Unconventional Shale Gas and Oil

Unconventional and shale gas research in the United States

Research@Nicholas: Coal Ash & Fracking Impacts

• Whyte, C.J., Vengosh, A., Warner, N.R., Jackson, R.B., Muehlenbachs, K.,  Schwartz, F.W., Darrah, T.H. (2021) Geochemical evidence for fugitive gas contamination and associated water quality changes in drinking-water wells from Parker County, Texas. Science of The Total Environment, 146555. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146555
• Kassotis, C.D.,  Harkness, J.S.,  Vo, P.H.,  Danh C. Vu, D.C.,  Hoffman, K.,  Cinnamon, K.M.,  Cornelius-Green, J.N.,  Vengosh, A.,  Lin, C-H., Tillitt, D.E. Robin L. Kruse, R.L., McElroy, J.A. and Nagel, S.C. (2020). Endocrine disrupting activities and geochemistry of water resources associated with unconventional oil and gas activity. Science of the Total Environment, 142236.
• Kondash,A.J.,  Redmon, J.H., Lambertini, E.,  Feinstein, L.,  Weinthal, E.,  Cabrales, L., Vengosh, A. (2020) The impact of using low-saline oilfield produced water for irrigation on water and soil quality in California. Science of the Total Environment, 733, 139392.
• Kondash, A.J., Patino-Echeverri, D., Vengosh, A. (2019) Quantification of the water-use reduction associated with the transition from coal to natural gas in the U.S. electricity sector. Environmental Research Letters, 14, 124028.
• McMahon, P.; Vengosh, A.; Davis, T.; Landon, M.; Tyne, R.; Wright, M.; Kulongoski, J.; Hunt, A.; Barry, P.; Kondash, A.; Wang, Z.; Ballentine, C. (2019). Occurrence and sources of radium in groundwater associated with oil fields in the southern San Joaquin Valley, California. Environmental Science & Technology, 53, 16, 9398-9406.
• Tasker T. L., Burgos W. D., Ajemigbitse M. A., Lauer N. E., Gusa A. V., Kuatbek M., May D., Landis J. D., Alessi D. S., Johnsen A. M., Kaste J. M., Headrick K., Wilke F. D. H., McNeal M., Engle M., Jubb A. M., Vidic R., Vengosh A. and Warner N. R. (2019) Accuracy of methods for reporting inorganic element concentrations and radioactivity in oil and gas wastewaters from the Appalachian Basin, U.S. based on an inter-laboratory comparison. Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts, DOI: 10.1039/c8em00359a.
• McMahon, P.B.,  Kulongoski, J.T.,  Vengosh, A., Cozzarelli, I.M., Landon, M.K., Kharaka, Y.K.,  Gillespie, J.M., Davis, T.A. (2018) Regional patterns in the geochemistry of oil-field water, southern San Joaquin Valley, California, USA. Applied Geochemistry, 98, 127-140.
• Kondash, A.J., Lauer, N.E., Vengosh, A. (2018) The intensification of the water footprint of hydraulic fracturing. Science Advances, 4, (8), eaar5982; DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aar5982.Science Advances_ intensification of the water footprint of Hydraulic fracturing

• Lauer, N.E., Warner, N.R., Vengosh, A. (2018) Sources of radium accumulation in stream sediments near disposal sites in Pennsylvania: Implications for disposal of conventional oil and gas wastewater. Environmental Science & Technology, 52(3),  955–962.
• Kreuzer, R.L., Darrah, T.H., Grove, B.S., Moore, M.T., Warner, N.R., Eymold, W.K., Whyte, C.J., Mitra, G., Jackson, R.B., Vengosh, A., Poreda, R.J. (2018). Structural and hydrogeological controls on hydrocarbon and brine migration into drinking water aquifers in southern New York. Groundwater. Vol. 56(2) doi: 10.1111/gwat.12638.Groundwater quality monitoring in New York
• Vengosh, A., Mitch, W.A., McKenzie, L.M. (2017) Environmental and Human Impacts of Unconventional Energy Development. Environmental Science & Technology, 51, 10271–10273.EST Editorial_Environmental and Human Impacts of Unconventional Energy Development
• Neville, K.J., Baka, J., Gamper-Rabindran, S., Bakker, K., Andreasson, S., Vengosh, A., Lin, A., Nem Singh, J., Weinthal, E. (2017) Debating Unconventional Energy: Social, Political, and Economic Implications. Annual Review of Environment and Resources, 42, 2.1-2.26 (DOI: 10.1146/annurev-environ-102016-061102).annurev-environ_Debating fracking Review
• Harkness, J.S., Darrah, T.H., Warner, N.R., Whyte, C.J., Myles T. Moore, M.T., Millot, R., Kloppman, W., Jacksone, R.B., Vengosh, A. (2017) The Geochemistry of Naturally Occurring Methane and Saline Groundwa in an Area of Unconventional Shale Gas Development. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta,  208, 302-334.GCA_Groundwater in WV
• Vengosh, A., Kondash, A., Harkness, J., Lauer, N., Warner, N., Darrah, T.H. (2017) The Geochemistry of Hydraulic Fracturing Fluids. Procedia Earth and Planetary Science, 17, 21-24. The geochemistry of fracking fluids
• Kondash, A.J., Albright, E., Vengosh, A. (2017) Quantity of Flowback and Produced Waters from Unconventional Oil and Gas Exploration. Science of the Total Environment, 574C, 314-321.quantity-and-source-of-unconventional-wastewater
• Lauer, N.E., Vengosh, A. (2016) Age dating oil and gas wastewater spills using radium isotopes and their decay products in impacted soil and sediment. Environmental Science & Technology Letters, 3, 205–209 DOI: 10.1021/acs.estlett.6b00118.
• Lauer, N.E., Harkness, J.S., Vengosh, A. (2016) Brine Spills Associated with Unconventional Oil Development in North Dakota. Environmental Science & Technology, 50 (10), 5389–5397. 10.1021/acs.est.5b06349.
• Esser, B.K., Beller, H.R., Carroll, S.A., Cherry, J.A., Gillespie, J., Jackson, R.B., Jordan, P.D., Madrid, V., Morris, J.P., Parker, B.L., Stringfellow, W.T., Varadharajan, C. and Vengosh, A. (2015) Recommendations on Model Criteria for Groundwater Sampling, Testing, and Monitoring of Oil and Gas Development in California. Final Report, California State Water Resources Control Board, LLNL‐TR‐669645, June 2015. llnl_recommendations_report
• Drollette, B.D., Hoelzer, K., Warner, N.R., Darrah, T.H., Karatum, O., O’Connor, M.P., Nelson, R.K., Fernandez, L.A., Reddy, C.M., Vengosh, A., Jackson, R.B., Elsner, M., Plata, D.L. (2015) Elevated levels of diesel range organic compounds in groundwater near Marcellus gas operations are derived from surface activities. PNAS (doi: 10.1073/pnas.1511474112).PNAS-2015-Drollette-13184-9
• Darrah, T.H., Jackson, R.B.,, Vengosh, A.,, Warner, N.R., Whyte, C.J., Walsh, T.B., Poreda, R.J. (2015) The evolution of Devonian hydrocarbon gases in shallow aquifers of the northern Appalachian Basin: insights from integrating noble gas and hydrocarbon geochemistry. Geochimica Cosmochimica Acta, 170, 321-355.GCA_Darrah et al_evolution of hydrocarbons Appalachian

• Kondash, A. and Vengosh, A. (2015) Water footprint of hydraulic fracturing. Environmental Science & Technology Letters, 2, 276-280. Water footprint of Hydraulic fracturing_ES&T Letters
• Elsner,M.,, Schreglmann, K., Calmano, W., Bergmann, A., Vieth-Hillebrand, A., Wilke, F.D.H., Klaus-Michael Wollin, K-M., Georgi, A., Schmidt, W. Hofmann, T., Micić, V., Vengosh, A., and Mayer, B. (2015) Comment on the German draft legislation on hydraulic fracturing: The need for an accurate state of knowledge and for independent scientific research.Environmental Science & Technology (DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5b01921).Comment on German legistlation_acs.est.5b01921
• Darrah, T.H., Jackson, R.B., Vengosh, A., Warner, N.R., Poreda, R.J. (2015) Noble Gases: A new technique for fugitive gas investigation in groundwater. GroundWater, 53, 23-28. Darrah et al. Groundwater 2015
• Harkness, J., Dwyer, G., Warner, N.R., Parker, K. Mitch, W.; Vengosh, A.  (2015) Iodide, Bromide, and Ammonium in Hydraulic Fracturing and Oil and Gas Wastewaters: Environmental Implications. Environmental Science & Technology (DOI:10.1021/es504654n).es504654n_iodide and ammonium
• Warner, N.R., Darrah, T.H., Jackson, R.B., Millot, R., Kloppmann, W., Vengosh, A. (2014) New tracers identify hydraulic fracturing fluids and accidental releases from oil and gas operations. Environmental Science & Technology, (DOI: 10.1021/es5032135).es5032135

• Darrah, T.H., Vengosh, A., Jackson, R.B., Warner, N.R., Poreda, R.J. (2014) Noble gases identify the mechanisms of fugitive gas contamination in drinking-water wells overlying the Marcellus and Barnett Shales. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of United States of America (15 September, 2014; (www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.1322107111). PNAS-2014-Darrah-1322107111
• Jackson, R.B., Vengosh, A., Carey, J.W., R.J., Darrah, T.H., O’Sullivan, F., Pétron, G. (2014). The Environmental Costs and Benefits of Fracking. Annual Review of Environment and Resources (DOI: 10.1146/annurev-environ-031113-144051) Jackson et al. ARER Final 2014
• Vengosh, A., Jackson, R.B., Warner, N.,R., Darrah, T. H., Knodash, A.J. (2014) A Critical Review of the Risks to Water Resources from Unconventional Shale Gas Development and Hydraulic Fracturing in the United States. Environmental Science & Technology, 48, 8334-8348. (dx.doi.org/10.1021/es405118y).(dx.doi.org/10.1021/es405118y).es405118y
• Knodash, A.J., Warner, N.,R., Lahav, O., Vengosh, A. (2014) Radium and Barium Removal through Blending Hydraulic Fracturing Fluids with Acid Mine Drainage. Environmental Science & Technology, 48, 1334-1342. EST-AMD-HFF mixing.
• Warner, N.R., Christie, C.A., Jackson. R.B., Vengosh, A. (2013) Impacts of shale gas wastewater disposal on water quality in western Pennsylvania. Environmental Science & Technology, 47, 11849–11857 (DOI: 10.1021/es402165b); EST_impacts of shale gas wastewater).
• Jackson, R.B., Vengosh, A., Darrah, T.H.,  Warner, N.R., Down, A., Poreda, R.J., Osborn, S.G., Zhao, K., and Karr, J.D. (2013) Increased stray gas abundance in a subset of drinking water wells near Marcellus shale gas extraction. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of United States of America (in press, June, 2013).
• Vengosh, A., Warner N.R., Jackson, R.B., Darrah, T.H., (2013). The Effects of Shale Gas Exploration and Hydraulic Fracturing on the Quality of Water Resources in the United States. Procedia Earth and Planetary Science, 7, 863–866. (Overview on shale gas development)
• Warner N.R., Kresse, T.M., Hays, P.D., Down, A., Karr, J.D., Jackson, R.B., Vengosh, A. (2013) Goechemical and isotopic variations in shallow groundwater in areas of Fayetteville Shale development, north central Arkansas. Applied Geochemistry, 35, 207-220 ( Warner et al. 2013 ApplGeochem).
• Warner, N.R., Jackson, R.B., Darrah, T.H., Osborn S.G., Down, A., Zhao, K., White, A., Vengosh, A. (2012) Geochemical evidence for possible natural migration of Marcellus Formation brine to shallow aquifers in Pennsylvania. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of United States of America ; published ahead of print July 9, 2012, doi:10.1073/pnas.1121181109 (PNAS-2012-Warner-1121181109)
• Osborn, S., Vengosh, A. Warner, N. Jackson, R. (2011). Methane contamination of drinking water accompanying gas drilling and hydro-fracking. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 108, 8172-8176.

Shale gas and oil research in China

• Gao, J., Zou, C.,  Zhang, X., Guo, W., Yu, R., Ni, Y., Liu, D.,  Kang, L., Liu, Y., Kondash, A.J., Vengosh, A. (2023) The water footprint of hydraulic fracturing for shale gas extraction in China. Science of The Total Environment, 168135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168135
• Ni, Y., Yao, L., Sui, J.,  Chen, J., Liu, F., Wang, F., Zhu, G., Vengosh, A. (2022). Shale gas wastewater geochemistry and impact on the quality of surface water in Sichuan Basin. Science of The Total Environment, 851,158371.
• Ni, Y., Liao, F.,   Chen, J.,   Yao, L., Wei, J.,  Sui, J.  Gao, J.,   Coyte, R.M.*,  Lauer, N., Vengosh, A. (2021) Multiple geochemical and isotopic (boron, strontium, carbon) indicators for reconstruction of the origin and evolution of oilfield water from Jiuquan Basin, Northwestern China. Applied Geochemistry, 104962.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2021.104962
• Liu, D., PhD; Li, J., Zou, C., Cui, H.,  Ni, Y., Liu, J., Wu, W., Zhang, L., Coyte, R., Kondash, A.J., Vengosh, A. (2020). Recycling flowback water for hydraulic fracturing in Sichuan Basin, China: Implications for gas production, water footprint, and water quality of regenerated flowback water. Fuel. 272, 117621.
• Gao, J.,  Zou, C.,  Li, W., Ni Y., Liao, F., Yao, L., Suib, J., Vengosh, A. (2020) Hydrochemistry of flowback water from Changning Shale gas field and associated shallow groundwater in Southern Sichuan Basin, China: Implications for the possible impact of shale gas development on groundwater quality. Science of the Total Environment, 713, 136591.
• Ni, Y., Zou, C., Cui, H., Li, J., Lauer, N., Harkness, J., Kondash, K., Coyte, R., Dwyer, G.S., Liu, D., Dong, D., Liao, F., Vengosh, A. (2018) The origin of flowback and produced waters from Sichuan Basin, China, Environmental Science & Technology DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b04345.
• Zou, C., Ni, Y., Li, J., Kondash, A., Coyte, R., Lauer, N., Cui, H., Liao, F., Vengosh, A. (2018) The water footprint of hydraulic fracturing in Sichuan Basin, China. Science of the Total Environment, 630, 349–356.
• Yu, M., Weinthal, E., Patiño-Echeverri, D., Deshusses, M.A., Zou, C. Ni, Y., Vengosh, A.  (2016). Water availability for shale gas development in Sichuan Basin, China. Environmental Science & Technology, 50 (6), 2837–2845. (DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5b04669).ES&T_Sichuan Basin