Defense Date
4-26-2023
Graduation Date
Summer 8-5-2023
Availability
One-year Embargo
Submission Type
thesis
Degree Name
MA
Department
Environmental Science and Management (ESM)
Committee Chair
John F. Stolz
Committee Member
Daniel J. Bain
Committee Member
David M. Kahler
Committee Member
Philip Reeder
Committee Member
John F. Stolz
Keywords
shale gas extraction, oil and gas, unconventional, conventional, remote sensing, water quality impact, hydraulic fracturing, InSAR, marcellus shale, oil and gas industry
Abstract
In June of 2022 a “frac out” occurred in New Freeport, PA when an unconventional gas well under development by hydraulic fracturing, communicated with an abandoned gas well to the surface. An initial “zone of impact” encompassed much of the town’s main thoroughfare. Water samples were obtained from 17 private water wells, 5 springs and 1 pond (31 total samples) and analyzed for cations, anions, and light hydrocarbons. Methane was found in 18 of the samples, both located within and outside of the “zone of impact”. Mass ratio analyses indicated contamination from both unconventional and conventional wells. Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) remote sensing revealed surface uplifts coinciding with the frac out. Return visits and resampling indicated that while methane levels had subsided slightly, other contamination remained, thus a need for continued investigation to deem the water safe for drinking.
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Miller, K. (2023). INVESTIGATING THE IMPACT ON PRIVATE WATER SUPPLY OF HYDRAULIC FRACTURING COMMUNICATION WITH AN ABANDONED CONVENTIONAL GAS WELL IN NEW FREEPORT, PA (Master's thesis, Duquesne University). Retrieved from https://dsc.duq.edu/etd/2263
Included in
Environmental Chemistry Commons, Environmental Health and Protection Commons, Environmental Monitoring Commons, Geology Commons, Oil, Gas, and Energy Commons, Public Health Commons