Using environmental tracers and modelling to identify natural and gas well-induced emissions of methane into streams

Grieve, Paul L.; Hynek, Scott A.; Heilweil, Victor M.; Sowers, Todd; Llewellyn, Garth T.; Yoxtheimer, David; Solomon, D. Kip; Brantley, Susan L.

doi:10.1016/j.apgeochem.2017.12.022

Cited by 11 publications

(50 citation statements)

References 50 publications

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“…Like Fe and Mn, the highest Cl concentrations (range = 12.2-53.6 mg/L) were observed in seep 1.6. Finally, the measured 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratio was significantly higher in seep 1.5 (0.71417) than in HO4 (0.71160), in seep 1.6 (0.71168) (Dataset S1), or in groundwater collected using a drive point piezometer near SR 1.5 (0.71141) that was reported previously (17).…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 80%

“…S6 (7) indicate that one of the sources of the CH 4 is a thermally mature thermogenic source that is influenced by seasonal mixing with biogenic CH 4 . Enriched δ 13 C-CH 4 values for stream samples have been previously attributed to CH 4 oxidation at this site (17,21,22). Indeed, Rayleigh fractionation of CH 4 during oxidation is a reasonable explanation for the very high δ 13 C-CH 4 values because biologic processes preferentially oxidize the lighter isotope (SI Appendix, Fig.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 66%

“…Heilweil et al (21,22) and Grieve et al (17) reported water and hydrocarbon chemistry from Sugar Run, concluding that some samples of gases observed in stream and shallow groundwater in that area are consistent with a Marcellus origin. In this paper, we summarize previously unreported data for inorganic solutes, hydrocarbons, isotopes, noble gases, and limited atmospheric measurements in the Sugar Run area and discuss these data in context with previous Sugar Run data, regional groundwater data, the local geology, and the record of shale gas development.…”

Section: Sugar Runmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…literature since 2014 (17,21,22). Three of these seeps that upwell outside the wetted stream channel during normal conditions (labeled, based on their nearest stream sample location, as "seep 1.5," "seep 1.55," and "seep 1.6") were sampled repeatedly ( Fig.…”

Section: Sugar Runmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition, thermogenic CH 4 -CH 4 produced at depth at higher temperatures-can migrate into aquifers through natural mechanisms that might include transport as a dissolved solute in waters accompanied by salts from formation brine or, perhaps, as a separate free phase (8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13). To add to the complexity of determining the source of gas in aquifers in the Marcellus and other shale plays, CH 4 can travel for kilometers along boreholes, fractures, faults, and bedding-plane openings and through porous sandstones (14)(15)(16)(17)(18).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Detecting and explaining why aquifers occasionally become degraded near hydraulically fractured shale gas wells

Woda

Wen

Oakley

et al. 2018

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

108

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Extensive development of shale gas has generated some concerns about environmental impacts such as the migration of natural gas into water resources. We studied high gas concentrations in waters at a site near Marcellus Shale gas wells to determine the geological explanations and geochemical implications. The local geology may explain why methane has discharged for 7 years into groundwater, a stream, and the atmosphere. Gas may migrate easily near the gas wells in this location where the Marcellus Shale dips significantly, is shallow (∼1 km), and is more fractured. Methane and ethane concentrations in local water wells increased after gas development compared with predrilling concentrations reported in the region. Noble gas and isotopic evidence are consistent with the upward migration of gas from the Marcellus Formation in a free-gas phase. This upflow results in microbially mediated oxidation near the surface. Iron concentrations also increased following the increase of natural gas concentrations in domestic water wells. After several months, both iron and SO42− concentrations dropped. These observations are attributed to iron and SO42− reduction associated with newly elevated concentrations of methane. These temporal trends, as well as data from other areas with reported leaks, document a way to distinguish newly migrated methane from preexisting sources of gas. This study thus documents both geologically risky areas and geochemical signatures of iron and SO42− that could distinguish newly leaked methane from older methane sources in aquifers.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 80%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 66%

Section: Sugar Runmentioning

confidence: 96%

Section: Sugar Runmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Detecting and explaining why aquifers occasionally become degraded near hydraulically fractured shale gas wells

Woda

Wen

Oakley

et al. 2018

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

108

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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Characterization and microbial mitigation of fugitive methane emissions from oil and gas wells: Example from Indiana, USA

Yin

Mastalerz

Lennon

et al. 2020

Applied Geochemistry

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Methane concentrations in streams reveal gas leak discharges in regions of oil, gas, and coal development

Woda

Wen

Lemon

et al. 2020

Science of The Total Environment

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As natural gas has grown in importance as a global energy source, leakage of methane (CH4) from wells has sometimes been noted. Leakage of this greenhouse gas is important because it affects groundwater quality and, when emitted to the atmosphere, climate. We hypothesized that streams might be most contaminated by CH4 in the northern Appalachian Basin in regions with the longest history of hydrocarbon extraction activities. To test this, we searched for CH4contaminated streams Basin. Methane concentrations ([CH4]) for 529 stream sites are reported, in New York, West Virginia and mostly Pennsylvania. Despite targeting contaminated areas, the median [CH4], 1.1 µg/L, was lower than a recently identified threshold indicating potential contamination, 4.0 µg/L. [CH4] values were higher in a few streams because they receive high-[CH4] groundwaters, often from upwelling seeps. By analogy to the more commonly observed type of groundwater seep known as abandoned mine drainage (AMD), we introduce the term, "gas leak discharge" (GLD) for these waters where they are not associated with coal mines. GLD and AMD, observed in all parts of the study area, are both CH4-rich. Surprisingly, the region of oldest and most productive oil / gas development did not show the highest median for stream [CH4]. Instead, the median was statistically highest where dense coal mining was accompanied by conventional and unconventional oil and gas development, emphasizing the importance of CH4 contamination from coal mines into streams.

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Using environmental tracers and modelling to identify natural and gas well-induced emissions of methane into streams

Cited by 11 publications

References 50 publications

Detecting and explaining why aquifers occasionally become degraded near hydraulically fractured shale gas wells

Detecting and explaining why aquifers occasionally become degraded near hydraulically fractured shale gas wells

Characterization and microbial mitigation of fugitive methane emissions from oil and gas wells: Example from Indiana, USA

Methane concentrations in streams reveal gas leak discharges in regions of oil, gas, and coal development

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