Elucidating hydraulic fracturing impacts on groundwater quality using a regional geospatial statistical modeling approach

Science of the Total Environment

Volumn 545-546, Issue , 2016, Pages 114-126

  Burton, Taylour G ^a   Rifai, Hanadi S ^a   Hildenbrand, Zacariah L ^b,c   Carlton, Doug D ^c   Fontenot, Brian E ^c   Schug, Kevin A ^c  

^a University of Houston   (United States)

^b Inform Environmental LLC   (United States)

^c UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT ARLINGTON   (United States)

Author keywords

Barnett Shale; Bottom hole pressure; Cluster analysis; Geographic Information Systems (GIS); Micro annular defects; Natural gas

Indexed keywords

AQUIFERS; BOTTOM HOLE PRESSURE; CLUSTER ANALYSIS; DENSITY OF GASES; GASES; GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS; GROUNDWATER; GROUNDWATER RESOURCES; HYDRAULIC FRACTURING; HYDROGEOLOGY; NATURAL GAS; NATURAL GAS WELL PRODUCTION; NATURAL GAS WELLS; OIL FIELD EQUIPMENT; OIL WELL DRILLING; QUALITY CONTROL; SHALE; UNDERGROUND RESERVOIRS; WATER POLLUTION; WATER QUALITY;

BARNETT SHALE; ELEVATED CONCENTRATIONS; ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES; FRACTURING OPERATIONS; GROUNDWATER CONTAMINATION; NATURAL-GAS PRODUCTION; REGIONAL GROUNDWATER; STATISTICAL MODELING;

GROUNDWATER POLLUTION;

BERYLLIUM; GROUND WATER;

CLUSTER ANALYSIS; GIS; GROUNDWATER; HYDRAULIC FRACTURING; NATURAL GAS; STATISTICAL ANALYSIS; WATER QUALITY;

AQUIFER; ARTICLE; CLUSTER ANALYSIS; CONTROLLED STUDY; FRACKING; GAS FIELD; GAS TURBINE POWER; GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM; OIL SHALE; POLLUTION TRANSPORT; PRESSURE GRADIENT; PRIORITY JOURNAL; SPATIAL ANALYSIS; UNITED STATES; WATER CONTAMINATION; WATER QUALITY;

EID: 84952684163     PISSN: 00489697     EISSN: 18791026     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.12.084     Document Type: Article

References (43)

1. Barker C. Calculated volume and pressure changes during the thermal cracking of oil to gas in reservoirs (1). AAPG Bull. 1990, 74(8):1254-1261.
2. Bowker K.A. Barnett shale gas production, Fort Worth Basin: issues and discussion. AAPG Bull. 2007, 91(4):523-533. 10.1306/06190606018.
3. Chermak J.A., Schreiber M.E. Mineralogy and trace element geochemistry of gas shales in the United States: environmental implications. Int. J. Coal Geol. 2014, 126:32-44.
4. Darrah T.H., Vengosh A., Jackson R.B., Warner N.R., Poreda R.J. Noble gases identify the mechanisms of fugitive gas contamination in drinking-water wells overlying the Marcellus and Barnett Shales. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 2014, 111(39):14076-14081. 10.1073/pnas.1322107111.
5. Davies R.J., Almond S., Ward R.S., Jackson R.B., Adams C., Worrall F., Herringshaw L.G., Gluyaa J.G., Whitehead M.A. Oil and gas wells and their integrity: implications for shale and unconventional resource exploitation. Mar. Pet. Geol. 2014, 56:239-254.
6. 2 Capture, Storage, and Utilization 2010 2010.
7. Eaton T.T. Science-based decision-making on complex issues: Marcellus shale gas hydrofracking and New York City water supply. Sci. Total Environ. 2013, 461-462:158-169. 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.04.093.
8. Finkel M.L., Hays J. The implications of unconventional drilling for natural gas: a global public health concern. Public Health 2013, 127(10):889-893.
9. Fontenot B.E., Hunt L.R., Hildenbrand Z.L., Carlton D.D., Oka H., Walton J.L., Schug K.A. An evaluation of water quality in private drinking water wells near natural gas extraction sites in the Barnett shale formation. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2013, 47(17):10032-10040.
10. Gordalla B.C., Ewers U., Frimmel F.H. Hydraulic fracturing: a toxicological threat for groundwater and drinking-water?. Environmental Earth Sciences 2013, 70(8):3875-3893.
11. Harden R.W. Northern Trinity, Woodbine Aquifer Groundwater Availability Model 2004, RW Harden & Assoc.
12. Harkness J.S., Dwyer G.S., Warner N.R., Parker K.M., Mitch W.A., Vengosh A. Iodide, bromide, and ammonium in hydraulic fracturing and oil and gas wastewaters: environmental implications. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2015, 49(3):1955-1963.
13. Hildenbrand Z.L., Carlton D.D., Fontenot B.E., Meik J.M., Walton J.L., Taylor J.T., Thacker J.B., Korlie S., Shelor C.P., Henderson D.J., Kadjo A.F., Roelke C., Dasgupta P.K., Hudak P., Burton T., Rifai H., Schug K.A. A comprehensive analysis of groundwater quality in the Barnett Shale Region. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2015, 10.1021/acs.est.5b01526.
14. Ingraffea A.R., Wells M.T., Santoro R.L., Shonkoff S.B. Assessment and risk analysis of casing and cement impairment in oil and gas wells in Pennsylvania, 2000-2012. PNAS 2014, 111(30):10955-10960.
15. Jackson R.B., Vengosh A., Darrah T.H., Warner N.R., Down A., Poreda R.J., Osborn S., Zhao K., Karr J.D. Increased stray gas abundance in a subset of drinking water wells near Marcellus shale gas extraction. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 2013, 110(28):11250-11255. 10.1073/pnas.1221635110.
16. Kidnay A.J., Parrish W.R., McCartney D.G. Fundamentals of Natural Gas Processing 2006, 218. CRC Press.
17. Kresic N. Hydrogeology and Groundwater Modeling 2006, 78. CRC press, Boca Raton, FL.
18. Lester Y., Ferrer I., Thurman E.M., Sitterley K.A., Korak J.A., Aiken G., Linden K.G. Characterization of hydraulic fracturing flowback water in Colorado: implications for water treatment. Sci. Total Environ. 2015, 512-513:637-644.
19. McKenzie L.M., Witter R.Z., Newman L.S., Adgate J.L. Human health risk assessment of air emissions from development of unconventional natural gas resources. Sci. Total Environ. 2012, 424:79-87.
20. Meng Q. Spatial analysis of environment and population at risk of natural gas fracking in the State of Pennsylvania, USA. Sci. Total Environ. 2015, 515-516:198-206.
21. Molofsky L.J., Connor J.A., Farhat S.K., Wylie A.S., Wagner T. Methane in Pennsylvania water wells unrelated to Marcellus shale fracturing. Oil Gas J. 2011, 109(19):54-67+93.
22. Molofsky L.J., Connor J.A., Wylie A.S., Wagner T., Farhat S.K. Evaluation of methane sources in groundwater in northeastern Pennsylvania. Ground Water 2013, 51(3):333-349. 10.1111/gwat.12056.
23. Montgomery S.L., Jarvie D.M., Bowker K.A., Pollastro R.M. Mississippian Barnett Shale, Fort Worth basin, north-central Texas: gas-shale play with multi-trillion cubic foot potential: reply. AAPG Bull. 2006, 90(6):967-969. 10.1306/02090605186.
24. Moritz A., Hélie J.-F., Pinti D.L., Laroque M., Barnetche D., Retaileau S., Lefebvre R., Gélinas Y. Methane baseline concentrations and sources in shallow aquifers from the shale gas-prone region of the St. Lawrence Lowlands (Quebec, Canada). Environ. Sci. Technol. 2015, 49(7):4765-4771.
25. Murray K.E. State-scale perspective on water use and production associated with oil and gas operations, Oklahoma, U.S. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2013, 47(9):4918-4925. 10.1021/es4000593.
26. Osborn S.G., Vengosh A., Warner N.R., Jackson R.B. Methane contamination of drinking water accompanying gas-well drilling and hydraulic fracturing. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 2011, 108(20):8172-8176.
27. Paulson D.S. Applied Statistical Designs for the Researcher 2003, 525. CRC Press, NY, New York.
28. Preston T.M., Chesley-Preston T.L., Thamke J.N. A GIS-based vulnerability assessment of brine contamination to aquatic resources from oil and gas development in eastern Sheridan County, Montana. Sci. Total Environ. 2014, 472:1152-1162.
29. Rahm D. Regulating hydraulic fracturing in shale gas plays: the case of Texas. Energ Policy 2011, 39(5):2974-2981. 10.1016/j.enpol.2011.03.009.
30. Rahm B.G., Bates J.T., Bertoia L.R., Galford A.E., Yoxtheimer D.A., Riha S.J. Wastewater management and Marcellus Shale gas development: trends, drivers, and planning implications. J. Environ. Manag. 2013, 120:105-113.
31. Railroad Commission (RRC) http://www.rrc.state.tx.us/aboutus/resource-center/research/online-research-queries/#OilandGas.
32. Révész K.M., Breen K.J., Baldassare A.J., Burruss R.C. Carbon and hydrogen isotopic evidence for the origin of combustible gases in water-supply wells in north-central Pennsylvania. Appl. Geochem. 2012, 27(1):361-375.
33. Rowan F., Engle M., Kirby C., Kraemer T. Radium content of oil and gas field produced waters in the northern Appalachian Basin (USA)-Summary and discussion of data. US Geological Survey Scientific Investigation Report 2011, 2011-5135. 31 pp.
34. Rozell D.J., Reaven S.J. water pollution risk associated with natural gas extraction from the Marcellus Shale. Risk Anal. 2012, 32(8):1382-1393.
35. Smith M.B., Hannah R.R. High-permeability fracturing: the evolution of a technology. J. Pet. Technol. 1996, 48:628-633.
36. Ternes M.E. Regulatory programs governing shale gas development. Chem. Eng. Prog. 2012, 108(8):60-64.
37. Thacker J.B., Carlton D.D., Hildenbrand Z.L., Kadjo A.F., Schug K.A. Chemical analysis of flowback and produced water from unconventional drilling operations. Water 2015, 7:1568-1579.
38. Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) https://www.twdb.texas.gov/groundwater/data/gwdbrt.sp.
39. Vidic R.D., Brantley S.L., Vandenbossche J.M., Yoxtheimer D., Abad J.D. Impact of shale gas development on regional water quality. Science 2013, 340. 10.1126/science.1235009.
40. Walton J., Woocay A. Environmental issues related to enhanced production of natural gas by hydraulic fracturing. Journal of Green Building 2013, 8(1):62-71.
41. Warner N.R., Jackson R.B., Darrah T.H., Osborn S.G., Down A., Zhao K., White A., Vengosh A. Geochemical evidence for possible natural migration of Marcellus formation brine to shallow aquifers in Pennsylvania. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 2012, 109(30):11961-11966.
42. Werner A., Vink S., Watt K., Jagals P. Environmental health impacts of unconventional natural gas development: a review of the current strength of evidence. Sci. Total Environ. 2015, 505:1127-1141.
43. Ziemkiewicz P.F., Quaranta J.D., Darnell A., Wise R. Exposure pathways related to shale gas development and procedures for reducing environmental and public risk. Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering 2014, 16:77-84.