Evaluating a groundwater supply contamination incident attributed to Marcellus Shale gas development.
High-volume hydraulic fracturing (HVHF) has revolutionized the oil and gas industry worldwide but has been accompanied by highly controversial incidents of reported water contamination. For example, groundwater contamination by stray natural gas and spillage of brine and other gas drilling-related fluids is known to occur. However, contamination of shallow potable aquifers by HVHF at depth has never been fully documented. We investigated a case where Marcellus Shale gas wells in Pennsylvania caused inundation of natural gas and foam in initially potable groundwater used by several households. With comprehensive 2D gas chromatography coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GCxGC-TOFMS), an unresolved complex mixture of organic compounds was identified in the aquifer. Similar signatures were also observed in flowback from Marcellus Shale gas wells. A compound identified in flowback, 2-n-Butoxyethanol, was also positively identified in one of the foaming drinking water wells at nanogram-per-liter concentrations. The most likely explanation of the incident is that stray natural gas and drilling or HF compounds were driven ∼ 1-3 km along shallow to intermediate depth fractures to the aquifer used as a potable water source. Part of the problem may have been wastewaters from a pit leak reported at the nearest gas well pad-the only nearby pad where wells were hydraulically fractured before the contamination incident. If samples of drilling, pit, and HVHF fluids had been available, GCxGC-TOFMS might have fingerprinted the contamination source. Such evaluations would contribute significantly to better management practices as the shale gas industry expands worldwide.
Appalachia Hydrogeologic and Environmental Consulting, LLC, Bridgewater, NJ 08807; gllewellyn@appalachiaconsulting.com brantley@geosc.psu.edu.
Garth T
GT
Llewellyn
Department of Biochemistry and.
Frank
F
Dorman
Department of Biochemistry and.
J L
JL
Westland
Earth and Environmental Systems Institute and Department of Geosciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802; and.
D
D
Yoxtheimer
Earth and Environmental Systems Institute and Department of Geosciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802; and.
Paul
P
Grieve
Earth and Environmental Systems Institute and Department of Geosciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802; and.
Todd
T
Sowers
Leco Corporation, St. Joseph, MI 49085.
E
E
Humston-Fulmer
Earth and Environmental Systems Institute and Department of Geosciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802; and gllewellyn@appalachiaconsulting.com brantley@geosc.psu.edu.
Susan L
SL
Brantley
D019652:Extraction and Processing Industry / Q000379:methods*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D055593:Geological Phenomena; D060587:Groundwater / Q000737:chemistry*; D059206:Natural Gas / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010414:Pennsylvania; D014872:Water Movements; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D014881:Water Supply / Q000032:analysis*
D059206:Natural Gas; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
Marcellus Shale; high-volume hydraulic fracturing; natural gas; shale gas; water quality