Testing of 1701 water wells in northeastern Pennsylvania shows that methane is ubiquitous in groundwater, with higher concentrations observed in valleys vs. upland areas and in association with calcium-sodium-bicarbonate, sodium-bicarbonate, and sodium-chloride rich waters—indicating that, on a regional scale, methane concentrations are best correlated to topographic and hydrogeologic features, rather than shale-gas extraction. In addition, our assessment of isotopic and molecular analyses of hydrocarbon gases in the Dimock Township suggest that gases present in local water wells are most consistent with Middle and Upper Devonian gases sampled in the annular spaces of local gas wells, as opposed to Marcellus Production gas. Combined, these findings suggest that the methane concentrations in Susquehanna County water wells can be explained without the migration of Marcellus shale gas through fractures, an observation that has important implications for understanding the nature of risks associated with shale-gas extraction.
is currently a research scientist and engineer with Michigan Technological University, where he received his Ph.D. in 2002. He holds M.S. and B.S. degrees in geology from North Carolina State University. He worked for 19 years in petroleum exploration and reservoir characterization in a variety of positions for companies including Gulf, Chevron, Santa Fe Energy, and Mobil. His present interests include the continued development of log-curve amplitude slicing and tomography for subsurface imaging of petroleum systems and reservoirs.
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