Premium
Evaluating Domestic Well Vulnerability to Contamination From Unconventional Oil and Gas Development Sites
Author(s) -
Soriano Mario A.,
Siegel Helen G.,
Gutchess Kristina M.,
Clark Cassandra J.,
Li Yunpo,
Xiong Boya,
Plata Desiree L.,
Deziel Nicole C.,
Saiers James E.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
water resources research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.863
H-Index - 217
eISSN - 1944-7973
pISSN - 0043-1397
DOI - 10.1029/2020wr028005
Subject(s) - aquifer , groundwater , hydraulic conductivity , environmental science , petroleum engineering , contamination , vulnerability (computing) , groundwater model , groundwater flow , hydrology (agriculture) , water resource management , geology , soil science , computer science , geotechnical engineering , ecology , computer security , biology , soil water
The rapid expansion of unconventional oil and gas development (UD), made possible by horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing, has triggered concerns over groundwater contamination and public health risks. To improve our understanding of the risks posed by UD, we develop a physically based, spatially explicit framework for evaluating groundwater well vulnerability to aqueous phase contaminants released from surface spills and leaks at UD well pad locations. The proposed framework utilizes the concept of capture probability and incorporates decision‐relevant planning horizons and acceptable risks to support goal‐oriented modeling for groundwater protection. We illustrate the approach in northeastern Pennsylvania, where a high intensity of UD activity overlaps with local dependence on domestic groundwater wells. Using two alternative models of the bedrock aquifer and a precautionary paradigm to integrate their results, we found that most domestic wells in the domain had low vulnerability as the extent of their modeled probabilistic capture zones were smaller than distances to the nearest existing UD well pad. We also found that simulated capture probability and vulnerability were most sensitive to the model parameters of matrix hydraulic conductivity, porosity, pumping rate, and the ratio of fracture to matrix conductivity. Our analysis demonstrated the potential inadequacy of current state‐mandated setback distances that allow UD within the boundaries of delineated capture zones. The proposed framework, while limited to aqueous phase contamination, emphasizes the need to incorporate information on flow paths and transport timescales into policies aiming to protect groundwater from contamination by UD.