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Title: Chemical and isotope compositions of shallow groundwater in areas impacted by hydraulic fracturing and surface mining in the Central Appalachian Basin, Eastern United States

Journal Article · · Applied Geochemistry
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [2];  [1];  [1]
  1. The Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States)
  2. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
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Here, hydraulic fracturing of shale deposits has greatly increased the productivity of the natural gas industry by allowing it to exploit previously inaccessible reservoirs. Previous research has demonstrated that this practice has the potential to contaminate shallow aquifers with methane (CH4) from deeper formations. This study compares concentrations and isotopic compositions of CH4 sampled from domestic groundwater wells in Letcher County, Eastern Kentucky in order to characterize its occurrence and origins in relation to both neighboring hydraulically fractured natural gas wells and surface coal mines. The studied groundwater showed concentrations of CH4 ranging from 0.05 mg/L to 10 mg/L, thus, no immediate remediation is required. The δ13C values of CH4 ranged from 66‰ to 16‰, and δ2H values ranged from –286‰ to –86‰, suggesting an immature thermogenic and mixed biogenic/thermogenic origin. The occurrence of CH4 was not correlated with proximity to hydraulically fractured natural gas wells. Generally, CH4 occurrence corresponded with groundwater abundant in Na+, Cl–, and HCO3– , and with low concentrations of SO4–2. The CH4 and SO4–2 concentrations were best predicted by the oxidation/reduction potential of the studied groundwater. CH4 was abundant in more reducing waters, and SO4–2 was abundant in more oxidizing waters. Additionally, groundwater in greater proximity to surface mining was more likely to be oxidized. This, in turn, might have increased the likelihood of CH4 oxidation in shallow groundwater.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
Work for Others (WFO); USDOE
Grant/Contract Number:
AC05-00OR22725
OSTI ID:
1328326
Journal Information:
Applied Geochemistry, Vol. 71, Issue C; ISSN 0883-2927
Publisher:
ElsevierCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 15 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Cited By (2)

Groundwater‐quality hazards of methane leakage from hydrocarbon wells: A review of observational and numerical studies and four testable hypotheses journal March 2018
Mechanism of groundwater inrush hazard caused by solution mining in a multilayered rock-salt-mining area: a case study in Tongbai, China journal January 2018

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Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
methane
groundwater
isotopes
hydraulic fracturing
surface mining