Spatial and Temporal Characteristics of Historical Oil and Gas Wells in Pennsylvania: Implications for New Shale Gas Resources.
Recent large-scale development of oil and gas from low-permeability unconventional formations (e.g., shales, tight sands, and coal seams) has raised concern about potential environmental impacts. If left improperly sealed, legacy oil and gas wells colocated with that new development represent a potential pathway for unwanted migration of fluids (brine, drilling and stimulation fluids, oil, and gas). Uncertainty in the number, location, and abandonment state of legacy wells hinders environmental assessment of exploration and production activity. The objective of this study is to apply publicly available information on Pennsylvania oil and gas wells to better understand their potential to serve as pathways for unwanted fluid migration. This study presents a synthesis of historical reports and digital well records to provide insights into spatial and temporal trends in oil and gas development. Areas with a higher density of wells abandoned prior to the mid-20th century, when more modern well-sealing requirements took effect in Pennsylvania, and areas where conventional oil and gas production penetrated to or through intervals that may be affected by new Marcellus shale development are identified. This information may help to address questions of environmental risk related to new extraction activities.
U.S. Department of Energy National Energy Technology Laboratory, 626 Cochrans Mill Road, P.O. Box 10940, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15236-0940, United States.
Robert M
RM
Dilmore
U.S. Department of Energy National Energy Technology Laboratory, 626 Cochrans Mill Road, P.O. Box 10940, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15236-0940, United States.
James I
JI
Sams
U.S. Department of Energy National Energy Technology Laboratory, 626 Cochrans Mill Road, P.O. Box 10940, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15236-0940, United States.|Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education , MC-100-44, P.O. Box 117, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831-0117, United States.
Deborah
D
Glosser
Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Topographic & Geologic Survey , Economic Geology Division, 400 Waterfront Drive, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222-4745, United States.
Kristin M
KM
Carter
University of Pittsburgh , Department of Geology and Planetary Science, 200 SRCC, 4107 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, United States.
Daniel J
DJ
Bain
D004777:Environment; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D061329:Oil and Gas Fields; D000066388:Oil and Gas Industry / Q000266:history* / Q000639:trends; D010414:Pennsylvania; D062211:Spatio-Temporal Analysis; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis
D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical