg)

Parameter

Sample

1

Sample

2

Back-ground

soilsample

LUSTthresh-

old

TPH-DRO 7,970 1,770 < 8 100

TPH-ORO 14,300 4,770 < 8 100


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Outcome

DEP issued Notice of Violation for torn liner

DEP required remediation with targets

500 mg/kg chlorides 100 mg/kg TPH

DEP has not taken action on drinking water


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WV LUST Program

Requires site assessment to determine full

extent of contamination if evidence that:

1. Groundwater wells have been affected by arelease

2. Contaminated soils may be in contact with

groundwater, or provide a source for

groundwater contamination


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PADEP LUST Regulations

Rebuttable presumption that an owner or

operator of regulated storage tanks is liable

for all damages, contamination or pollution

within 2,500 feet

To overcome presumption of liability, owners

or operators may demonstrate via siteassessment or survey


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Spill in Buckeye Creek, Doddridge Co.

Marcellus Shale well, no horizontal drilling

Permitted and drilled in March, completed in

April, began production in May 2009 Spill into Buckey Creek, August 2009


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Buckeye Creek: Ratios between post-

spill data and historical averages

Parameter Ratio

Specific conductance 8

Total dissolved solids 11

Calcium 7

Chloride 15

Sodium 13Sulfate 10


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Outcome

Notice of Violation issued by DEP for allowing

pollutants to flow into waters of the state in

September 2009

Downstream Strategies monitoring, report in

October 2009

Consent Order in March 2010

$10,000 fine

Final DEP report in 2010


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DEP cannot explain it

To date, there is no definite explanation for the

discharge into Buckeye Creek. This does not

mean that there is not an explanation, or a

person or entity responsible; however, it does

mean that all available evidence at this time only

allows for theories and conjecture.


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Other conduits for migration

of fluids may exist

Old gas wells Natural fractures

Source: Kerry Grens, 2010Source: Scott Detrow / STATEIMPACT PENNSYLVANIA, 2012


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Source: WVDEP, 1997

Surface

leakage of oilor natural gas

can

contaminatenearby soils as

well as local

freshwatersupplies.


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2011 WVDEP State of the Environment

Abandoned Wells

Perhaps the greatest concern is the

uncertainty of what may be occurring belowthe surface.

Unplugged wells or improperly plugged wellscan lead to groundwater contamination with

crude oil, salt water and natural gas.


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West Virginia setting

In past seven years, the Office of Oil and Gashas plugged or reclaimed 252 wells at a costof $6.2 million

New legislation provides limited funding($150) via fees collected with new wellpermits

West Virginia currently has approximately13,000 permitted abandoned wells


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GEOLOGIC CONDUITS ?


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Two potential pathwaysadvective transport

through bulk media and preferential flow

through fracturescould allow the transport ofcontaminants from the fractured shale to

aquifers.

The overall system requires from 3 to 6 years to

reach a new equilibrium reflecting the significant

changes caused by fracking the shale, whichcould allow advective transport to aquifers in

less than 10 years.


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most of the rock above the Marcellus consists

of shale. And since shale cant pass much water,

particularly if it is dry and solid, Myers computermodel cannot calculate proper water flow

conditions.

Water in the Marcellus under the AppalachianPlateau (southern New York and northernPennsylvania) does not naturally move upward

by means of artesian pressure toward the landsurface, as Myers assumes. And because of onlythis error, his model fails on first principles.


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We present geochemical evidence from

northeastern Pennsylvania showing that

pathways, unrelated to recent drilling activities,exist in some locations between deep underlying

formations and shallow drinking water aquifers.

The strong geochemical fingerprint in the

salinizedgroundwater sampled from the

Alluvium, Catskill, and Lock Haven aquifers

suggests possible migration of Marcellus brine

through naturally occurring pathways.


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Geysers and wells

Drilling occurs before any casing or cement.

Gas drillers hit aquifer; geysers eruptBy The Associated Press, June 6, 2012

Near Sardis, WV, drilling 3,000 feet away.
http://wvgazette.com/News/contact/jroznfgre+nc+bet+return=/News/201206060127http://wvgazette.com/News/contact/jroznfgre+nc+bet+return=/News/201206060127


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Source: American Oil & Gas Reporter, KevinFisher, 201o


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Source:

FutureGen Alliance, 2012


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West Virginia setting

No mapping or monitoring of potential

pathways

Disclosure of additives is now required

Water Management Plan: anticipated additives

Completion Report: actual additives

No groundwater monitoring is required

Nothing in this section allows the

department to prevent drilling in naturally

occurring karst terrain.


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Summary: Research and science

Research is starting to catch up to the facts on

the ground

Much fundamental research still needs to be

done to quantify risks

Fate and transport of HF fluids

Natural and man-made migration conduits

Fracture fluid disposal challenges

Air quality

Radiation


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Summary: West Virginia setting

West Virginia law and regulations are starting

to catch up with the facts on the ground

Revised rules not approved yet

Oil and gas operations still benefit from

exemptions from major environmental laws


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Source: Griffith, 2012


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Marc Glass

PrincipalDownstream Strategies

Morgantown, WV

(304) 292-2450

[email protected]

O& i f f d l l


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Environmental law Exemption

Safe Drinking Water Act Hydraulic fracturing exempt fromregulation

Resource Conservation

and Recovery Act (RCRA)

Oil and gas E&P wastes are not

regulated as hazardoussubstances

Comprehensive

Environmental

Response,Compensation, and

Liability Act (CERCLA)

Oil and gas wastes exempted fromcontrol

O&G exemptions from federal laws

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2012 WRC Presentation FINAL

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