Natural Gas Residual Fluids: Sources, Endpoints, and Organic Chemical Composition after Centralized Waste Treatment in Pennsylvania

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5b00471
• Publication Date: 2015-07-06T15:41:27Z
• Authors: Gordon J. Getzinger; Megan P. O’Connor; Kathrin Hoelzer; Brian D. Drollette; Osman Karatum; Marc A. Deshusses; P. Lee Ferguson; Martin Elsner; Desiree L. Plata
• Keywords: Produced water

Volumes of natural gas extraction-derived wastewaters have increased sharply over the past decade, but ultimate fate those waste streams is poorly characterized. Here, we sought to (a) quantify residual fluid sources and endpoints bound scope potential stream impacts (b) describe organic pollutants discharged surface waters following treatment, a route likely ecological exposure. Our findings indicate that centralized treatment facilities (CWTF) received 9.5% (8.5 × 108 L) fluids in 2013, with some discharging all effluent waters. In dry months, water volumes were on order receiving body flows for plants, indicating can become waste-dominated summer. As disclosed compounds used high volume hydraulic fracturing (HVHF) vary greatly physicochemical properties, deployed suite analytical techniques characterize CWTF effluents, covering 90.5% compounds. Results revealed that, nearly 1000 HVHF, only petroleum distillates alcohol polyethoxylates present. Few analytes targeted by regulatory agencies (e.g., benzene or toluene) observed, highlighting need expanded improved monitoring efforts at CWTFs.