Natural Gas and Water Protection Barbara Jo Hall TestAmerica Laboratories, Inc. February 19, 2013

1. Natural Gas and Water Protection Barbara Jo Hall TestAmerica Laboratories, Inc. February 19, 2013

2. Background • Edwin Drake – Titusville, 1859 • More than 350,000 oil and natural gas wells since • PA > 60,000 active natural gas wells and ~ 20,000 active oil wells • A solid foundation for…

3. The Shale Gas Revolution

4. The Marcellus Shale Play

5. Horizontal Drilling • More efficient production, smaller footprint. • Conductor, surface casing protect drinking water source. • Well is drilled vertically and horizontally as much as 5,000 feet. • Wellbore is approximately 20 inches in diameter at its widest.

6. So- What is the Process?

7. Studies Done • Center for Rural PA Study • Comprehensive research over two years, published in 2011 • Suggested private water well standards are needed • Pre-drill testing by natural gas companies – a public service

8. Conclusions - PENNSYLVANIA: “There has never been any evidence of fracking ever causing direct contamination of fresh groundwater in Pennsylvania or anywhere else.” (PA DEP’s Scott Perry, Scranton Times-Tribune, 4/2/10) OHIO: “After 25 years of investigating citizen complaints of contamination, [our] geologists have not documented a single incident involving contamination of ground water attributed to hydraulic fracturing.” (Scott Kell, deputy chief of Ohio DNR, 5/27/09) The FACT: There have been no confirmed cases of negative groundwater impacts from hydraulic fracturing.

9. Regulatory Framework Site Construction Reclaimed/Completed Site 12 PA Regulations 10 PA Regulations Drilling Phase Midstream Hydraulic Fracturing 11 PA Regulations 18 PA Regulations 18 PA Regulations

10. Title 25 Chapter 78 • Covers Permits, Fees, Construction, etc. for Conventional and Unconventional Wells • Subchapter C addresses Performance Standards for protection of Water supply • 78.51 – Protection of Water Supply – “An operator who is deemed to have affected a water supply by pollution of diminution shall restore, as determined by the Department.”

11. Pre-Drill Survey • 78.52 – “To preserve its defense. . That the pollution of a water supply existed prior to drilling” an operator shall conduct a predrilling survey in accordance with this section. • Area of Presumptive Liability is 2500 feet radius of a well bore for unconventional wells • Very Prescriptive in content of survey:

12. Must be conducted by an independent, certified lab A copy of the results shall be submitted to the Department and Landowner within 10 Business Days of receipt of report Report must contain: Location of supply and name of landowner Date of survey, name of lab and person who conducted survey Description of where and how sample was collected Description of type and age of water supply and treatment if any Name of operator and permit number Results of the analysis. Pre-Drill Survey

13. BUT - • Nowhere in the regulations does it specify what parameters are to be tested to demonstrate the pre-drill quality of the water!! • Each operator can conduct what they see fit as pre-drill testing.

14. Setting the Standard • The Marcellus Shale Coalition has developed Recommended Practices for Pre-Drill Surveys • A Site Survey Form was Developed • A Recommended List of Parameters was accepted that included constituents of concern for hydraulic fracturing as well as general water quality as a public service.

15. MSC Recommended List

16. Inside the “Black Box” • Samples go in • “Something Happens” • Results come out! • Understanding the “Magic - what really happens??

17. Sample Management • Sample Identity • Sample Integrity • Sample Validity • Sample Security • Sample Shipping

18. Chain of Custody

19. GC/MS Volatiles • Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene and Xylene are the baseline parameters. (BTEX) • Basic Theory of Operation • Purge and Trap • Gas Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry

20. GC/MS Semivolatiles • No Semivolatiles on the Baseline List but it is a standard test in laboratories. • Similar in theory to volatiles but extraction is necessary first.

21. Organic Prep • None Required for Baseline Testing but applicable methods include: • Separatory Funnel • Liquid / Liquid • Soxhlet • Sonication • Basic Theory of Department Process • Preferential Solubility with Extraction Solvent • Concentration of Extract up to 1000 times

22. GC Analyses • Dissolved Gases are on the Baseline List • Methane, Ethane, Propane • Basic Theory of Operation • Injected on GC and Quantitated by Peak and Retention

23. Classical Chemistry • Multiple Baseline Parameters • Basic Theory • Hands-on gravimetric methods • Automated colorimetric and potentiometric methods • Most Labor-intensive Department within the Lab • Methods haven’t changed for many years other than some automation

24. Metals • A Specific List of Metals is in the Baseline List • Basic Theory of Operation • Samples acid-digested to convert metals to soluble form • Atomic Emission to quantitate elements

25. Mercury • Mercury is not part of the baseline metals • An integral part of any laboratory • Autoclave or Hot Water Bath Prep • Basic Theory of Operation • Sample Prep allows release of Mercury Vapor • Atomic Absorbance used to quantitate

26. Bacteria Testing • Total Coliform / E. coli • 24 hour Holding Time • Usually subcontracted to “local” labs • Done as a ‘courtesy” for homeowner

27. Reporting Terminology Refer to “Understanding your Report” • Laboratory Control Sample • Method Blank • Matrix Spike • Matrix Spike Duplicate

28. QUESTIONS??

29. Thank You • Barbara Hall (412) 915-9132 Barb.Hall@TestAmericainc.com