Marcellus Shale
A Pennsylvania – Land Trust Perspective
Presentor
Mr. Brian Oram, PG
Professional Geologist, Soil Scientist,
PASEO, Certified Geothermal Installer, Licensed Well Driller
Wilkes University
Center for Environmental Quality
http://www.water-research.net
Project Sponsors
Wilkes University
http://www.wilkes.edu
 Pocono Northeast Resource Conservation &
Development Council
http://www.pnercd.org
 C-SAW Program - Consortium for Scientific

Assistance to Watersheds Program
http://pa.water.usgs.gov/csaw/
Center for Environmental Quality
Non-profit/ equal opportunity employer, is operated and
managed, within the Department of Environmental
Engineering and Earth Sciences at Wilkes University
Outreach Programs
 Environmental and Professional Education and Training
 Applied Research
 Community and Business Outreach Programs
Website: http://www.water-research.net
What the NBLT Does?
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Preserve the Beauty and Open landscapes that
Sustain Us.
It is a Conservation Organization
Preserve Property, Promote Healthy Communities
Develop Long-Term Grow Strategies
Accomplish Mission through – donation of land or
development rights/subdivision rights or direct
purchase of development rights.
How Do You Manage or Maintain
these Valuable Assets?
Donations, Fundraisers, Grants
 Do you timber harvest?
 Do you harvest or grow biofuels?
 Do you permit hunting, fishing, or farming?
 Do you conduct Environmental Education
Courses or Training Sessions?
 Do you permit mineral resource extraction?
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Marcellus Shale Photo
Outcrops Along the
Southeastern Border
of Pike County
Along Route 209
Main Fracture Orientation
Geological Sequence
Time
0 to 1.8 million years
Period
Quaternary –
Glaciation
1.8 to 290 million Tertiary to Permian
O
L
D
E
R
290 – 320 million
Pennsylvanian
320 – 354 million
Mississippian
354 - 417 million
Devonian
417 – 443 million
Silurian
Deposit or
Rock Type
sand, silt, clay,
and gravel
Not present (eroded and
weathered)
Llewellyn (coal) and
Pottsville ( minor coal)
Mauch Chunk
Pocono and Spechty Kopf
Catskill Formation
Trimmers Rock Formation
Mahantango Formation
Marcellus Formation
(Black Shale)- Target
Onondaga Formation
(calcareous sandy shale)
Marcellus Shale- Natural Gas Play
50 to 200 trillion cubic feet
Luzerne County
Shale may be 50 to 200 feet thick
This is why the term – Fairway is being used to describe the play.
Source- Cabot – Marcellus Shale Thickness Map
Permitted Drilled Wells - 2009
3.4 mmcf/day
$ 12,400/day
$ 3000/day (25%)
2.3 to 6.3 mmcf/day
$ 23,900/day
$ 5900/day (25%)
Source: DUG Conference Presentation
1 MMcf = 1000 MMBtu
$3.64 per MMBtu
Marcellus Shale Drilling Site
Pads can be 5+ acres – but one pad may support drilling
multiple horizontal wells.
The Concerns (Partial List)
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Lack of Local and State OversightRegulated on the Federal/ State Level – not via
local zoning and land-use.
Mineral Owner or Gas Rights Out-weigh
Rights of Surface Owner
Habitat– Loss of Crop or Timber Value- can be
addressed in lease
Potential for Contamination- address concerns
during leasing or other processes and local
unrelated ordiances and baseline testing
Water Resource
Air Quality – Noise Pollution- Compaction
Local Agencies not prepared for this type of
development
Concerns Related to
Marcellus Shale
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Based on Community Location – this could be a major
concern or major impact.
In general, the concerns are related to the following:
 Erosion and Sedimentation Systems
 Volume of Water Used In Hydrofracturing- 2 to 9
million gallons per well.
 Loss of Freshwater Aquifer or contamination by brine
water and drilling fluids/ muds.
 Drilling fluids may contain environmental
contaminations (metals and organics).
 Impacts to Roadways, Traffic, Tourism, and Ecology
 Potential for Groundwater and Surface Water
Contamination
 Spills and Spill Management
Typical Well
Additional Cemented
Zones
This Zone should
be cemented
Multiple Cemented
Casing Used in
Drilling Process
Groundwater Moves - Slowly
feet per year
Confining Bed
Saline/Brine Water
Stagnant Water – no to little flow
Sea Level
Injection Wells – Class II
Class II wells inject fluids associated with oil and natural gas production.
Most of the injected fluid is salt water (brine), which is brought to the surface
in the process of producing (extracting) oil and gas.
Regulated by:
EPA - http://www.epa.gov/safewater/uic/wells_class2.html
Does the UIC Program regulate hydraulic fracturing?
Sometimes. The UIC Program regulates the following activities:
 Well injection of fluids into a formation to enhance oil and gas
production (Class II wells).
 Fracturing used in connection with Class II and Class V injection wells
to “stimulate” (open pore space in a formation).
 Hydraulic fracturing to produce methane from coal beds in Alabama.
Note: Class V wells are shallow wells that inject water into or above
a freshwater aquifer. http://www.epa.gov/ogwdw000/uic/
Getting to The Natural Gas
Freshwater
Well
5000 to
7000 feet
Possible saline/
brine/ connate
water
Up to a few thousand feet
Types of Fluids
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Top hole fluids – typically the water from the
freshwater aquifer. This water from the first 600
to 800 feet.
Bottom hole fluids – brine or connate water.
Stimulation Fluids – fluid used to improve
recovery (frac process)
Production Fluids – water produced along the
natural gas release – similar to bottom hole fluid.
Active Marcellus
Production Site – Frac Fluid Chemistry
Typically Frac Water is comprised of clean water with a low probably for scale
formation, but treated effluents and other sources being evaluated.
The components include:
Friction Reducer – anionic polymer high molecular weight
(hold frac sand and other particles)
Wetting Agent- nonionic surfactant – reduce surface tension and improve
frac water flowback.
Biocides- control growth or regrowth of microorganisms.
Scale Inhibitor – phosphate based chemicals to inhibit precipitate formation
and scale formation.
Arthur et. al., 2008 – All Consulting – “ Natural Gas Wells of the
Marcellus Shale”, Presented at Groundwater Protection Council
2008 Annual Forum.
Available Frac Water Chemistry
Parameter
Units
Concentration
PWS
Multiplier
Aluminum
mg/L
1.2
0.2
6
Arsenic
mg/L
0.014
0.01
1.4
Barium
mg/L
410
2
205
Iron
mg/L
17
0.3
56
Manganese
mg/L
0.89
0.05
17.8
Hardness
mg/L
1750
500
3.5
T. Dissolved Solids
mg/L
31324
500
62
Nirate @ N
mg/L
90.1
44
2
pH
su
6.73
6.5 - 8.5
oK
Bromide
mg/L
61.8
0.01
6180
Chloride
mg/L
27000
250
108
Gross Alpha
pCi/L
223.3
15
15
Gross Beta
mrem/yr (Sr)
38.65
4
10
Radium 228
pCi/L
18.55
5
4
Radium 226
pCi/L
69.63
5
14
Flowback Water Chemistry
Flowback water is generated from drilling and it is what gets
produced from the first 5% of water returned after a well is started
May contain elevated levels of trace metals, nitrogen, bromide,
uranium, and hydrocarbons. Most of the dissolved solids includes
chloride and sodium.
Source: http://www.prochemtech.com/
Production Water
Produced water is wasted water that accompanies oil
extraction and is high in saline. Typically, separated stored on
site and then hauled to treatment/disposal facility.
May contain elevated levels of trace metals, nitrogen,
bromide, uranium, and hydrocarbons. Most of the dissolved
solids includes chloride and sodium.
Source: http://www.prochemtech.com/
Background Testing and Baseline
(Work as a Community !)
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Test wells / springs/surfacewater within at least 1000 feet
of proposed well location.
If no wells on the property install or develop a baseline
monitoring program.
Test wells/springs/surfacewater along horizontal testing leg
with a minimum of 500 feet radius from horizontal leg.
Document static water levels, well production capacity,
and spring flows
Pre Drilling Baseline – within 6 months of starting a
production well.
Post Drilling Testing – within 6 months of completion.
Action as a Citizen
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Support proposed regulatory changes related to
Marcellus Shale Development
Encourage PA State Government to Invest in
Oversight, Increase Fees, and Fines
Support Proposed Changes in TDS, Chloride, and
Sulfate Discharge Regulations.
Use Organization To Properly Educate and Inform
the Public, Local Government, and work with
Royalty Owner Groups.
Royalty Owner Group Members may be future
Land Trust Clients.
Action as a Royalty Owner
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Get a Solid Lease with Addendums that Protect You and Surrounding
Landowners.
Use Bonus Payment to Establish Additional Ecological/
Environmental Baseline, Education Adjacent Landowners, and
Leverage into Projects that generate or support local issues and
community.
Avoid the use of lined pits for storing frac, stimulation, and bottom
hole fluids.
Encourage Driller to Use Multiple Cemented Casings, Third Party
Inspects, and Obtain Copies of Baseline Testing (Surface and
Groundwater).
Encourage Develop to Disclose Emergency Response Plan related to a
surface or subsurface contamination.
Prohibit on-site drilling, deep well inject for brine water disposal, and
proper disclosure on water usage (cradle to grave) and frac chemicals.
Younger
Older
Younger
Anticline
Water Well
1200 + ft
600 + ft
Fresh Water
< 1000 mg/L
Brackish
1000 to < 10,000 mg/L
Brine- > 10,000 mg/L
Sea Level
Target
Formation
General Geology
Saline Water
Brine Water
Water Testing Recommendations
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Package # 1 – Based on Penn State University
Recommendations and Workshops.
Parameters: total coliform, e. coli, chloride,
barium, pH, and total dissolved solids.
Estimated Cost w/o Chain-of-Custody and
Collection – Approximately $ 120.00 /sample.
Very inadequate !
Need to add at least methane/ethane !
Water Testing Recommendation
Package # 2- Based on what the PADEP is
Recommendations.
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Chloride, Total Coliform, T. Hardness, Magnesium, Strontium, Iron,
Manganese, pH, Sodium, Conductivity, Calcium, Alkalinity, Total
Dissolved Solids, Barium, Oil & Grease, and Methane/Ethane
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Estimated Cost w/o Chain-of-Custody and Collection –
Approximately $600.00 /sample.
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Missing barium, MBAS, VOCs, radiologicals and other
key parameters and can not conduct geochemical mapping.
Water Testing Recommendation
Package # 3- Based on a combination of what local gas company’s are
doing as part of their background or baseline analysis, plus added total
coliform and pH.
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Alkalinity, pH, Total Coliform, Arsenic, Barium, Calcium,
Chloride, Conductivity, T. Hardness, Iron, Magnesium,
Manganese, Oil/Grease, Potassium, Sodium, Sulfate, Total
Dissolved Solids, MTBE/VOC’s (includes BTEX),
Sulfide, Nitrate, Ammonia, MBAS (Surfactants),
Methane/Ethane, and Total Suspended Solids.
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Estimated Cost w/o Chain-of-Custody and Collection
$ 950.00 per sample
Problem – Does not include Strontium, Bromide, Selenium, and radiological.
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Water Testing Recommendations
Package # 4 Based on Gas Company Background Testing and a
review of the chemical analysis of used Frac Water.
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pH, standard plate count, total coliform, nitrate, nitrite, alkalinity,
chloride, bromide, sulfate, color, odor, conductivity, corrosion index,
alpha/beta count, T. Hardness, Mercury, trace metals (IOC Metals),
strontium, potassium, regulated VOC’s & MTBE, Radium 226/ 228,
Ammonia
Total Dissolved Solids, secondary drinking water parameters, Uranium,
Radon in Water, Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen, total suspended solids, MBAS,
Methane/Ethane , Oil/ Grease, and Sulfide.
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Estimated Cost w/o Chain-of-Custody and Collection
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$ 1950.00 per sample.
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Estimated Cost without the radiological w/o Chain-of-Custody and Collection –
$ 1500.00 per sample.
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Comprehensive – Water Testing Package – Still missing phenol,
2-Butanone, Acetone, and other trace contaminants in frac water brine
Certificate of Completion
Presented to
Fill in Your Name
Introduction to Environmental
Issues for Natural Gas Development for Land Trusts
1– hour Education Series
Presented by
Mr. Brian Oram, PG
Add Date
B.F. Environmental Consultants
Dallas, PA 18612
http://www.bfenvironmental.com
Groundwater and Hydrogeology of
Luzerne County, PA
Soils Evaluation
Hydrogeological Assessments
Community Education Outreach
http://www.water-research.net