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Benchmark Analytics, Inc. is an Independent,
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Potential Impact on Water Quality from Drilling
TestingGas 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.
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.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/office_of_oil_and_gas_management
The Penn State Cooperative Extension is recommending a 3 Tier Testing package based upon "Water Facts #29 – Testing Drinking Water Supplies Near Gas Drilling Activity". You may view this document on-line at http://www.das.psu.edu/research-extension/dairy/nutrition/pdf/swistock-gas-well-water-testing-2011.pdf
