A Comprehensive Analysis of Groundwater Quality in The Barnett Shale Region

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5b01526
• Publication Date: 2015-06-16T15:57:15Z
• Authors: Zacariah L. Hilde...; Doug D. Carlton; Brian E. Fontenot; Jesse M. Meik; Jayme L. Walton; Josh T. Taylor; Jonathan B. Thacker; Stephanie Korlie; C. Phillip Shelor; Drew Henderson; Akinde F. Kadjo; Corey E. Roelke; Paul F. Hudak; Taylour Burton; Hanadi S. Rifai; Kevin A. Schug
• Keywords: BTEX; Groundwater Contamination

The exploration of unconventional shale energy reserves and the extensive use hydraulic fracturing during well stimulation have raised concerns about potential effects oil gas extraction (UOG) on environment. Most accounts groundwater contamination focused primarily compositional analysis dissolved gases to address whether UOG activities had deleterious overlying aquifers. Here, we present an 550 samples collected from private public supply water wells drawing aquifers Barnett formation Texas. We detected multiple volatile organic carbon compounds throughout region, including various alcohols, BTEX family compounds, several chlorinated compounds. These data do not necessarily identify as source contamination; however, they provide a strong impetus for further monitoring quality in this region many are known be associated with techniques.