Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Terry W. on September 14, 2011 at 10:17am

And if you have it in the addendum to receive a copy of their report,

the O&G will just delete it.   You are on your own.  But from what I

read, they always seem to come through, but for how long, who knows

only time will tell.

Permalink Reply by Tyler Durden on September 26, 2011 at 5:44pm

Here are the PA DEP regs concerning predrill samples. Section (c) covers your concerns.   

 

78.52. Predrilling or prealteration survey.

 

(a) A well operator who wishes to preserve its defense under section

208(d)(1) of the act (58 P. S. § 601.208 (d)(1)) that the pollution of a water supply

existed prior to the drilling or alteration of the well shall conduct a predrilling

or prealteration survey in accordance with this section.

(b) A person who wishes to document the quality of a water supply to support

a future claim that the drilling or alteration of the well affected the water

supply by pollution may conduct a predrilling or prealteration survey in accordance

(c) The survey shall be conducted by an independent certified laboratory. A person independent of the well owner or well operator, other than an employee of the certified laboratory, may collect the sample and document the condition of the water supply, if the certified laboratory affirms that the sampling and documentation is performed in accordance with the laboratory’s approved sample collection, preservation and handling procedure and chain of custody.

 

(d) An operator electing to preserve its defenses under section 208(d)(1) of

the act shall provide a copy of the results of the survey to the Department and

the landowner or water purveyor within 10-business days of receipt of the results.

Test results not received by the Department within 10 business days may not be

used to preserve the operator’s defenses under section 208(d)(1) of the act.

 

(e) The report describing the results of the survey must contain the following

information:

(1) The location of the water supply and the name of the surface landowner

or water purveyor.

(2) The date of the survey, and the name of the certified laboratory and the

person who conducted the survey.

(3) A description of where and how the sample was collected.

(4) A description of the type and age, if known, of the water supply, and

treatment, if any.

(5) The name of the well operator, name and number of well to be drilled

and permit number if known.

(6) The results of the laboratory analysis.

 

(f) A well operator who wishes to preserve the defense under section

208(d)(2) of the act that the landowner or water purveyor refused the operator

access to conduct a survey shall confirm the desire to conduct this survey and that

access was refused by issuing notice to the person by certified mail, or otherwise

document that access was refused. The notice must include the following:

(1) The operator’s intention to drill or alter a well.

(2) The desire to conduct a predrilling or prealteration survey.

(3) The name of the person who requested and was refused access to conduct

the survey and the date of the request and refusal.

(4) The name and address of the well operator and the address of the

Department, to which the water purveyor or landowner may respond.

 

 

If you decide to do your own predrill test also, here is the link of DEP suggested parameters:

 

http://www.elibrary.dep.state.pa.us/dsweb/Get/Document-82193/5500-F...

Permalink Reply by Bill Schwaderer on September 29, 2011 at 10:44am

Basic Oil & Gas Pre-Drill Parameters recommended by PA-DEP:

• Alkalinity
• Chloride
• Conductivity
• Hardness
• Oil and Grease
• pH
• Sulfate
• TDS
• Residue - Filterable/Non Filterable
• TSS 
• Trace Metals (Ba, Ca, Fe, Mg, Mn, K, Na, Sr)
• Ethane
• Methane
• Total Coliform/ E. Coli

Permalink Reply by Bill Schwaderer on September 29, 2011 at 10:48am

You should also perform a well yield test.  Location of the well should should be documented with GPS coordinates