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Unconventional Shale Gas and the Environment. Oil Region Alliance. Burt A Waite, P.G. Moody and Associates, Inc. (814) 724 - 4970. Key Issues. Water Sourcing Hydraulic Fracturing Stray Gas Presumption of Guilt Water Replacement Chapter 78 Waste Fluid Disposal. Water Sourcing.
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Unconventional Shale Gas and the Environment Oil Region Alliance Burt A Waite, P.G. Moody and Associates, Inc. (814) 724 - 4970
Key Issues • Water Sourcing • Hydraulic Fracturing • Stray Gas • Presumption of Guilt • Water Replacement • Chapter 78 • Waste Fluid Disposal
Water Sourcing • Multiple regulatory oversight • PA DEP, SRBC, DRBC • Massive amounts are not that massive • 42” of Rain Per Year • 86,000 miles of streams • One square mile = 73 million gallons of water (146 wells) • Less water than watering golf courses in the SRB (48 mgd vs. 35 to 40 at peak development)
Hydraulic Fracturing • What is it? • None in a million • Leaking impoundments / spills a risk • Disclosure of chemical additives
Stray Gas • Recognized as a concern • New regulation package focuses on this issue • Incidents are few, but potentially serious • 1939 Geologic report – Gas in aquifers • Isotopic gas testing
Presumptive Law • 1000’ radius • Designed to protect homeowners • Pre-drill surveys are a key component (Don’t Say No)
Water Replacement • Most common complaint is turbidity • Most temporary • Supply temporary water • Supply permanent replacement • Must be as good as existing water in quantity and quality
Chapter 78 • Significant changes to 1985 Reg package • Much more reporting and transparency • New casing and cementing requirements
Waste Fluid Disposal • Treat and discharge was preferred method • New Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) will change this