Natural Gas and Water Protection

Barbara Jo Hall

TestAmerica Laboratories, Inc.

February 19, 2013

Background

• Edwin Drake – Titusville, 1859

• More than 350,000 oil and natural gas wells since

• PA > 60,000 active natural gas wells and ~ 20,000 active oil wells

• A solid foundation for…

The Shale Gas Revolution

The Marcellus Shale Play

Horizontal Drilling

• More efficient production, smaller footprint.

• Conductor, surface casing protect drinking water source.

• Well is drilled vertically and horizontally as much as 5,000 feet.

• Wellbore is approximately 20 inches in diameter at its widest.

So- What is the Process?

Studies Done

Center for Rural PA Study

•Comprehensive research over two years, published in 2011

•Suggested private water well standards are needed

•Pre-drill testing by natural gas companies – a public service

Conclusions -

• PENNSYLVANIA: “There has never been any evidence of fracking ever causing direct contamination of fresh groundwater in Pennsylvania or anywhere else.” (PA DEP’s Scott Perry, Scranton Times-Tribune, 4/2/10)

• OHIO: “After 25 years of investigating citizen complaints of contamination, [our] geologists have not documented a single incident involving contamination of ground water attributed to hydraulic fracturing.” (Scott Kell, deputy chief of Ohio DNR, 5/27/09)

• The FACT: There have been no confirmed cases of negative groundwater impacts from hydraulic fracturing.

Regulatory Framework

Site Construction

Drilling Phase Midstream

Hydraulic Fracturing

Reclaimed/Completed Site

12 PA Regulations 10 PA Regulations

11 PA Regulations18 PA Regulations

18 PA Regulations

Title 25 Chapter 78

• Covers Permits, Fees, Construction, etc. for Conventional and Unconventional Wells

• Subchapter C addresses Performance Standards for protection of Water supply

• 78.51 – Protection of Water Supply – “An operator who is deemed to have affected a water supply by pollution of diminution shall restore, as determined by the Department.”

Pre-Drill Survey

• 78.52 – “To preserve its defense. . That the pollution of a water supply existed prior to drilling” an operator shall conduct a predrilling survey in accordance with this section.

• Area of Presumptive Liability is 2500 feet radius of a well bore for unconventional wells

• Very Prescriptive in content of survey:

Pre-Drill Survey

• Must be conducted by an independent, certified lab• A copy of the results shall be submitted to the

Department and Landowner within 10 Business Days of receipt of report

• Report must contain:~ Location of supply and name of landowner~ Date of survey, name of lab and person who conducted

survey~ Description of where and how sample was collected~ Description of type and age of water supply and treatment if

any~ Name of operator and permit number~ Results of the analysis.

BUT -

• Nowhere in the regulations does it specify what parameters are to be tested to demonstrate the pre-drill quality of the water!!

• Each operator can conduct what they see fit as pre-drill testing.

Setting the Standard

• The Marcellus Shale Coalition has developed Recommended Practices for Pre-Drill Surveys

• A Site Survey Form was Developed

• A Recommended List of Parameters was accepted that included constituents of concern for hydraulic fracturing as well as general water quality as a public service.

MSC Recommended List

Alkalinity Total Chromium

Oil & Grease Total Arsenic

pH Total Barium

Specific Conductance Total Lead

Total Dissolved Solids Total Selenium

Total Suspended Solids Total Strontium

Chloride Total Calcium

Sulfate Total Iron

Total Hardness Total Magnesium

Surfactants (MBAS/foaming agents) Total Manganese

Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, Xylenes (BTEX) Total Potassium

Dissolved Methane Total Sodium

Dissolved Ethane E. Coli

Dissolved PropaneTotal Coliform

Nitrate as NTurbidity

Inside the “Black Box”

• Samples go in• “Something Happens”• Results come out!

• Understanding the “Magic - what really happens??

Sample Management

• Sample Identity• Sample Integrity• Sample Validity• Sample Security• Sample Shipping

Chain of Custody

GC/MS Volatiles

• Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene and Xylene are the baseline parameters. (BTEX)

• Basic Theory of Operation~ Purge and Trap

~ Gas Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry

GC/MS Semivolatiles

• No Semivolatiles on the Baseline List

but it is a standard test in

laboratories.• Similar in theory to volatiles but extraction is

necessary first.

Organic Prep

• None Required for Baseline Testing

but applicable methods include:~ Separatory Funnel~ Liquid / Liquid~ Soxhlet~ Sonication

• Basic Theory of Department Process~ Preferential Solubility with Extraction Solvent~ Concentration of Extract up to 1000 times

GC Analyses

• Dissolved Gases are on the Baseline List~ Methane, Ethane, Propane

• Basic Theory of Operation~ Injected on GC and Quantitated by Peak and

Retention

Classical Chemistry

• Multiple Baseline Parameters• Basic Theory

~ Hands-on gravimetric methods~ Automated colorimetric and potentiometric

methods~ Most Labor-intensive Department within the Lab~ Methods haven’t changed for many years other

than some automation

Metals

• A Specific List of Metals is in the Baseline List• Basic Theory of Operation

~ Samples acid-digested to convert metals to soluble form

~ Atomic Emission to quantitate elements

Mercury

• Mercury is not part of the baseline metals~ An integral part of any laboratory

~ Autoclave or Hot Water Bath Prep

• Basic Theory of Operation~ Sample Prep allows release of Mercury Vapor

~ Atomic Absorbance used to quantitate

Bacteria Testing

• Total Coliform / E. coli~ 24 hour Holding Time~ Usually subcontracted to “local” labs~ Done as a ‘courtesy” for homeowner

Reporting Terminology

Refer to “Understanding your Report”

• Laboratory Control Sample• Method Blank• Matrix Spike

• Matrix Spike Duplicate

QUESTIONS??

Thank You

• Barbara Hall(412) 915-9132

Barb.Hall@TestAmericainc.com