Oil, Gas, and Energy Commons^™

Investigation Of Ongoing Unconventional Gas Extraction And Underground Gas Storage In Pennsylvania: Regulations And Water Quality, Cassandra Ziegler

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The extraction of unconventional shale gas and its underground gas storage have the potential to impact surface and groundwater water quality. In New Sewickley Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, 54 unconventional gas wells were drilled between 2013 and 2019. Groundwater samples from 33 water wells and surface water from Brush Creek (18 samples) were collected and analyzed for anions, cations, and light hydrocarbons. Results showed that at least 8 wells had indicators of brine contamination, and the surface waters of mine drainage. The Steckman Ridge natural gas storage field in Clearville, Bedford County, PA has 13 active storage wells. Samples were …

Impacts Of Oil And Gas Wastes On Landfill Leachate, Sewage Treatment Plants, And The Environment, Lauren Badertscher

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Between January 2011 and March 2021 oil and gas wells in Pennsylvania produced

305,637,795 barrels of liquid waste and 6,992,957 tons of solid waste with the majority from

Marcellus Shale unconventional wells. This waste is not considered hazardous and over 89% of

the solid waste generated by unconventional and conventional oil and gas extraction has been

disposed of in landfills over the past decade. This study examined trends in the quantity of waste

produced and methods of disposal. Landfills accepting this waste were identified and their

general method of leachate treatment, using onsite facilities or offsite at wastewater treatment

plants, …