To Sample or Not to Sample? That is the Question! A Risk-Based Approach to Pre-Drill Groundwater Analyses in Shale Plays that Do Not Have Regulatory Requirements.

Topics in Shale Gas
Oral Presentation

Prepared by T. Griffin
Chesapeake Energy Corporation, 6100 N Western Ave, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 73118, United States


Contact Information: tamara.griffin@chk.com; 405-935-2966


ABSTRACT

Some shale plays in the U.S. have regulations that require oil and gas operators to perform water sampling of domestic water sources prior to drilling a well; but what happens in the areas that do not have these requirements? This talk presents one oil and gas operator’s approach to pre-drill water testing in areas without regulatory requirements. This presentation will cover elements of this process including a high-level overview of: i) practices in regulated areas. ii) the importance of data review in the decision making process iii) the importance of third-party vendor partnerships, and iv) and a brief review of analytical data from one area without sampling regulations.