Duke University study finds correlation between methane in water wells and active gas wells

This was a correlative study, with no testing of methane isotope ratio prior to drilling. Essentially, the methane content was higher in water wells close to active gas wells, and the methane was identified as thermogenic. Conversely, methane in water wells more than 1 km from active gas wells was generally biogenic, or a blend of biogenic and thermogenic methane. Methane concentration was lower in these wells. The authors do not describe how the water wells were selected for testing. It was clearly not random. I suspect, but cannot determine from the data available, that there was some selection of wells based on landowner complaints or suggestion by regulatory agencies. I also suspect, but cannot determine, that some of the sites might have had known issues, such as occurred in the Dimock, PA area. 

 

http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2011/05/02/1100682108.full.pdf+html

 

It has been rebutted here



http://www.energyindepth.org/2011/05/durham-bull/

 

Comments? 

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Permalink Reply by adubu on May 10, 2011 at 14:29

study must have been done by Al Gore's team

Permalink Reply by Two Dogs, Pirate on May 10, 2011 at 14:39
abudu, probably done on the internet, which Al Gore invented.
Permalink Reply by adubu on May 10, 2011 at 15:01
Two Dogs--- Dam you are correct just forgot that about  little fact on Gore-- LMAO--- However on serious side Politics and Junk Science is a very dangerous combo
Permalink Reply by Steve P on May 10, 2011 at 16:33

I've only read the news articles, not the published report itself.  There are two very intesting findings:  high level of methane in people's water wells that are near gas wells, and NO, repeat, NO fracking chemicals found in any of the water.  So, clearly, something is going on in the PA area with methane (natural gas is almost all methane) getting into (or already present in) the ground water.  you will see lots of comments about the lack of a base line set of wells.  But, and this is a huge BUT, it can't very well be related to fracking, because there were no chemicals from the fracking process in the water. 

 

Curious - has anyone heard of water tables in La or E TX having methane contamination?  never heard of it myself, but that's just anecdotal, of course.  Not worthy of mention in a scientific study!

Permalink Reply by dbob on May 10, 2011 at 16:41

Steve

 

At low levels, its not uncommon.  Frequently believed to be biogenic.  I don't know of any good definitive study for this area.  Doug Carlson with LSU is testing some wells for it currently, I think.  

Permalink Reply by TXsharon on May 11, 2011 at 3:30

Explosive levels of thermogenic methane in Barnett Shale water wells. http://www.epa.gov/region6/6xa/pdf/range_order.pdf

 

Here are some cases in Texas where hydraulic fracturing is suspected in water contamination.

Texas: Larry Bisidas is an expert in drilling wells and in groundwater. He is the owner of Bisidas Water Well Drilling in Wise County, and has been drilling water wells for 40 years. Two water wells on his property became contaminated in 2010. When his state regulator stated that there has been no groundwater contamination in Texas related to hydraulic fracturing, Mr. Bisidas replied: ""All they've gotta do is come out to my place, and I'll prove it to them."

Texas: In Wise County, Catherine and Brett Bledsoe report that their drinking water became contaminated in 2010 soon after hydraulic fracturing began on two natural gas wells bordering their property. The water stung their eyes during showers, and their animals refused to drink the water. Without any assistance from regulators, the Bledsoes paid for their own water testing. The testing found benzene, a known carcinogen, at double the safe levels.

Texas: In 2007, three families who share an aquifer in Grandview reported contamination of drinking water after hydraulic fracturing of a nearby well owned by Williams. They experienced strong odors in their water, changes in water pressure, skin irritation, and dead livestock. Water testing found toluene and other contaminants.

Texas: The Scoma family in Johnson County is suing Chesapeake Energy, claiming the company contaminated their drinking water with benzene and petroleum by-products after hydraulic fracturing of natural gas wells near the Scoma home. The family reports that its drinking water sometimes runs an orange-yellow color, tastes bad and gives off a foul odor.

Texas: Tarrant County Commissioner J.D. Johnson, who lives in the Barnett shale area, reported groundwater contamination immediately after two gas wells on his property were hydraulically fractured. His water turned a dark gold color and had sand in it.

Texas: Carol Grosser, in south Texas, noticed changes in her water after a neighbor told her a nearby well was being hydraulically fractured. Carol noticed changes in her water pressure and rust-colored residue in her stock tanks. The fish in her tanks died, and some of her goats had abnormal milk production and produced kids with unusual birth defects.

Texas: The Executive Director of the Upper Trinity River Groundwater Conservation District in north Texas stated that the District "gets 'regular reports' from property owners who said that 'since a particular [gas] well had been fracked, they've had problems' with their water wells, such as sand in them, saltier water or reduced water output...."

Texas: Susan Knoll in the Barnett shale reports that last year her drinking water became foamy right after hydraulic fracturing of a well adjacent to her property. Since that time, additional gas wells have been fractured near her home and her drinking water has continually gotten worse. It sometimes foams, becomes oily, and has strong odors that burn Susan's nose when she smells her water. Susan has a lot of videos and more information on her blog.

Texas: Grace Mitchell, a resident of Johnson County, Texas, is suing Encana and Chesapeake. According to her lawsuit, soon after drilling and hydraulic fracturing took place near her home in 2010, her water became contaminated, feeling slick to the touch and giving off an oily, gasoline-like odor. Testing results performed on her well water confirmed it was contaminated with various chemicals, including C-12-C28 hydrocarbons, similar to diesel fuel.

Texas: The Harris family of Denton County, Texas, is suing Devon Energy. They say that their water became contaminated soon after Devon commenced drilling and hydraulic fracturing near their home in 2008, and that their water became polluted with a gray sediment. Testing results performed on the well water found contamination with high levels of metals: aluminum, arsenic, barium, beryllium, calcium, chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, lead, lithium, magnesium, manganese, nickel, potassium, sodium, strontium, titanium, vanadium, and zinc.

Permalink Reply by adubu on May 11, 2011 at 4:07
Tx Sharon---- Any these  have data on water prior to fac in area ?????? Most of this is true JUNK Science IMO. A leaking Pit Yes can contaminate surface water and few hundred feet depth, but frac 2 miles deep NO WAY.   Go HUG YOUR TREE SOMEWHERE ELSE PLEASE
Permalink Reply by dbob on May 11, 2011 at 12:54

TX sharon

 

Sorry for my earlier reply.  Call me a natural born skeptic.  I'd be happy to review any of the above cases and give an opinion if there is lab data and data regarding the suspect water wells.  If you want to discuss/have evidence that any of these locations had an improper casing, or that a surface release was the cause of contamination, I'm happy to go that direction and will readily concede that those might be reasonable possibilities.  However, to say that hydraulic fracturing caused the contamination is a serious stretch.  

 

Automobiles kill 25,000+ people in the U.S. every year and there are constant improvements to keep them safer.  But nobody suggests that road construction, the activity that allowed us to drive, is the cause of those deaths.  

Dbob

 

Permalink Reply by dbob on May 11, 2011 at 4:14
TXSharon

Although the EPA has not dropped it, the Parker County case has been fairly clearly demonstrated as contamination from a known shallow gas reservoir that has been leading to methane in water wells for decades prior to Barnett shale development. You can follow that saga with a lot of good links here.

http://www.gohaynesvilleshale.com/forum/topics/driller-denies-that-it

The quote from the Upper Trinity Groundwater District was taken out of context. I don't have time or the inclination to review the other cases you cite, but I suspect based on the nature of politics, EPA would be after the operator in each of the cases you cite.
Permalink Reply by essay on May 11, 2011 at 5:13
more junk science constructed around a pre-determined conclusion.
Permalink Reply by Joel Abramson on May 11, 2011 at 7:35

The science and the conclusion is gaining momentum. I found this in Forbes.

 

http://blogs.forbes.com/jeffmcmahon/2011/05/10/fracking-study-expos...

Permalink Reply by essay on May 11, 2011 at 9:43
remember when the epa stuck it's big nose into texas' business and didn't even bother showing up to the hearings?  yeah that was just an attempt to get negative headlines that wouldn't really be retracted/corrected in any meaningful way to the people who read and are in turn influenced by them, that's how these things work.

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