The Impact of Hydraulic Fracturing in the Marcellus Shale Region: Assessing the Usage of Pre-Drill Water Qualities As Indicators of Possible Methane Contamination.

In recent years, there has been strong evidence linking hydraulic fracturing of shale for natural gas production to an increase in methane gas contamination in shallow, unconfined aquifers that are in close proximity to the natural gas well head.  There are many factors that influence groundwater flow and those same factors would likely influence the flow of natural gas once it is released from deep shale. It is widely known that impacts from methane can be attributed to poor well construction (grouting of the well casing) of the natural gas well, forgotten boreholes left open from previous oil exploration, and seepage through natural rock fractures. Whatever the pathway may be, certain geologic features whether natural or man-made must be present in the locale of the residential drinking water well for methane contamination to occur. Residential well groundwater with certain characteristics, may indicate that a pathway is present, and thus there could be a relationship between pre-drill water quality and elevated methane levels in shallow aquifers after fracking. These pre-drill water quality data can then be used as a tool for assessing possible methane contamination. This project intends to document said correlation and assess the usability of predrill water quality as indicators of possible methane contamination.