Our look at
GAS DRILLING IMPOUNDMENTS

Marcellus Shale gas wells are very thirsty, requiring up to 6 million gallons of water to hydro-fracture each well. Once that fracing is complete, the brackish flowback liquid that comes back out of the ground can amount to 30% to 70% of the original liquids and frac fluids that were pumped over a mile deep into the ground.

For a 6-million gallon frac, that would be 1.8 to 4.2 million gallons returning to the surface. These fluids contain sodium and calcium salts, barium, oil, strontium, iron, numerous heavy metals, soap, radiation and other components.

In order to have capacity to handle millions of gallons of these fluids, earthen impoundments are constructed and lined with black nitrile material, in the hope they won't leak and contaminate ground water and aquifers.

Here we take a look at photos of gas drilling impoundments near Marcellus Shale gas drilling.

IMPOUNDMENT #1
The 'stink' pit

Shortly after one gas drilling company reported the "exciting new breakthrough" of being able to use recycled wastewater, this news article appeared in the Washington Penna. Observer-Reporter newspaper...

Odor near I-79 investigated

10/24/2009
Observer-Reporter
Washington, PA

WAYNESBURG - Some said it smelled like sewage and others said it was like dead fish but officials believe the odor that occasionally permeated the area near the Waynesburg interchange of Interstate 79 this week originated from bacteria in a nearby natural gas drilling retention pond.

Impoundment near I-79 interchange in Waynesburg

Jeff Marshall, director of the county Department of Emergency Management, said his office had received a few calls, starting Monday, regarding the odor. One was from the state Correctional Institution at Greene, which is near the drilling site.

The state Department of Environmental Protection was asked to investigate the matter, Marshall said. The DEP could not be reached Friday for comment. Marshall said, however, his office was informed by the DEP the smell came from bacteria in a retention pond at a drilling site near the interstate.

The DEP said the odor is nontoxic and does not present any environmental problems, Marshall said. Marshall didn't know the name of the drilling company working at the site, but he was told the company is taking care of the problem.

IMPOUNDMENT #2

Stone entry road has been constructed and earth moving is under way

High wall on the back of the future impoundment

The bottom of the new impoundment being excavated and compacted

Long gravel access road leading back out. Black pipe carries fluids.

Looking at impoundment construction from the main road.

Six months later the impoundment is full and has a portable pump set-up with fluid pipes running to and from the site.

IMPOUNDMENT #3

Residues mark past fluid levels on the black liner of this impoundment

Neighbors say the odors from this impoundment range from that of kerosene to raw sewage. Headaches and nausea have resulted from breathing the fumes.

Flaring too close to the pit (flare shown in the photo below) caused the black liner to catch on fire. The yellow arrow shows where the burned liner had to be replaced. How much fluid escaped?

Photos of impoundment fire New!