Environmental regulation and compliance of Marcellus Shale gas drilling

Considine, Timothy J.; Watson, R.W.; Considine, Nicholas B.; Martin, John P.

doi:10.1306/eg.09131212006

Cited by 21 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 1 publication

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“…Considine et al (2013) studied 3533 wells and found a failure rate of 2.6%, Vidic et al (2013) found a failure rate of 3.4% from 6466 wells, Davies et al (2014) found that 1.27% of 8030 wells studied leaked to the surface, while Ingraffea et al (2014) found a failure rate of 1.9% for more than 41,000 wells. These different results show that the well failure rate depends on sample size, but also on location, local geology and different drilling practices, as suggested by Jackson (2014).…”

Section: Well Integrity and Gas Migrationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analysis of gas leakage occurrence along wells in Alberta, Canada, from a GHG perspective – Gas migration outside well casing

Bachu¹

2017

International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control

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Section: Well Integrity and Gas Migrationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analysis of gas leakage occurrence along wells in Alberta, Canada, from a GHG perspective – Gas migration outside well casing

Bachu¹

2017

International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control

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“…Blowouts can have enormous environmental consequences but are rare and easily recognized (e.g., only 4 of 3,533 Marcellus wells drilled from 2008 to 2011 experienced blowouts) (55). All phases of well life are governed by state and federal regulations, complemented by industry best practices (56).…”

Section: The Importance Of Well Integritymentioning

confidence: 99%

The Environmental Costs and Benefits of Fracking

Jackson

Vengosh

Carey

et al. 2014

Annu. Rev. Environ. Resour.

354

200

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Unconventional oil and natural gas extraction enabled by horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing (fracking) is driving an economic boom, with consequences described from "revolutionary" to "disastrous." Reality lies somewhere 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, release 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. 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.

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“…(Maloney and Yoxtheimer 2012;Considine et al 2013;Ingraffea et al 2014;Rahm et al 2015). The first estimates likelihood of occurrence through analysis of documented cases (empirical evidence).…”

Section: Empirical and Theoretical Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Publically available data for shale developments in eastern Colorado report 77 surface spills of BTEX-containing compounds within the time period July 2010 to July 2011, with documented groundwater impacts (Gross et al 2013). For 3533 wells drilled in the Marcellus Shale, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection issued 1144 NOVs, of which 4% were for "major" land spills (over 400 gallons) (Considine et al 2013). In another analysis of Colorado shale well spill rates, Armstrong et al (2017) found that the rate of groundwater contamination from surface spills increased from 2007 to 2014 (although this increase was slower than the increase in production volume); the rate of surface spills was estimated at between 1 in 50 and 1 in 100 with 30 to 50% of those spills affecting groundwater.…”

Section: Groundwater Contamination By Infiltration From the Surfacementioning

confidence: 99%

Towards Quantifying the Likelihood of Water Resource Impacts from Unconventional Gas Development

2018

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Gas production from unconventional reservoirs has led to widespread environmental concerns. Despite several excellent reviews of various potential impacts to water resources from unconventional gas production, no study has systematically and quantitatively assessed the potential for these impacts to occur. We use empirical evidence and numerical and analytical models to quantify the likelihood of surface water and groundwater contamination, and shallow aquifer depletion from unconventional gas developments. These likelihoods are not intended to be exact. They provide a starting point for comparing the probabilities of adverse impacts between types of water resources and pathways. This analysis provides much needed insight into what are "probable" rather than simply "possible" impacts. The results suggest that the most likely water resource impacts are surface water and groundwater contamination from spills at the well pad, which can be as high as 1 in 10 and 1 in 100 for each gas well, respectively. For wells that are hydraulically fractured, the likelihood of contamination due to inter-aquifer leakage is 1 in 10 or lower (dependent on the separation distance between the production formation and the aquifer). For gas-bearing formations that were initially over-pressurized, the potential for contamination from inter-aquifer leakage after production ceases could be as high as 1 in 400 where the separation between gas formation and shallow aquifer is 500 m, but will be much lower for greater separation distances (more characteristic of shale gas).

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Environmental regulation and compliance of Marcellus Shale gas drilling

Cited by 21 publications

References 1 publication

Analysis of gas leakage occurrence along wells in Alberta, Canada, from a GHG perspective – Gas migration outside well casing

Analysis of gas leakage occurrence along wells in Alberta, Canada, from a GHG perspective – Gas migration outside well casing

The Environmental Costs and Benefits of Fracking

Towards Quantifying the Likelihood of Water Resource Impacts from Unconventional Gas Development

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