I am looking for comments, both in support of and in objection to, gas field wastewater disposal in PA. The PA DEP recently invoked a voluntary request for gas producers in PA to cease disposing their wastewater at disposal facilities in PA. What do you think? Please support you comments with facts. Thanks.
Comment
First, I think that is so nice of you to open your home, and kitchen, up to your husbands co-workers. There are special blessings for people that do things like that! I also agree with you the people from the gas industry are wonderful to work with. They are the hand shake and it's a deal kind of people. I
was in Texas last week with some clients and I couldn't believe what it's like down there. I think they get it in Texas, they see the benefits that this industry can bring to families. By the way while I was down there I didn't see or hear of any environmental problems. I am sure they have them too, but it seems they got a grip on things. I think we both believe the environment is very important, and while you and I strongly support the gas industry we both know that we need to honor and respect the views and opinions of those who have concerns. It becomes our duty to listen carfully and take to heart their issues and do what we need to do so as to maintain that balance that keeps PA people working but in an environmentally, and presonal, safe way. I am glad you have such a keen interest in this business and care so much. God Bless.
Of course there will always be problems arising from any new process or whatever. But does that mean we should poke along because of the fear that something disasterous may happen?
It just so happens that I was a member of a special 4 man team tracking the first rockets into space. Our team tracked Alan Shepard as he was the first american to ride on the top of one of those huge "firecrackers". Sure we were all apprehensive as we watched our tracking equipment. But we knew what to look for. Many hours were spent by us and other teams making sure that Alan would have a safe trip. And we all sighed a breath of relief when he returned safely to earth.
The gas industry has been working for much longer then the space industry has. Space flights are quite uneventful for the most part now. With high speed computers and the information that can be shared instantly now, there is little reason for the natural gas industry to be chained up by the fear mongers! Of course we need to be vigilent and dangerous shortcuts should not be taken that may cause real problems. And if a problem develops then immediate steps taken to fix that problem!
Bill L.
aka Bummy
Hi Karen, my plant, which I recently sold, treated at times up to 600k gpd all to our permit specs. We have been treating gas waste water since 1995. Some of the regulations coming down the line are really choking the development of the play, particularly for the smaller producers, ask your husband about that and see if he doesn't agree.
Three years ago I offered evaporation as a solution to the tighter regulations to my gas industry clients and no one bit because they were able to take it to POTW's to dispose of it. I really think that's where the problems started, i.e. taking it to POTWs becasue they didn't treat it. Two years ago when the Mon River went over 500mg/l on TDS the sulfides were higer that the chlorides which pointed to AMD rather than the gas fields, a point I made to PA-DEP officials at the 2009 PIOGA conference in Erie.
As far as chemicals go, there really are not that many in the flowback, I can say that because I have the analytical on it, a requirement prior to accepting waste at my facility, and you are right, of the roughly 5M gallons it takes to frac a marcellus well the levels of chemicals are trace. Same goes for the Rivers, I sampled 5 different locations on the rivers my company discharges to and we never noted TDS, Chlorides, Sulfate, Barium, or Strontium above the limits set in the revised Chapter 95.
Their silver bullet was Bromide! This is unbelievable becasue bromide by itself is not a danger, but when combine with salt it is alleged to casue cancer. The Water authority in Beaver Falls that was sited as being over on Trihalomethanes (THM) actaully cleared it up by adding Chloramine and they have be golden the last three quaters on their samplings - no one reported that becasue it didn't support the cause. In todays paper PAWC reported that they have no reported issues in treating their water to 5 PA communities where treated gas filed wastewater is discharged to. I don't have a problem with the new regulations, I do have a problem with the State of PA not giving the processing plants time to make the transition to add the equipment necessary to treat the waste to the levels the PA-DEP wants.
I could go on I have tons of facts and figures, many of which I produced by studies conducted at my own expense, and that of the people I sold my plant to, and some from several Universities and industry studies as well. There is a middle ground we can come to, but I think it's important to here every side of the argument, and I certainly appreciate what you have to say. I am glad to hear people defend the industry, and I want to hear the issues on the other side side as well. I thinks that the best way to find solutions. Thank you very much for your comments Karen, please continue to offer you thought.
I like what both of you say. Our safety and that of the environmental are crucial concerns. Water is actually a scarce vital resource that we need to protect. As you say, reuse is a solution, and I think the industry concurs with that. There are treatment methods that can reduce TDS, and constituents in it, but they are expensive and those added costs are eventually passed on to the consumer. I am not sure there is a lot of data available that chronicles the economic impact resued wastewater has on a wells productivity. Scaling does occur which reduces the yield from a well and could possibly result in re-fracing which obviously results in higher costs. The more I study the problem I keep coming back to employing the use of evaporation as a treatment method. I clearly understand it is more costly to utilize this, but the risks of contaminating the environment if there is a spill transporting water site to site are eliminated, and the long term economics of the wells productivity increases - at least from what I can see - which actually reduces the initial higher costs associated with this form of treatment. There are also new opportunities imbedded in this as solutions are created for the ultimate beneficial reuse of the concentrated brine created in this process. Does anyone have any thoughts or comments on this?
I think that those of us that live where we can see what is happening to stay vigilant. If we are going to profit from the gas well then we also have a responsibility to make sure it does not harm the environment, workers and general population.
Well companies, land owners and local officials should all do the best they can to keep things safe for us all.
Anthony, The facts are the problem..We don't know enough of into to report long term damage. WE as the people haven't had time to build a fact filled report..Damage will come years down the road. We see damage and accidents already. I have a huge concern for our water, after all we can't grow it on trees. We have what we have. My grandchildren will su ffer the effects. I'd prefer it to be recycled back into the NG industry.
I do not approve of ruining our enviroment with chemicals just like I didn't approve back in the 70's. Enviromental concerns and how they are acted on hasn't changed. We will pay the price and many have already.
I do understand the need for being self sustainable .
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