Friday, January 29, 2016
Ohio University’s Voinovich School recently conducted a clean water test using 10 samples from injection well sites in Athens, Ohio. Researchers tested for volatile organic compounds which, if found, could indicate oil and natural gas development was contaminating groundwater. Researchers found zero systemic groundwater contamination from oil and natural gas.
“Ohio’s underground drinking water resources are safe,” stated the Groundwater Protection Council’s executive director. Noted was that the Voinovich School’s study wasn’t the first to test water for oil and natural gas contamination. In 2015 alone, researchers at the Environmental Protection Agency, Yale University, and Colorado State University all tested groundwater for any evidence of contamination from hydraulic fracturing. The results were unanimous: all four reports found no systemic evidence of groundwater contamination from the well stimulation process.
Strong regulations have ensured that groundwater is protected. Hydraulic fracturing occurs more than 6000 feet below groundwater. Further, requirements for steel and cement well casings add an additional layer of protection. Increasingly, states are also requiring water sampling before and after drilling to ensure water quality.
“Ohio’s underground drinking water resources are safe,” stated the Groundwater Protection Council’s executive director. Noted was that the Voinovich School’s study wasn’t the first to test water for oil and natural gas contamination. In 2015 alone, researchers at the Environmental Protection Agency, Yale University, and Colorado State University all tested groundwater for any evidence of contamination from hydraulic fracturing. The results were unanimous: all four reports found no systemic evidence of groundwater contamination from the well stimulation process.
Strong regulations have ensured that groundwater is protected. Hydraulic fracturing occurs more than 6000 feet below groundwater. Further, requirements for steel and cement well casings add an additional layer of protection. Increasingly, states are also requiring water sampling before and after drilling to ensure water quality.
