Baseline well inventory and groundwater-quality data from a potential shale gas resource area in parts of Lee and Chatham Counties, North Carolina, October 2011-August 2012

Abstract

For more information on the USGS-the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment, visit http://www.usgs.gov or call 1-888-ASK-USGS.For an overview of USGS information products, including maps, imagery, and publications, visit http://www.usgs.gov/pubprodTo order this and other USGS information products, visit http://store.usgs.gov Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.Although this information product, for the most part, is in the public domain, it also may contain copyrighted materials as noted in the text. Permission to reproduce copyrighted items must be secured from the copyright owner.Suggested citation: Chapman, M.J., Gurley, L.N., and Fitzgerald, S.A., 2014, Baseline well inventory and groundwater-quality data from a potential shale gas resource area in parts of Lee and Chatham Counties, North Carolina, October 2011-August 2012: U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 861, 22 p., http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/ds861. ISSN 2327-638X (online) iii AcknowledgmentsThe authors would like to thank all of the well and property owners who graciously allowed United States Geological Survey personnel access to their water-supply wells for the purpose of gathering field data and collecting groundwater-quality samples for this study. Much appreciation is extended to Susan Condlin, Lee County, North Carolina, Cooperative Extension Director, for hosting the public well owner meeting at the beginning of this study. Many thanks to the local well drillers, Worth Pickard and Russ Patterson, Patterson Exploration Services, for their discussions regarding well records and drilling experience in the study area. AbstractRecords were obtained for 305 wells and 1 spring in northwestern Lee and southeastern Chatham counties, North Carolina. Well depths ranged from 26 to 720 feet and yields ranged from 0.25 to 100 gallons per minute. A subset of 56 wells and 1 spring were sampled for baseline groundwaterquality constituents including the following: major ions; dissolved metals; nutrients; dissolved gases (including methane); volatile and semivolatile organic compounds; glycols; isotopes of strontium, radium, methane (if sufficient concentration), and water; and dissolved organic and inorganic carbon. Dissolved methane gas concentrations were low, ranging from less than 0.00007 (lowest reporting level) to 0.48 milligrams per liter. Concentrations of nitrate, boron, iron, manganese, sulfate, chloride, total dissolved solids, and measurements of pH exceeded federal and state drinking water standards in a few samples. Iron and manganese concentrations exceeded the secondary (aesthetic) drinking water standard in approximately 35 to 37 percent of the samples.

Well water contamination in a rural community in southwestern Pennsylvania near unconventional shale gas extraction

“…Additionally, the large distances (hundreds of meters) separating the deep gas rich formations and the shallower groundwater sources, the multitude of surface and subsurface contaminant sources and the lack of comprehensive scientific baseline study data are all factors that contribute to the challenge. [2][3][4]20] The main objective of this study was to determine if recent the changes in well water (quality and quantity) of a small rural community in southwestern Pennsylvania could be related to the current unconventional shale gas extraction activities of drilling and/or fracturing.…”