Addressing Water Well ‘Problems’ and Complaints in Areas of Unconventional Resource Development

John V. Fontana, PG
JFontana@VistaGeoScience.com

David M. Seneshen, PhD
DSeneshen@VistaGeoScience com
DSeneshen@VistaGeoScience.com
Vista GeoScience, Golden, Colorado, USA

Outline
Industry’s Image
Domestic Water Well Facts
Domestic Water Well Facts
Leading up to the Complaint
g p p
The Water Well Symptoms & Causes
How to Prepare for and Handle the
Complaints that Will Come.
Complaints that Will Come
AAPG International Conference & Exhibition: Singapore
DEG & EMD Luncheon; September 18, 2012
2

The Environmental Rules

 Environmental Problems are Emotional
Environmental Problems are Emotional
 Environmental Solutions are Technical
 Environmental Decisions are Political

Author Unknown

DEG & EMD Luncheon; September 18, 2012 3

The Public Image of Oil and Gas
The Public Image of Oil and Gas
Development


Google Images (1st page)
Google Images (1
Fracking, Water
Fracking, Water

AAPG International Conference & Exhibition: Singapore DEG & EMD
Luncheon; September 18, 2012 5

GASLAND Debunked
 Several cases in Piceance &
Denver Basins, Colorado, USA
 Colorado Oil & Gas
Conservation Commission
i i i
publishes a letter correcting
inaccuracies in Gasland.
 Only one case related to oil &
O l l t d t il &
gas operations,  (but not
shown to be from fracking.)
 Others all showed biogenic
Others all showed biogenic
shallow or coal bed gas.
 How many people who saw
the movie heard about that?
the movie heard about that?

Results of Misinformation?
 Bans on Hydraulic
Fracturing
 Countries
 France
 Bulgaria
 Many States, Provinces
& Cities

W W ll O F
Water Well Owner Facts
 About 95% of all rural Americans get their drinking
About 95% of all rural Americans get their drinking
water from a groundwater source
 42 million depend on wells for their water
 Groundwater provides:
 37% of public water supplies
 95% of self‐supplied household water
 Well Owner Associations Recommend Annual
Maintenance and Testing
Maintenance and Testing
 Most Owners Don’t Do Any!
 Few Test for Methane
Few Test for Methane

Colorado
 25,700 Active Wells  270,000 Water Wells
 40,000 P&A Wells  203,000 Residential/Household


Common Well Problems
1. Poor Water Production (Quantity)
 Well Goes Dry or has Low Yield Rates
2. General Water Quality
2 General Water Quality
 Odors, Taste, Color, Staining, etc.
di
 Sediment
 Bacteria ‐ Slime
3. Gases in the Water


Reasons for Problems are Many
 Lack of Routine Testing & Maintenance
 Poor Installation & Construction Practices
 Poor Aquifer Conditions
Poor Aquifer Conditions

Photos Courtesy Anthony Gorody

Private Wells Exceed EPA Standards
Private Wells Exceed EPA Standards
 Private water wells are not required
to meet US‐EPA drinking water standards.
 Many exceed primary or secondary standards.
y p y y
 Most Domestic Water Wells Contain Measurable
Dissolved Hydrocarbons (Mostly Methane)
Dissolved Hydrocarbons (Mostly Methane)
 Majority Contain Bacterial Gas
 Some Contain Gas From Natural Seeps or
l
Historic Production Activities


l l ' l l
U.S. Geological Survey's National Water‐Quality
U.S. Geological Survey's National Water‐
Assessment Program
USGS News Release, 2011
 About 20% of untreated water samples from public, private, and
monitoring wells across the nation contain concentrations of at least
one trace element, such as arsenic, manganese and uranium, at
one trace element such as arsenic manganese and uranium at
levels of potential health concern, according to a new study by the
U.S. Geological Survey.
 10% actually contained two or more trace elements exceeding
10% actually contained two or more trace elements exceeding
human health benchmarks.
 Trace elements in groundwater exceed human health benchmarks at
a rate that far outpaces most other groundwater contaminants, such
as nitrate, pesticides, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
i i id d l il i d (VOC )
 5,000 well sample set in USGS NWQAP
 http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp
 http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa/trace/pubs/sir2011‐5059
http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa/trace/pubs/sir2011 5059


The Complaint Sequence
The Complaint Sequence
1. CBM, Tight Sand, or Shale Play Develops
2. + Hydraulic Fracturing Well Stimulation
 No Previous Production History, or…
 Previous History Drilling – Possibly Old, or….
 Severed Mineral Rights
3 L i A i iti
3. Leasing Acquisition
4. Owners Google “Fracking” and see the images
Operator Begins Drilling Program, then…
5. O B i D illi P h
6. A Landowner’s Water Well Develops a Problem….
7. The Land Owner Calls and Complains

h C l i
The Complaint
 After they drilled that oil/gas well my water
After they drilled that oil/gas well, my water
well _________!!!!!  (Fill in the Blank)
well _________!!!!!  (Fill in the Blank)
 … Stopped Working
Stopped Working
 … Went Dry
Has Sediment or Slimy Stuff
 … Has Sediment, or Slimy Stuff
 … Has Gas Bubbles, or Methane
 … Tastes Awful, Salty
Tastes Awful Salty
 … Smells
 … Blew Up!
… Blew Up!

Common Aquifer Types

W t T bl
Water Table
Alluvial
Aquifer

Bedrock Aquifer
(Confined or Unconfined)

Reasons for Low Yield
Reasons for Low Yield
“My well now goes dry!”
 Yield i h
i ld is the Rate the Well Flows Water (gpm)
h ll l ( )
 Day 1 will be your best yield ever!
 P t ti l C
Potential Causes:
 Tight or Low‐Flowing Aquifer
 Dry Season – Low Water Table
Dry Season Low Water Table
 Drawdown (over‐pumping)
 Fouling of the Well Screen or Pump ‐ Sediment
 Pump Damage, Small Size, Bad Installation
ll d ll
 Poor Well Design or Construction
 Lifespan: Yield Declines with Age of Water Well
Lifespan: Yield Declines with Age of Water Well

Seasonal Fluctuation or Drought
Spring/Summer Fall/Winter
High water level Low water level


Localized Drawdown
Over‐
Over‐Use of the Aquifer


Fouling (blockage) of the
Fouling (blockage) of the
Well Screen or Pump
 Silts and Clays AFTER
 Encrustation
 “Hard” Water
BEFORE
 Iron
 Corrosion FOULED PUMP
FOULED PUMP
 Bio‐Fouling
 Bacteria Growth
Bacteria Growth
20

Poor Well Design or Construction
Poor Well Design or Construction
 Minimum Construction
Requirements & Rules
g
– Good Enough?
 Maybe Not…..
 Sand/Gravel Filter or Open Bore?
p
 Post‐drilling well cleaning?
 Adequate Bore‐Hole Diameter &
Depth?
D th?
 Is the casing too small or too big?
 Well Casing Size & Screen Type?
Well Casing Size & Screen Type?
 Pump Size & Location?

if f ll
Lifespan of a Water Well
Years to decades based on:
d d b d
 The Geology/Environment
 Well Design/Construction
/
 Maintenance
 Normal Corrosion/Wear &
l /
Tear
 Water Chemistry
h
 Amount of Use


Water Quality Complaints::
Water Quality Complaints

 Odor

 Taste

 Color & Sediment

Causes of Poor Quality
Causes of Poor Quality
Dissolved Minerals & Salts (High TDS)
Dissolved Minerals & Salts (High TDS)
Excessive Bacteria Activity
y
Dislodged Sediment or Slime

Photos Courtesy Anthony Gorody


Gas Bubbles
Gas Bubbles
My water fizzes like soda!
y f
 Causes
Dissolved Air or Natural Gas ‐
 Dissolved Air or Natural Gas
Methane and/or Carbon Dioxide
 Sources
 Natural Bacteria Gas
 Natural Gas ‐ Coal Bed Methane
 Radon – Uranium is potential


N t lS
Natural Seeps Do Exist – A k J d!
D E it
Natural Seeps Do Exist – Ask Jed!


How Common is Methane in
Ground Water?
 Is Methane Present in the Well?
 Not Regulated by EPA, So There is No Specific
Method Detection Limit Requirements
 “Reportable Quantities” Vary by Lab
y g
 Varies by several orders of magnitude
(.1ug/L – 1mg/L)
 Laboratory Methods Vary
 FID‐GC vs. TCD‐GC Analysis
 RSKSOP‐175  (Rev. No. 2, 2004)
( , )
(Robert S. Kerr Lab Std. Op. Procedure #175)
 USEPA Region 1 (Rev. 1, 2002): Technical
Guidance for the Natural Attenuation Indicators:
Methane, Ethane, and Ethene
 Proper Collection Method is IMPORTANT
Proper Collection Method is IMPORTANT

RSK METHOD:   “This standard operating procedure has been prepared for the use of the Ground Water and
Ecosystems Restoration Division of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and may not be specifically applicable
to the activities of other organizations. THIS IS NOT AN OFFICIAL EPA APPROVED METHOD. This document has
h i i i f h i i THIS IS NOT AN OFFICIAL EPA APPROVED METHOD Thi d h
not been through the Agency’s peer review process or ORD clearance process.”


Potential Impacts to Water Wells
p
Barn
Home with Fuel Garage
Animals
Septic Field
Septic Field Storage
S

AAPG International Conference & Exhibition: Singapore DEG & EMD Luncheon;
September 18, 2012 28

Livestock Pen Water Well & Cistern
Livestock Pen, Water Well & Cistern

29

Ci S i k?
Cistern or Septic Tank?


Preparing for Complaints
 Establish a Baseline Program
Establish a Baseline Program
 Conduct Sampling
 Ed
Educate Water Well Owners on Your Efforts
t W t W ll O Y Eff t
and Water Well Testing & Maintenance
 Promote it as a Valuable Community Service
Promote it as a Valuable Community Service
 “How Well Do You Know Your Water Well”
http://cogcc.state.co.us/Library/WaterWellBooklet.pdf
htt // t t /Lib /W t W llB kl t df
 Use as Opportunity for Stakeholder
Engagement

E bli h B li W Q li
Establish Baseline Water Quality
 Voluntary Programs
 Regulated Programs
 Sampling & Analysis Plan (SAP)
l l l ( )
 Establish Data Quality Objectives
 Quality Assurance & Quality
Quality Assurance & Quality
Control
 Field Protocol
Analytical Protocol
 Analytical Protocol
 Expertise & Experience


Baseline Water Quality & Dissolved
Baseline Water Quality & Dissolved
Gas Parameters
 Fingerprint of Water and Gas Chemistry
 Major Anions and Cations ‐ Balance
 ( )
Trace Metals (EPA Toxic Lists)
 pH, eH, Conductivity, Temp, DO
 Dissolved Hydrocarbons
 Methane, Ethane, Propane
Methane, Ethane, Propane
C1‐C6 recommended
 BTEX or VOCs (EPA ‐ SW846 8260 GC‐MS) + TPH
 Stable Isotopes
Stable Isotopes
 Methane ‐ δ13C and δD
 C2+, CO2 and Water Isotopes (O & H)
 Other Stable Isotopes
p


Establish Baseline Water Quality
Q y
Parameters (continued)
 Uranium/Radon, other NORMs
 Arsenic
 Nitrates
 Coliform B t i
C lif Bacteria
 Bacteria Activity Reaction Test (BART)
 Iron Related (IRB)
 Sulfate Related (SRB)
Sulfate Related (SRB)
 Slime Forming (SLYM)
 Design for Local Geochemistry Issues
 How Many Pre‐Drill Events?
How Many Pre Drill Events?
 Natural Variability can be Significant
 Seasonal Changes
 Mixed Aquifers
 Water Demand/Usage
Water Demand/Usage


Methane in Fox Hills Aquifer
Methane in Fox Hills Aquifer
D B i C l d USA
Denver Basin, Colorado, USA


Denver Basin Baseline Survey,
C l d USA
Colorado, USA
Period

TYPE WELL M. Segelke # 1
ERA

GEOLOGIC FORMATION NENE Sec. 27 T11N R53W
EPOCH/AGE NAME API 05-075-09050
Holocene Alluvial & Dune
Recent 0 - 50 ft
Pleistocene Sand
Pliocene Ogallaha 0 - 180 ft
Ogallala Aquifer (80 m)
TERTIARY

0 - 80 ft
Miocene Arikaree
(Not present in area)
( p )
Lower Oligocene White River 25 - 100 ft

Laramie
Late Maestrichtian
Fox Hills
400 - 550 ft
Fox Hills Aquifer (300 m)
Maestrichtian
Campanian
Pierre 3150 ft
Anomalous dissolved CH4
CRETACEOUS

Campanian Niobrara &
350 ft
Coniacian Fort Hays
ESOZOIC

Carlile 195 ft
Turonian
Greenhorn
250 ft (Storage Caprock)
ME

C

Cenomanian Graneros Shale

Albian
Dakota "D"
Huntsman
50 ft (Storage Zone)
65 ft
O&G Reservoir (2,100 m)
Dakota "J" 104 ft (Storage Zone)
Aptian Skull Creek 115 ft
Lytle 104 ft
Jurassic Morrison 420 ft


No Mixing of Groundwater & Produced Water
g

Ogallala Aquifer
g q
(Ca/Mg HCO3 Water)
Fox Hills Aquifer
Fox Hills Aquifer Produced Water
(NaHCO3 Water) Ogallala
Aquifer
Produced Water
Produced Water Fox Hills Aquifer

(NaCl Water)
Magnesium Sulfate
type type

Bicarbonat
Sodium or Chloride
Calcium e type
potassium type
type type


Biogenic Methane in Aquifer Easily
Distinguished from Produced Gas
Distinguished from Produced Gas
-80 -80
BIOGENIC GAS

BIOGENIC
Water Well
-70
GAS
-70 Fox Hills Aquifer (300 m)

-60 -60 MIXED
MIXED
C13Methane (‰)

GAS
GAS
-50 -50
Produced Gas (2,100 m)
MATURE THERMOGENIC GAS MATURE THERMOGENIC GAS

FORMED WITH OIL FORMED WITH OIL
-40 -40

POST- POST-
MATURE MATURE
-30 POST-MATURE -30
DRY GAS DRY GAS POST-MATURE
WET GAS
WET GAS

-20
20 20
-20
-300 -250 -200 -150 -100 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
DMethane (‰) Gas Wetness (% C2+)

Caveat: Mixing & Alteration can
Caveat: Mixing & Alteration can
Create a Complex Picture

Courtesy Isotech Labs

Assess Nearby Wells (and Mines)
for Leakage
 Old Wells or Open Annulus Can Create
Cross‐Communication with Aquifers
C C i i i h A if

Courtesy Anthony Gorody

Some Symptoms May Be
Related to Ancillary Activities
Related to Ancillary Activities
Vibrations from Construction &
Hydraulic Fracturing Activities
 Ground motion impacts on
water wells can ….
 Disturb bottom sediment
 Dislodge scale & bacterial
g
slime
 Temporarily increase
suspended material
 = Immediate complaint


Exploration Activity
 Seismic exploration may disturb the sediments in a
Seismic exploration may disturb the sediments in a
water well temporarily


Regulated & Voluntary Baseline
g y
Program Are a Good Start….
A Use Them as a Minimum Set of Standards
A Use Them as a Minimum Set of Standards

2012, Richard Hirsch, Section of Douglas County Rural Water Providers Map

….. But it May not be Enough
y g
Multiple Confined Aquifers & High Density Water Wells Requires More Samples

2012, Richard Hirsch, Ponderosa Summit Subdivision

AAPG International Conference & Exhibition: Singapore DEG & EMD Luncheon;
September 18, 2012 44

Assess Variability
Ground Water & Well Headspace Methane:
17 Sampling Events in 8 Month Period

Courtesy: Chuck Whisman (GES),  Debby McElreath (Chesapeake); 2012 Stray Gas Incident & Response Forum


A V i bilit
Assess Variability
Well Headspace Methane vs. Water Level (Drawdown)

Courtesy: Chuck Whisman (GES), Debby McElreath (Chesapeake); 2012 Stray Gas Incident & Response Forum


Fight Misinformation with Good
Information & Education
 Many Water Well Organizations
Provide Good Public Service
Information
 NGWA
 AGWT
 GWPC
State Water Well
 State Water Well
Organizations
 Industry Information Websites


Summary
 Complaints Happen!
 Water Well Problems or Contaminants are a Result of:
 Lack of Maintenance & Testing (most common)
 Poor Construction, Poor Aquifer or Lifespan of a Well
 Historic Drilling or Mining Activities
 Natural In Place Gas, Migration or Seepage
 Naturally Occurring Bacteria, Minerals, Etc.
 New Releases, Casing Leaks, Spills (least common)
, g , p ( )
 A Proper Designed Baseline & Monitoring Program can:
 Educate Stakeholders
 Establishes Pre-Drill Baseline Conditions
 Monitor Variability
 Prepare you with Answers to the Complaints!
 Mitigate Risk


Thanks

JFontana@VistaGeoScience.com
DSeneshen@VistaGeoScience.com
Vista GeoScience, Golden, Colorado, USA
www.VistaGeoScience.com

49

Addressing Water Well ‘Problems’ and Complaints in Areas of Unconventional Resource Development

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