WVU researchers unveil ways to reduce environmental, health risks associated with shale gas extraction, June 26, 2014

From the 2014 Press Release, Water Research Institute, West Virginia University, June 26, 2014

A ‘new’ study by researchers at West Virginia University offers 10 recommendations for reducing the environmental and human health effects associated with horizontal drilling and the hydraulic fracturing process.

The recommendations address air, noise and light pollution; water management; and engineering flaws associated with horizontal gas well development and completion.

The study, titled “Practical measures for reducing the risk of environmental contamination in shale energy production’” is co-authored by Paul Ziemkiewicz, director of the West Virginia Water Research Institute, John Quaranta, assistant professor of environmental engineering at the Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources and Michael McCawley, interim chair of the Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences at the School of Public Health.

Gas extraction from shale gas formations has been made possible by recent advances in horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing technology. In the eastern United States, the Marcellus Formation gas play is one of the nation’s major natural gas reserves and in West Virginia alone, nearly 3,000 horizontal wells have been developed since 2008.

While rapid adoption of these methods has led to a surge in natural gas production in the United States, it has also increased public concern about its environmental and human health effects.

“These facilities are often located within a few hundred meters of homes and farms, many of which are supplied by shallow water wells,” explains Ziemkiewicz. “As a result, many of the public’s concerns focus on air and groundwater pollution as well as light and noise associated with horizontal drilling and well completion. This study was initiated largely due to these public concerns.”

Ziemkiewicz, along with the other researchers, conducted a thorough review of environmental literature relevant to shale gas development and examined over 15 Marcellus shale facilities in northern West Virginia. The researchers provide the following recommendations as a result of their study:

• On-site containment – Well sites should have properly constructed containment structures in the event of a well blowout or massive fluid leak.

• Blowout preventers – All wells should include blowout preventers to bring any uncontrolled fluid release under control quickly.

• Wellbore integrity – All wells should be pressure tested before hydraulic fluid injection.

• Waste transportation plans –The planned disposal of liquid and solid waste should be a required and enforceable component of the well’s permit.

• Solid waste characterization – Additional studies on the solid wastes from hydraulic fracturing are needed in order to identify inorganic, organic and radioactive contaminants.

• Pits and impoundments – Better training is needed for regulatory and industry field inspectors to significantly improve the design and construction of storage pits and impoundments for liquid waste.

• Air monitors and sound meters – Installation of air monitors and sound meters at sensitive locations and connect to a central monitoring station.

• Noise reduction – Route traffic away from residences (where possible), use better wetting agents to reduce peak dust exposures, and stage traffic to reduce both diesel exhaust concentrations and noise.

• Characterization of the source of airborne contaminants – Further research is needed to identify the source of airborne contaminants found at horizontal drilling operations in order to effectively manage emissions.

• Performance based standards – Require placement of continuous monitoring instruments near sensitive locations for feedback and process control at drill sites for air, light and noise.

While the study identified several problem areas that need to be addressed, Quaranta is quick to point out that the industry and regulatory agencies are already incorporating some of their recommendations.

“We’re seeing more inspection guidelines, more training opportunities for regulatory personnel and industry field inspectors, and better emergency management protocols are being put in place,” said Quaranta. “Our recommendations are already having an impact.”

The study was also recently accepted for publication in the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Journal of Environmental Science: Processes and Impacts. The study is currently available online and will be included as part of the journal’s special collection on the topic of hydraulic fracturing for the upcoming July issue. Located in the United Kingdom, the Royal Society of Chemistry is the United Kingdom’s professional body for chemistry and the world’s leading chemistry community.

“Hydraulic fracturing is either currently being used or planned for use around the United States and in a number of other countries to increase the production of natural gas,” explains McCawley. “We wanted to share our findings with not only the people of West Virginia, but also within a broader community of scientists through this current publication with hopes that there will be further discussion of the ideas we present as well as possible suggestions for alternative strategies.”

In 2012, WVU introduced its “Mountains of Excellence” for strategic investment in research areas where potential for growth and substantial return on investment makes sense. One of the initial areas of focus is utilizing shale gas responsibly.

The West Virginia Water Research Institute has been in existence since 1967 and has served as a statewide vehicle for performing research related to water issues. The Institute is the premier water research center in West Virginia and, within selected fields, an international leader.

Reference: Paul Ziemkiewicz, John D. Quaranta and Michael McCawley, Environ. Sci.: Processes & Impacts, 2014,16, 1692-1699, DOI: 10.1039/C3EM00510K, Received 04 Oct 2013, Accepted 03 Apr 2014. First published online 03 Apr 2014.

See also: www.FrackCheckWV.net

The Environmental Costs and Benefits of Fracking

This  new study has been published in the Annual Review of Environment and Resources, Volume 39, pages 327 to 362, 2014.

Authors — Robert B. Jackson (Stanford), Avner Vengosh (Duke),  J. William Carey (Los Alamos),  Richard J. Davies (Newcastle UK),  Thomas H. Darrah (Ohio State),  Francis O’Sullivan (MIT),  and Gabrielle Pe ́tron (Colorado)

Abstract — Unconventional oil and natural gas extraction enabled by horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing (fracking) is driving an economic boom, with con- sequences described from “revolutionary” to “disastrous.” Reality lies some- where in between. Unconventional energy generates income and, done well, can reduce air pollution and even water use compared with other fossil fuels. Alternatively, it could slow the adoption of renewables and, done poorly, re- lease toxic chemicals into water and air. Primary threats to water resources include surface spills, wastewater disposal, and drinking-water contamination through poor well integrity. An increase in volatile organic compounds and air toxics locally are potential health threats, but the switch from coal to natural gas for electricity generation will reduce sulfur, nitrogen, mercury, and particulate air pollution. Data gaps are particularly evident for human health studies, for the question of whether natural gas will displace coal compared with renewables, and for decadal-scale legacy issues of well leakage and plugging and abandonment practices. Critical topics for future research include data for (a) estimated ultimate recovery (EUR) of unconventional hydrocarbons, (b) the potential for further reductions of water requirements and chemical toxicity, (c) whether unconventional resource development alters the frequency of well integrity failures, (d) potential contamination of surface and ground waters from drilling and spills, (e) factors that could cause wastewater injection to generate large earthquakes, and (f) the consequences of greenhouse gases and air pollution on ecosystems and human health.

Conclusions — Throughout this review we have presented future research needs and opportunities. Rather than repeating them, we end with a brief discussion of principles for helping to reduce the environmental footprint of hydraulic fracturing and unconventional energy extraction in general.

One recommendation is for greater transparency from companies and regulating agencies. Although companies and most US states now provide some information about the chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing (e.g., the FracFocus disclosure registry; http://www.fracfocus.org), approximately one in five chemicals is still classified as a trade secret. Phasing out the use of toxic chemicals entirely would boost public confidence in the process further. Other examples of transparency are to disclose data for mud-log gases and production-gas and water chemistry to regulatory agencies and, ideally, to the public and to end the use of nondisclosure clauses for legal settlements with homeowners over issues such as groundwater contamination. The challenge is to balance the needs of companies with those of public safety.

A second recommendation would address one of the biggest research gaps today: the need for short- and long-term studies of the potential effects of unconventional energy extraction on human health. Virtually no comprehensive studies have been published on this topic. Nevertheless, decisions on when and where to drill are already being decided based on this issue. France and Bulgaria have bans on hydraulic fracturing that are directly associated with perceived health risks. In the United States, New York State has a moratorium on high-volume hydraulic fracturing until a review of the potential health effects is completed.

Third, the importance of baseline studies prior to drilling is increasingly recognized as a critical need. Pre-drilling data would include measurements of groundwater and surface-water attributes, air quality, and human health. In this review, we have not covered the many critical issues of social and community impacts of the unconventional energy boom. One suggestion is to create a baseline community needs and assets assessment (CNAA) to address potential social impacts. The CNAA should identify what jobs will be available to local workers, develop citizen-stakeholder forums and reporting mechanisms, update transportation planning and safety training, and implement strong consumer protections before drilling begins .

A fourth recommendation is to place particular focus on surface and near-surface activities rather than on what occurs deep underground. Surveys of groundwater contamination suggest that most incidents originate from the surface, including faulty wells, wastewater disposal, and spills and leaks from surface operations (60, 88, 165). These problems may be reduced through best management practices or regulations. There are additional risks associated with hydraulically fractured wells connecting with old, abandoned wells that are not properly sealed. Increased attention to improving well integrity in shale-gas operations and to potential interactions between hydraulic fracturing and abandoned wells would help reduce environmental risks and impacts.

Lastly, we believe that state and federal governments are under investing in legacy funds in the United States, the European Union, and elsewhere for addressing future problems accompanying the unconventional energy boom. Drilling millions of new oil and natural gas wells will inevitably lead to future issues (e.g., see Section 4, above). Pennsylvania, for instance, currently has no severance tax on oil and gas production and took in only ∼$200 million yearly in impact fees from 2011 to 2013. Most of this money was used to fund county and state operations, with $16 million from the fund allocated to current environmental initiatives in 2012 and 2013, including habitat restoration, flood protection, and P&A. To place these numbers in the broader context, Pennsylvania produced >$10 billion worth of natural gas in 2013 alone. At this rate, very little money will be available years to decades in the future when Marcellus and other wells age, leading to the kinds of shortfalls that some states face today from past industrial activities.

The biggest uncertainty of all is what the future energy mix across the world will be. Compared with coal, natural gas has many environmental benefits, and replacing old coal-fired power plants with new natural gas plants makes sense in places. However, natural gas and shale oil are still fossil fuels, releasing GHGs when burned. Will natural gas be a bridge fuel to a cleaner, renewables- based future? How long will the bridging take? Will natural gas be used to supplement renewables in the future or instead become the world’s primary energy source? Will the unconventional energy boom lower energy prices, making conservation less valuable and slowing the adoption of renewables? Societies face difficult choices that can be informed by strong, interdisciplinary research. The answers to these questions will drive earth and environmental sciences for decades.

See also: New Evidence Links Earthquakes to Fracking

The Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission appointed by the Governor of Pennsylvania has now reported with 96 recommendation aimed at encouraging gas companies to invest in Pennsylvania, protecting environmental resources and helping local governments manage the industry that is remaking their communities.

Key recommendations in the Report are as follows: Enact a drilling impact fee that offsets “uncompensated” costs to local governments. Double civil penalties for violations and increase bonding fees held in case a well is abandoned. Establish construction standards for private water wells and increase the distance for which a driller is presumed liable for contamination. Require the state Public Utility Commission to oversee gathering lines and increase safety standards for pipelines in low-density areas. Update state law to make the Marcellus Shale eligible for “pooling.” That process allows for mineral resources at a certain depth to be added against the owner’s wishes into a larger drilling unit.

Praise for the report has come from Range Resources, EQT Corporation, and the Pennsylvania Independent Oil and Gas Association, among others. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Pennsylvania Environmental Council, the Nature Conservancy and Western Pennsylvania Conservancy gave a mixed assessment of the final report.

“We consider the report to be a meaningful first step toward improving Pennsylvania’s oversight of shale gas extraction, but additional improvements must be accomplished as the debate shifts to the General Assembly,” these latter organizations said in a joint release. Others who were not included in the process criticized the 137-page document, saying it was exactly what they feared from a panel stacked with industry executives. “From day one, we knew that the advisory commission is nothing more than a stalling tactic,” said Erika Staaf of the advocacy group PennEnvironment.

For more on this report, visit www.post-gazette.com/pipeline