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Gas Well Drilling

Gas Well Baseline Water Sampling and Testing

Facts & Information for Residential & Commercial Water Suppliers

Engineering Firms and Well Drillers click here

Potential Impact on Water Quality from Drilling

Gas well drilling can potentially impact groundwater through the waste fluids that are generated from a gas well during drilling. The waste fluids can be classified as top hole fluids, bottom hole fluids, stimulation fluids, and production fluids. The volume of fluids that are produced as a result of drilling can vary considerably depending on the depth and location of the gas well. Stimulation fluids, for example, are fluids that are used to improve gas recovery from the rock and involves mixing various materials with water for the fracturing process. These materials may include sand, oils, gels, acids, alcohols, and various other man-made organic chemicals.

Testing

The potential pollutants that can occur in your drinking water from gas drilling waste fluids include the following:

Sodium * Magnesium * Calcium * Barium * Arsenic * Iron * Manganese * Lead

Total Suspended Solids * Total Dissolved Solids * Total Organic Carbon * Turbidity * Detergents

Alkalinity * Chloride * Sulfate * Nitrate * Hardness * pH

Gross Alpha * Gross Beta * Radium 226 * Radium 228 * Radon * Strontium

Volatile Organic Compounds * Oil & Grease * Methane * Total Coliform  

Recommendations for Baseline Water Quality Data Prior to Drilling

The PA DEP issued information for landowners about oil and gas leases and drilling at   http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/minres/oilgas/fs2834.htm

The Penn State Cooperative Extension is recommending a 3 Tier Testing package based upon "Water Facts #28 – Gas Well Drilling and Your Private Water Supply". You may view this document on-line at: http://resources.cas.psu.edu/WaterResources/pdfs/gasdrilling.pdf

If you have any questions or would like to schedule a gas well sampling event, please use our gas well contact list to speak to a representative in your area.