Oil, Gas and WaterOil, Gas and Water

Addressing Water Quantity Addressing Water Quantity and Quality Concernsand Quality Concerns

Laura Belanger, P.E. Laura Belanger, P.E. Water Resources EngineerWater Resources EngineerMartz Summer ConferenceMartz Summer ConferenceJune 5, 2015June 5, 2015Western Resource Advocates

Image courtesy of Image courtesy of EcoFlightEcoFlight

OverviewOverview

Common ground Common ground Role of regulations Role of regulations andand transparency transparency Water qualityWater quality Water quantity/useWater quantity/use Where we go from hereWhere we go from here

Imagery ©2014 DigitalGlobe, U.S. Geological Survey, USDA Farm Service Agency, Map data ©2014 Google

Common GroundCommon Ground We all use energyWe all use energy We all desire livable communities, clean We all desire livable communities, clean

air and water, and a healthy environmentair and water, and a healthy environment Oil and gas development must be done Oil and gas development must be done

right to minimize impacts and risk to our right to minimize impacts and risk to our water, air, the environment and our water, air, the environment and our communitiescommunities

Oil and Gas RegulationsOil and Gas Regulations

Strong regulatory framework and Strong regulatory framework and oversight are crucialoversight are crucial

Acknowledge there’s much we don’t Acknowledge there’s much we don’t knowknow

Data and transparency are key “to tackle Data and transparency are key “to tackle areas of uncertainty and inform future areas of uncertainty and inform future action” action”

Fact based discussions (beneficial to all) Fact based discussions (beneficial to all) Default to protecting public health and Default to protecting public health and

the environment the environment

Water QualityWater Quality Many concerns exist about impact of oil Many concerns exist about impact of oil

and gas development on groundwater and gas development on groundwater and surface waterand surface water

Examples of Recent COGCC rulemakings: Examples of Recent COGCC rulemakings: 2011 Fracking Fluid Disclosure2011 Fracking Fluid Disclosure

2012 Baseline Groundwater Monitoring2012 Baseline Groundwater Monitoring

2013 Improved Spill Reporting2013 Improved Spill Reporting

COGCC Staff September 2013 COGCC Staff September 2013 Floods Report & RecommendationsFloods Report & Recommendations

COGCC Spills COGCC Spills DatabaseDatabase

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Surface spills are a documented Surface spills are a documented riskrisk

Incident Specifics Number of ReportsTotal Reports 2,500 (4/22/08 - 10/31/13)

Reported as Berm ContainedSpills/Releases 951Groundwater Impacted 129 (14% of berm contained)

Reported as Not Contained within BermSpills/Releases 1,549Groundwater Impacted 289 (19% of spills outside of berm)

Spills and GW ImpactsSpills and GW Impacts

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Examined 24 most recent reports with spills Examined 24 most recent reports with spills reported as berm contained and impacting GW.reported as berm contained and impacting GW.

Initial groundwater concentrations exceeded WQ Initial groundwater concentrations exceeded WQ standards in 21* spillsstandards in 21* spills

BenzeneCWQCC Groundwater Standard 5 ug/l

Locations w/ConcentrationsNumber of

ReportsTotal Reports Examined 24> Groundwater Standard 21*> 100 ug/l 9> 1,000 ug/l 4

*Of the 24 spills: 1 report did not include WQ data, 1 liner-*Of the 24 spills: 1 report did not include WQ data, 1 liner-contained spill did not impact GW, 1 report documented GW contained spill did not impact GW, 1 report documented GW concentrations below standards or reporting limits. concentrations below standards or reporting limits.

CO Water Use: State CO Water Use: State Report*Report*

8* * CDWR, CWCB, & COGCC Joint Report on CDWR, CWCB, & COGCC Joint Report on Water Sources and Demand for the Water Sources and Demand for the Hydraulic Fracturing of Oil and Gas Wells in Colorado from 2010 through 2015Hydraulic Fracturing of Oil and Gas Wells in Colorado from 2010 through 2015

Water needed for hydraulic fracturing is about 1/10th of 1% of total Colorado water use

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In 2013: 1,864In 2013: 1,864 wells drilled. 87% in two counties: wells drilled. 87% in two counties: Weld = 66% (1,231 new wells, total of 21,161 active )Weld = 66% (1,231 new wells, total of 21,161 active ) Garfield = 21% (390 new wells, total of 10,673 active)Garfield = 21% (390 new wells, total of 10,673 active)

Colorado has 51,985 active wells

Garfield CountyRoan Plateau Area Wells

Image Courtesy of EcoFlight

Weld County and Northeast Colorado Wells

Local Impacts: Weld CountyLocal Impacts: Weld County

Greeley, March 29, 2012 personal communication. Harvey Economics, 2011. “Water Supplies & Demands for Participants in the Northern Integrated Supply Project”

2011 New well development estimated water use compared to towns’ and water providers’ 2009 use*.

*2009 was a wet year resulting in somewhat lower than average use for most towns/providers.

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WRA estimated 2011 use = WRA estimated 2011 use = 9,600 – 20,900 9,600 – 20,900 AFAF.. More water than every town in Weld County uses More water than every town in Weld County uses

annually, except Greeley.annually, except Greeley.

WRA’s Colorado New Well WRA’s Colorado New Well Water Use EstimateWater Use Estimate

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Range of 22,100 – 39,500 AF/yrRange of 22,100 – 39,500 AF/yr could serve: 44,200 – 79,000 could serve: 44,200 – 79,000

families families with reuse: 66,400 – 118,400 with reuse: 66,400 – 118,400

families (166,000 – 296,000 people)families (166,000 – 296,000 people)

U.S. Census 2010 populations:U.S. Census 2010 populations: Fort Collins = 143,986 (4th largest city)Fort Collins = 143,986 (4th largest city) Lakewood = 142,980 (5th largest city)Lakewood = 142,980 (5th largest city) Larimer County = 299,630Larimer County = 299,630 Boulder County = 294,567Boulder County = 294,567 Douglas County = 285,465Douglas County = 285,465 Weld County =252,825Weld County =252,825

Note: This Note: This refers to refers to

residential residential needs only. needs only.

TransparencyTransparency

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Where we go from hereWhere we go from here

Regulations must continue to adapt in Regulations must continue to adapt in response to technology and state of response to technology and state of knowledgeknowledge

Data collection and dissemination “to Data collection and dissemination “to tackle areas of uncertainty and inform tackle areas of uncertainty and inform future action” future action”

Continue/increase information sharing Continue/increase information sharing between states and federal agencies between states and federal agencies about what’s workingabout what’s working

Provide sufficient resources for oversight Provide sufficient resources for oversight and enforcementand enforcement

Thank youThank you

Laura Belanger, P.E.Laura Belanger, P.E.

Water Resources EngineerWater Resources EngineerWestern Resource AdvocatesWestern Resource Advocates

720-763-3718720-763-3718laura@westernresources.org www.westernresources.org

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