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Elevated methane levels from biogenic coalbed gas in Ohio drinking water wells near shale gas extraction

Botner, Elizabeth
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1439295392

Abstract Details

2015, MS, University of Cincinnati, Arts and Sciences: Geology.
Hydraulic fracturing and shale gas development have led to an abundance of domestic natural gas production, and the environmental impacts of these processes are under investigation. Previous studies in regions where the Marcellus Shale has been developed have shown that methane (CH4) derived from natural gas was present in drinking water wells near gas wells, likely due to well casing failures. Here we present a 28-month time series of groundwater CH4 concentration, CH4 stable isotope composition (d13C and d2H), pH, and specific electrical conductivity through a period of increasing shale gas extraction from the Utica Shale of eastern Ohio. The study period corresponded with an increase in the number of active Carroll County gas wells from 3 in late 2011 to 354 in 2015. CH4 was detected in all groundwater wells, with concentrations ranging from below 0.2 µg L-1 to above 25 mg L-1. d13C-CH4 and d2H-CH4 measurements averaged -65 ±11 ‰ (n=78) and -180 ±61 ‰ (n=85), respectively, indicating a biogenic CH4 source origin. Radiocarbon dating of four dissolved CH4 samples indicates that coal formations are the source of elevated CH4. We found no positive relationship between CH4 concentration in groundwater and proximity to active gas well sites, and we found no significant change in CH4 concentration, isotopic composition of CH4, pH, or conductivity in water wells during the study period. Ongoing monitoring of private drinking water wells is critical to ensuring residents are not exposed to harmful levels of natural gas or other fracking contaminants.
Amy Townsend-Small, Ph.D. (Committee Chair)
Arndt Schimmelmann, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
David Byer Nash, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
38 p.
Environmental Geology
hydraulic fracturing; groundwater; Utica Shale; methane; coalbed gas; stable isotopes

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Botner, E. (2015). Elevated methane levels from biogenic coalbed gas in Ohio drinking water wells near shale gas extraction [Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1439295392

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Botner, Elizabeth. Elevated methane levels from biogenic coalbed gas in Ohio drinking water wells near shale gas extraction. 2015. University of Cincinnati, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1439295392.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Botner, Elizabeth. "Elevated methane levels from biogenic coalbed gas in Ohio drinking water wells near shale gas extraction." Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati, 2015. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1439295392

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ucin1439295392
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This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.