It is no secret this writer has been concerned (to say the least) about the exploitation of the Marcellus Shale and the lack of accurate, official information provided to the landowners of the area, both those who leased their land and those who didn’t.
It appears that some who live near the drilling in Dimock Township have natural gas in their drinking water. This has been reported by local and regional newspapers. This is only one of the potential side effects of drilling for natural gas in our area. As most of you know, there was an explosion around January 1, 2009 which leveled a well house at a private residence in Dimock Township. Other reports have surfaced as well. This is a serious issue.
Now there is word Susquehanna County may be getting it’s first INJECTION WELL in the area of Auburn Township. After all that has been written about injection wells in other parts of the country (Texas, for example) as well as unofficial comments from various regulatory officials, it escapes this writer as to what the mentality is here.
A little research brought up the following:
Class II Injection Wells are the ones which dispose of brine, etc. which is the major byproduct of fracturing (fracing) a well.
First, a link to two official US EPA website regarding injection wells http://www.epa.gov/SAFEWATER/uic/wells_class2.html
http://permanent.access.gpo.gov/lps21800/www.epa.gov/safewater/uic/classii.html
Next is a website showing an injection well site in Wise County, Texas http://txsharon.blogspot.com/2007/10/injection-well-up-close-and-personal.html
Next, starting on Page 954, from the Standard Handbook of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering by William C. Lyons and Joseph Zaba, is mostly technical information regarding “production water and drilling muds”. Note the discussed total disolved solids in table 6-91 as well as a discussion of NORM (naturally occurring Radioactive material) on page 961 and the following discussion of Class II wells. http://books.google.com/books?id=dQWp8AbHhtEC&pg=PA962&lpg=PA962&dq=class+II+injection+well&source=web&ots=llviurNyiF&sig=OJAGbWTs-cJbpHG8ZCK61TuU9W4&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=4&ct=result#PPA954,M1
By the way, you will note in the pages above, there is a discussion about concerns about PUBLIC water supplies. Of course, most residents of Susquehanna County get their drinking water from private wells. So, who is concerned about them? Obviously not the gas and oil companies.
Whether or not you and your land are signed up for potential drilling, remember that we who live in the Marcellus Shale are all going to be affected one way or another by the effects of drilling, the briney, carcenogenic waste water and other factors which haven’t made themselves known to this point.
All that being said, I urge you to get a baseline water test done (not the ones where you drop off the sample at PennState Extension or let the gas company do it for you). Specifically, the test needs to be done by a third party, taken to an independent testing lab who is capable of testing for Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) as well as total disolved solids and other items. The test will probably cost between $300 and $500. Subsequent follow up tests can be done for roughly $100 and should be done once a year or more often if there is drilling activity (production well or injection well) in the area. My personal criterial is within one mile.
At the end of the day, if you don’t have a baseline test and something happens to your water, you will probably not have a leg to stand on. If you do, you will know when you and your family is drinking something other than clean, safe water.
Your comments?