Shallow Gas Well Drilling & Water Wells....

[Shmudda]

I need some information and advice......

Seems a local neighbor and landowner here in Western Pennsylvania has decided to have a shallow gas well drilled on their property. I received notification of this thru the mail as they are gathering information on water purveyors in the area of within 1000 feet from the proposed well head. This is an EPA mandate they do this. This well will be a shallow well drilled straight down, not horizontal as with the Marcellus wells drilled now. From the information I am gathering it will be anywhere from 3000 to 5000 feet deep. The proposed well head will be about 800 feet from my existing water sources, but there are other springs and creeks on my ground that are closer to the well head and they are used for watering too.

Can anyone give me some information or their experience with having a gas well like this next to their property? It is nerve racking as we really enjoy our well water & springs and don't want it damaged so some greedy neighbor can line their pockets with cash.

Any and all responses would surely be appreaciated!

Thanks,

Craig

 

[DaveOmak]

I have read "gas wells" can contaminate water bearing layers.
Not sure what technology was employed in those particular wells.
A poisoned water source is not worth all the money in the world in my "not so humble" opinion.
If your neighbor is within his rights, don't know what to tell you other than "hire a very, very good attorney" if you feel it is necessary.
Lets hear some "first hand" experience from other members. Dave

 

[Egon]

Make sure you have a few sets of verified water tests on your water sources and supplies prior to drilling if that happens. Gives you a good base to work from if something does happen.

The chances are very good no damage will be done if proper procedures are followed and the surface casing as well as the production casing get a good cement job.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

You need to talk to your state's oil and gas extension. Here in Texas it is the state Railroad commission. Somehow, you need to do whatever it takes to let them know you have great water now, and that, if their drilling contaminates your water in any manner, that you will hold them accountable for the price of your land, dwellings and punitive damages. Normally, there is not a problem but I've heard of problems in the past and down in my hometown, many wells have sulphur issues with smelly water.

Here is my best guess for their well's lifecycle. It will flow really well at first but then have exponential decay especially without horizontal frack zones. So, they may get some decent money for a few months but then it will dwindle down to next to nothing. This means if they damage any water tables, they likely won't have any money to pay you. Proper drilling and casing should be enough to keep any water table issues from happening.

 

[Angelus]

You should watch the documentary called "Gasland." Here's a link to a news story about it.
'Gasland,' a documentary about the natural gas industry in Pennsylvania, is a national hit | PennLive.com

Take that perspective and what the industry says and form your own opinions about the process. I'm not an expert, so I don't know who is right. But if I were you, I would be very afraid of what the process could do to your groundwater. There are many stories of people in your state who have had bad problems.

 

[joemd11]

Craig, I don't have any first hand knowledge to pass along but I will be watching this thread closely. I live in western Pa a little closer to the Ohio line. Seems like everyone is getting "Marcellus(sp) shale fever" and is jumping at the chance to make big dollars. I don't think the state was ready for this and is woefully short in regulation and oversight. I would get some advice from a lawyer who specializes in the oil and gas industry. A first step might be to your local Dept of Natural Resources office.

 

[mmurphy]

Do not forget to ask questions to your local well drillers. They may have info what to watch for from other well drillers experiences. I am sure they will be glad to give opinions.

 

[Shmudda]

Finding more information out every day....

The well drillers are only responsible for 6 months after the drilling is completed. They only test for water QUALITY, not quantity. So that means if your well is destroyed and goes dry you are stuck!

They will be fracking the ground and that takes a lot of water.

I'm going to get at least (3) tests between now and when they send their independent testing lab come out to test the water sources on my ground.

Drilling will start sometime late summer 2011 or early fall, and should only take 7-10 days at most.

More to come.......

Craig

 

[Egon]

[QUOTEThey will be fracking the ground and that takes a lot of water.][/QUOTE]

The Fracking Fluid is not your ground water in-situ but is trucked in.

 

[tommu56]

Craig if they are fracking it I think it will be a horizontal its not a cheep process and usually they drill mutiple wells on one pad site to minimize surface disturbance (actually cheeper for them too)

here is a good link on how its suppose to be done.

YouTube - Chesapeake Energy horizontal drilling method

tom