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Issues and Challenges Associated with Unconventional Oil and Gas Development
Oral Presentation
Prepared by D. Yost1, N. Coleman2
1 - Chesapeake Energy Corporation, PO Box 18496, Oklahoma City, OK, 73154
2 - Environmental Consultants, 11200 S Miller Ave, Oklahoma City, OK, 73170
Contact Information: debby.yost@chk.com; 405-935-4179
ABSTRACT
Oil and natural gas development of unconventional resources, such as shale formations, have led to a number of issues and challenges for the industry, commercial third-party environmental laboratories, and the domestic water well owner. Although much of the attention surrounding oil and natural gas development has focused on hydraulic fracturing, the potential for surface issues related to spills, etc. are more likely to occur. An issue has been the environmental laboratory having the ability to accurately quantitate substances without accepted analytical methods for environmental media. A challenge in addressing this issue has been the identification of indicator parameters with accepted analytical methods, such as chloride, total kjeldahl nitrogen, etc., which can be used to estimate the presence or absence of substances used in oil and natural gas exploration and production processes. Additional analytical challenges have been encountered with air sampling associated with oil and gas exploration and production sites and quantitation of substances which are not covered by analytical methods, such as TO-14 and TO-15.
Another of the issues has been the presence and migration of dissolved gases, such as methane, into domestic water wells. The need for consistent sampling methods for dissolved gases and accurate laboratory analysis for dissolved methane has been become apparent. Additionally, evaluation of analytical methods, such as RSK-175, has demonstrated that intra-laboratory variability is acceptable; however, inter-laboratory variability can be high indicating that the RSK-175 method is very technique-driven. This becomes an issue for data comparability between laboratories. Further, the development of oil and natural gas resources have brought to light a number of issues regarding domestic water well construction standards and the need for public education on maintenance and care of domestic water wells. Through the collection of pre-drill water samples and/or water quality complaint investigations, oil and natural gas operators have discovered alack of understanding by well owners that water wells require routine maintenance and disinfection. The presentation will summarize these and other of the most common issues and challenges that have been encountered by a major natural gas exploration and production company in the last several years.
Oral Presentation
Prepared by D. Yost1, N. Coleman2
1 - Chesapeake Energy Corporation, PO Box 18496, Oklahoma City, OK, 73154
2 - Environmental Consultants, 11200 S Miller Ave, Oklahoma City, OK, 73170
Contact Information: debby.yost@chk.com; 405-935-4179
ABSTRACT
Oil and natural gas development of unconventional resources, such as shale formations, have led to a number of issues and challenges for the industry, commercial third-party environmental laboratories, and the domestic water well owner. Although much of the attention surrounding oil and natural gas development has focused on hydraulic fracturing, the potential for surface issues related to spills, etc. are more likely to occur. An issue has been the environmental laboratory having the ability to accurately quantitate substances without accepted analytical methods for environmental media. A challenge in addressing this issue has been the identification of indicator parameters with accepted analytical methods, such as chloride, total kjeldahl nitrogen, etc., which can be used to estimate the presence or absence of substances used in oil and natural gas exploration and production processes. Additional analytical challenges have been encountered with air sampling associated with oil and gas exploration and production sites and quantitation of substances which are not covered by analytical methods, such as TO-14 and TO-15.
Another of the issues has been the presence and migration of dissolved gases, such as methane, into domestic water wells. The need for consistent sampling methods for dissolved gases and accurate laboratory analysis for dissolved methane has been become apparent. Additionally, evaluation of analytical methods, such as RSK-175, has demonstrated that intra-laboratory variability is acceptable; however, inter-laboratory variability can be high indicating that the RSK-175 method is very technique-driven. This becomes an issue for data comparability between laboratories. Further, the development of oil and natural gas resources have brought to light a number of issues regarding domestic water well construction standards and the need for public education on maintenance and care of domestic water wells. Through the collection of pre-drill water samples and/or water quality complaint investigations, oil and natural gas operators have discovered alack of understanding by well owners that water wells require routine maintenance and disinfection. The presentation will summarize these and other of the most common issues and challenges that have been encountered by a major natural gas exploration and production company in the last several years.