Educational outreach to 2 lake communities in Wayne County Pennsylvania. The results of private well water testing and using these findings to develop a customized baseline water testing program for the Poconos Community, private well owners in the region, community water sources, public water supplies, and watershed monitoring organizations.

1. Getting The Waters Tested
The Marcellus Shale Factor
Old Issues
New IssuesEnvironment
Water Resources
My Approach – Working as a Community
Wayne
County
PA

2. Mr. Brian Oram, Professional Geologist (PG), ProfessionalMr. Brian Oram, Professional Geologist (PG), Professional
Soil Scientist (PA and WV), Licensed Well Driller (PA)Soil Scientist (PA and WV), Licensed Well Driller (PA)
B.F. Environmental Consultants Inc.
http://www.bfenvironmental.com
Water Research Center
http://www.water-research.net
Carbon County Groundwater Guardians
http://www.carbonwaters.org
Presented by

3. Water-Research Center
Education and Outreach Program funded byEducation and Outreach Program funded by
B.F. Environmental Consultants Inc.B.F. Environmental Consultants Inc.
Outreach ProgramsOutreach Programs
 Environmental and Professional Education and Training for Citizens and LocalEnvironmental and Professional Education and Training for Citizens and Local
MunicipalitiesMunicipalities
 Water Quality Help Guides – Information LibraryWater Quality Help Guides – Information Library
 Community and Business Outreach ProgramsCommunity and Business Outreach Programs
 Low Cost – Informational Water Testing Program with National LaboratoryLow Cost – Informational Water Testing Program with National Laboratory
 Citizen Monitoring Programs- Developing Low Cost Water Quality SensorsCitizen Monitoring Programs- Developing Low Cost Water Quality Sensors
 Targets Young Adults, Watershed Organizations, Coalition, Environmental Groups,Targets Young Adults, Watershed Organizations, Coalition, Environmental Groups,
Professionals, and KidsProfessionals, and Kids
http://www.water-research.net

4. Carbon County
Groundwater Guardians
The Carbon County Groundwater Guardians
(CCGG) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, volunteer,
environmental education organization which
provides homeowners with information on
private wells, water quality and quantity,
and septic systems
Not an Advocacy Group
1. Education
2. Fact Based Approach
3. Scientific Method
4. Target Education of Kids and Families
5. Delivery Statewide
Please Support – http://www.carbonwaters.org

5. B.F. Environmental
Consultants Inc.
 Professional Consulting Services in the areas of water quality,
soils, stormwater, geology, aquifer analysis, and land-
development.
 Baseline – Chain-of-Custody- Sourcewater Protection
 Expert Testimony
 Online Training in Alternative Energy
 Professional and Educator Training
 Water Treatment Process/ Product Development
 http://www.bfenvironmental.com

6. Current Programs
 Free Assistance in Reviewing Baseline Data
for Private Well Owners
 Free Website with Information on Water
Quality Problems with Case Studies
 Educational Materials and Educational
Presentations
 Training Program for Baseline Samplers
 Go to http://www.water-research.net

7. LAKE
ASSOC.

8. Lake
Assoc

9. All Permits Lake
Assoc

10. Permits –
1/2011 to 11/2011
Lake
Assoc

11. Operating Wells
Lake
Assoc

12. Marcellus Shale
This is Causing all the Concern?

13. 385 Million Years Ago
Source: http://www2.nau.edu/rcb7/nam.html

14. Barkley, 2009
Looking Back 400 million Years

15. Marcellus Shale or
Other tight Black Shales

17. Appalachian Plateau Province
 Broad to NarrowBroad to Narrow
ValleysValleys
 Rounded Hills andRounded Hills and
Valleys AssociatedValleys Associated
with Glaciationwith Glaciation
 Valleys filled byValleys filled by
glacial fluvialglacial fluvial
materialmaterial
Younger
(Y)
Older
Y
O
OY
(O)
Unconsolidated
Material (Un)
Un
Un

18. Geological Sequence – Northeast PA
0 to 1.8 million years
Time
Quaternary –
Glaciation
Period
Deposit or
Rock Type
sand, silt, clay,
and gravel
1.8 to 290 million Tertiary to Permian Not present (eroded and
weathered)
290 – 320 million Pennsylvanian
320 – 354 million
Mississippian
354 - 417 million Devonian
417 – 443 million Silurian
Catskill Formation
Trimmers Rock Formation
Mahantango Formation
Marcellus Formation
(Black Shale)- Target
Onondaga Formation
(calcareous sandy shale)
O
L
D
E
R
Not present (eroded and
weathered)
Not present (eroded and
weathered)

19. 250 feet Thick

20. < 2000 feet
Probably No Gas

21. 12,000 feet

22. Thickness
350 feet

23. Baseline Groundwater and Surfacewater
Monitoring Related to Natural Gas
Development in Northeastern
Site Development
Production Processing
Hydraulic Fracturing Job

24. Baseline Testing Should Include ALL Likely Impacts
Your Well

25. http://emapp.dep.state.pa.us
Complaints
Fuel Storage
Locations
Chemical
Treatment
Water Allocation
Or Discharge
Image from
Emapper Showing Location of
Known Hazards

26. Getting The Waters Tested
Types of Water Testing
Citizen Science
And Remote MonitoringBaseline Testing – Just the Facts
Step 1-Third-Party Sampler
and Certified Testing
Screening Tests
or Self-Monitoring Step 2- Screening
Step 3
Follow-up
Certified Testing
Step 3
Follow-up
Certified
Testing

27. Shallow Releases
How Contaminants Can Get In to the Aquifer (Surface)
Ungrouted Well Pit Sanitary Well
Surface
Spills
Fractured
Rock
Leaky
Tanks

28. How Contaminants Can Up into a Shallow Aquifer

29. PSU Study -Migration and Disturbance During Drilling-
losing circulation
Proper Construction Poor Construction
Key Points
1. Proper Casing and Cement of Marcellus Shale Wells
2. Knowing How Private Wells Are Constructed
3. Isolation Distances will not Solve This Problem.
4. Fixing Private Wells has to be part of the Solution.
5. This may account for the data on bromide from PSU.
6. The issue may not be well radial distance, but construction
and drilling issue.
7. Recommend closed loop drilling with water within
freshwater aquifer (no muds) or water-based muds.
upto2000ft
Lined Pit
Could this explain the
Bromide Issue or
Discolored Water??
Tanks
Add
String

30. Movement and Migration along Bedding Planes, Joints, and Fractures
80 feet from
Ground surface
Movement of Soils and Sediment
Along Bedding, Joints, and Fractures
Open Fractures Tend to Decrease with
Depth

31. Migration Concepts- Multiple Casements and
Recreate Confining Layers- Need Good Cement
Bonds- Cement up to Deepest Casement or Surface
Older
Younger
Water Table
Private Well

32. This is Drinking Water in PA?
Iron / Manganese
Bacteria
Sediment / Gases
Corrosion
50% Other
50%
How do we
know this?

33. Video Methane Migration
This can also be caused by a
Bacteria .
Abandon Oil / Gas
Well Western PA

34. PADEP determined cause is related to Natural Gas
PADEP determined cause is NOT related to Natural Gas
Blue Dots - PADEP still evaluating

35. Common Problems Associated with
Natural Gas Development and Private
Wells
 Dirty and Discolored Water – associated with the
initial drilling of the well. Water has metallic taste.
 Increased Levels of iron, manganese, and
aluminum and some other metals.
 Increased Levels of Dissolved Gases – Primarily
Methane, but also ethane, propane, and radon.
Please Note – These Photos May Also Represent Baseline Conditions

36. Baseline Testing- It is Not Just About
Collecting a Water Sample (published ONG
Marketplace – 3/2013)
Link to Article at
http://www.bfenvironmental.com

37. What is Certified Baseline Testing?
 Certified Baseline Testing is a process to establish
the current condition of a system prior to some
proposed change or action.
 This is the Greatest Level of Protection !
 Persons or Agents Directly Involved with this
Process
 Licensed Professional and Third-Party Sampler
 Private Well or Water Source Owner –
“Witness the Process Only”
 Certified Testing Laboratory

38. Are Private Well Owners Required
to Conduct Baseline Testing ?
 To our knowledge, there is no requirement by a state or
agency for the private owner to conduct baseline testing.
 Then why it is recommended?
 You May Not be within the area the Permittee tests.
 You may be concerned about an adjoining lease.
 You May Not believe “Their” results.
 You May Want to Test for More Parameters.
 You want to have sufficient evidence if a problems
does occur.
 The Company or “They” may not do any sampling and
then there is no data.

39. PA Oil and Gas Law
 Certified mail notification during permit phase if water supply is within 3,000
feet of gas well.
 At least 200 feet from a private well, 100 feet stream, wetland, or waterbody,
and 1000 feet a public water supply.
 Baseline Testing is Recommended Not Required, but they are presumed liable.
Liability Provision – Within 2500 feet of a wellhead and within 1 year of
completion or modification. Post-Drilling Testing is Not Required or
Recommended.
 PADEP may require Gas Companies to Respond to Complaints
 Reportable Releases Brine - > 10,000 mg/L or 1 % contamination
(5 gallons)
 Reportable Releases Brine - < 10,000 mg/L or < 1% (15 gallons).
 Law Requires an Immediate Investigation when Methane Levels are > 7 mg/L.
Any time the level of methane is at or greater than 7 mg/L - Contact- PADEP and the Local
Natural Gas Company in Your Area – Under Oil and Gas Law- Section 78.89 – “When an
operator or owner is notified of or otherwise made aware of a POTENTIAL natural gas
migration incident, the operator shall immediately conduct an investigation of the incident”.

40. Do Not End Up Here !
Do Not Put the Burden of Proof on Yourself !
Water Issues
1. Lake House that is not regularly
used and in most cases the
homeowners did not drink the water.
2. No baseline testing other than
some historic testing for coliform
bacteria and nitrate.
3. The water appeared to change and
get a salty taste and there was some
gas bubbles.
4. Well - no drilling log- located in a
river valley near a lake - over 400
feet deep.
5. Methane Determined to be 15
mg/L with elevated Chloride,
Hardness, and Barium
If Baseline Testing Was Done
We Would Have Proof of the Impact
Now - This will have to be settled in Court
Burden of Proof May be on the Well Owner !
Which Is the Before Sample?

41. Recent Work at Lake - 5 Wells
Sampled Summary
1. Two wells in Pits – where minor
improvements are advisable.
2. One well was missing a plug.
3. Three out of 5 wells had treated water –
Water that was prefilterd or water softener.
4. 1 Well had an elevated level of iron.
5. Methane gas was not detected and
LEL was 0 %
Samples Tested for
pH, Conductivity, ORP, Total Dissolved Solids,
Bacteria, Alkalinity, Chloride, Sulfate, Sodium,
Iron, Manganese, T. Hardness, Potassium, Strontium,
Barium, Bromide, Oil and Grease, Chloride, Arsenic, Aluminum, MBAS,
Methane, Ethane, and Propane

42. Parameter Occurrence (%) Highest, mg/L Standard,mg/L
Barium 20 0.12 2
Strontium 100 0.46 None
Sodium 100 26 None
Alkalinity 100 150 None
T. Hardness 100 136 None
Sulfate 100 92 250
Potassium 100 1.2 None
Iron 80 0.37 < 0.3
Manganese 20 0.05 0.05
T. Dissolved Solids 100 229 < 500
Lake
Sulfur Odor – 20%

43. Value Lowest Highest % Exceed
pH 5.1 7.3 50
Chloride < 5 24 0
Sulfate < 5 19 0
Arsenic < 0.005 0.006 0
Barium < 0.3 0.66 0
Iron < 0.2 1.58 7
Lead < 0.002 0.009 11
Manganese < 0.004 0.859 21
Sodium < 1 73 0
Strontium 0.001 1.2 0
Bacteria < 1 Present 11
Another Lake Community in Wayne County to the East (28 wells)

44. Suggested Baseline- For Citizens
 Permit the Oil and Gas Company to Collect a Predrill or Prealteration
Sample. DO NOT Lose the Assumption of Responsibility Provision.
 Testing Package # 1 Recommendations – Document Lower Explosion
Limit (LEL) and Static and Dynamic Water Level
Total Coliform with e. coli confirmation, Chloride, Sodium, Barium, pH,
Total Dissolved Solids, MBAS, Conductivity, Iron, Manganese, ORP, T.
Hardness, Alkalinity, and Methane/Ethane/Propane.
 Testing Package # 2 Recommendations -Package # 1- plus Bromide,
Strontium,, Nitrate, Total Suspended Solids, Turbidity, and Sulfate.
 Testing Package # 3- Package #1 and # 2 - plus Arsenic, Aluminum,
Calcium, Magnesium, Copper, Nickel, Zinc, Oil and Grease, 21-
VOCs/MTBE, Potassium, Selenium, Sulfide, Nickel, Gross Alpha/Beta
Activity, Lithium, Lead, and Uranium.
It may be advisable to add Glycols, Radon in water, and other organic
and inorganic parameters. Depending on surrounding
land-use, use of geothermal wells, personal history, local geology,
and past history for the area.

45. Remember - Methane Gas Level –
Change over Time- Time with
Highest Levels
 barometric pressure is low and soils are saturated;
 when snow cover is just beginning to melt;
 the ground is frozen or ice covered; or
 under long-term pumping conditions for the well
when the well is experiencing the lowest dynamic
water level and greatest drawdown.
http://www.water-research.net/methanegas.htm

46. 1 ft1 ft
250 ft
50 ft
200 ft
Specific Capacity =
Gpm/ft of drawdown
gpm = 5 gpm
Static Water Level – 50 feet
Dynamic Level – 200 feet
Sc = (5 gpm/ (150 ft))=
Sc = 0.03 gpm/ft drawdown
Estimating Specific Capacity
Methane Levels and Pumping
Less head pressure
more methane will
be released.
Methane
Static
Water
Level
Pump
Off
Dynamic
Water
Level
Pump On
5 gpm
Air Vent
Measure
LEL

47. Working as a Community
 Getting the Community Educated
 Encouraging Well Owners to Get their water tested as best
as they can afford and sharing this data (data only) with
the Citizen Database.
 Working with Local Water Authorities- Watershed Groups
Using Source Water Protection As a Guide
 Developing a Program to Fix Private Wells – where
baseline pre-drilling testing has identified a Problem –
Remember we all live upstream.
 Permitting the gas company to conduct baseline testing
and share this data (data only) as part of Community
Meetings or Education Sessions – Citizens Database in
PA.
 This should include wells, springs, surface ponds, and
major waterways in the area.

48. Tracking Change
 Frac Focus – Chemical Registry - http://fracfocus.org
(Natural Gas Horizontal Well Control Act – requires
Submission of chemical data to Office of Oil and Gas with
the WR-35 Reports on specific forms or a Frac Focus
Format)
 The Citizens Database for PA – http://www.water-
research.net
 Get Educated – Free Information on Water Quality and
Oil / Natural Gas Development–
 http://www.private-well-owner.org
 http://www.carbonwaters.org
 Check Out Frac Tracker – YOUR Story Matters
 http://www.fractracker.org/projects/usmap/

49. Certificate of Completion
Training Event
Getting The Waters Tested; The Black Shale Factor
Pennsylvania Approach
2 – hour PDHs or 0.2 CEUS
Presented by
Mr. Brian Oram, PG
B.F. Environmental Consultants Inc
15 Hillcrest Drive
Dallas, PA 18612
More Online Training @
http://www.bfenvironmental.com
Licensed Professionals - Official Certificate with Name and Date
is Available for $ 15.00- just email bfenviro@ptd.net

50. DO Not Forget the Citizens
Database in Pennsylvania
 Quote about the Program – “this program has been
a ROCK to us... thank you, as always, thank you
thank you!” (Dimock, PA)
 Free Evaluation of the Certified Testing Results
by a Professional
 Working as a Community to Track Change
 Insights into Existing Problems to Properly
Document Baseline Conditions
 Great Free Program
 http://www.water-research.net

51. Our Latest Educational Resource
Description of the following:
a. Citizen Database
b. Baseline Testing
c. Drinking Water Standards
d. Specific Water Quality Standards
e. Treatment Options
f. How to Shock Disinfect a Well
g. How to Properly Construct a Well
h. General Guidelines on Baseline Testing
Parameters.
And More. cost$ 5.00
Other Resources at http://www.water-research.net
Supports a Local 501C3 – Carbonwaters.org

52. Document
 © 2013 by B.F. Environmental Consultants Inc.
All rights reserved. No part of this document may
be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by
any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,
recording, or otherwise, without prior written
permission of B.F. Environmental Consultants Inc.
 For permission – Contact Mr. Brian Oram, PG
 bfenviro@ptd.net
 570- 335-1947
http://www.water-research.nethttp://www.bfenvironmental.com

53. Presented by:
Mr. Brian Oram, Professional Geologist (PG),Mr. Brian Oram, Professional Geologist (PG),
Soil Scientist, Licensed Well DrillerSoil Scientist, Licensed Well Driller
http://www.water-research.nethttp://www.bfenvironmental.com
http://www.carbonwaters.org

54. Pennsylvania Current Model
 Baseline Testing is a Recommended Practice and Not a Required Practice.
 Oil and Gas Companies are Assumed Responsible if a problem occurs within 1 year
of completing or modifying a well within a radial distance of 2500 feet- there are
no provisions related to other infrastructure like pipelines, compression stations,
storage ponds, or treatment areas.
 For Water Withdrawal Wells and other wells for Gas/Oil Operations – all surface
owners or water purveyor within 3000 feet must be contacted.
 Flow and Quality Tested- Predrilling Testing Required- if YOU request
 The Oil and Gas Company is assumed responsible for events occurring within
2500 feet of the wellhead and 1 year.
 You can lose this protection if you do not permit the Oil and Gas Company
to conduct predrilling baseline testing.
 To our knowledge, there is no requirement for post-drilling testing unless it is
part of a compliant.
 If you are outside 2500 foot radius, you may need to contact the oil/gas
company or conduct this testing on your own.
If the Oil and Gas Company – Will Not Conduct Testing for YOU and they are
Drilling within about 0.5 to 1 mile of you and driving on the roads near Your Home
Get Some Level of Baseline Testing Done NOW.