SUMMARY OF WATER QUALITY IMPACTS FROM HISTORICAL OIL AND GAS WELL AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT IN NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA PREPARED BY: DAMIAN M. ZAMPOGNA, P.G. PRESENTED AT: GROUND WATER PROTECTION COUNCIL STRAY GAS FORUM - CLEVELAND, OH JULY 24-26, 2012
Historical Research Bradford & Wyoming Co. Historical Societies Newspaper Annals & Memoirs Pa. State Library Pa. Topo Geo. Library 1 st & 2 nd Pa. Survey USGS Mineral Surveys ALL Consulting, 2009 2
Mid-1800s to early 1900s Period Location and Development 1865 1884 Alba, Sylvania, and Tuscarora Townships and Athens Borough: The reported wells that were drilled within these townships and borough had mixed success. However, wells completed in Sylvania and Tuscarora Townships were reported to have more favorable results. Weston, Monroe Township: In 1854 the Weston Oil Company drilled a well to 1,805 feet. Trace oil was observed in limited quantities in February 1885. Due to the poor showing of oil, the well was plugged and abandoned on April 1, 1885. New Era, Terry Township: An exploratory well was drilled and reported to contain trace amounts of oil and gas. 1899 1900 1900 1901 1909 1914 South Branch, Monroe Township: A gas well drilled in South Branch was reported to have produced a strong flow of gas. The flow was so strong that the escaping gas could be heard at great distances. Troy Borough and vicinity: Several wells are reported to have been drilled around Troy. Two of the wells produced limited amounts of oil and gas. Asylum Township: Of the gas and oil wells drilled in the vicinity, one was reported to have encountered only a trace of oil. This well was later considered to be a dry hole. Towanda Borough: Following the initial discovery of oil and the Durreil oil field it was reported that subsequent work had stopped. The article reports that the drilling company had raised the needed additional capital and was now continuing with testing of the wells. Overton Township: One well was reported to be drilled to a depth of 3,000 feet without the return of oil or gas; this well was then reported to be dry. ALL Consulting, 2009 3
Mid-1800s to early 1900s Boom Town Ghost Town ALL Consulting, 2009 4
Late 1920s to early 1930s Date April 15, 1931 April 17, 1931 May 22, 1931 July 10, 1931 Location and Development Bradsted Farm Well (Wells Township): The Bradsted Farm well is reported to be the first well drilled in Bradford County during the 1930s. Hettrich Farm Well (near Towanda Borough): The Hettrich Farm well is reported to be the second well drilled in Bradford County during the 1930s. The article reported that drilling had been initiated. Bradford County Fairground Well (Towanda Borough): This well is reported to be the third well drilled in Bradford County in the 1930s. The article reported that drilling had been initiated. The article goes on to mention that drilling activities were likely to draw crowds of onlookers because the well was being drilled on the edge of town. Bradsted Farm Well (Wells Township): An updated report states that drilling continued after drillers were dealing with a cave-in at 4,500 feet, depth of the well was at 4,720 feet in limestone ; early reports indicated that the well was considered to have a promising outlook. Hettrich Farm Well (Towanda Borough): An updated report discussed the resolution of the earlier problems with groundwater and the need for additional casing. The article states that after casing was put down for more than 200 feet the water as [sic] shut off and now the hole is so dry that a barrel of water has to be put down every time the bailer is used. Morris Well No. 1 (Orwell Township): The article reports that a new well had been spud (approximately two miles north of Rome, PA) which was drilled to a depth of 18 feet before stopping due to a well materials issue (improper casing diameter onsite). Packard Well (Canton Township): The article reported that an exploration well previously drilled to a depth of 2,000 feet would be re-entered and that the well would be deepened as this location was anticipated to be an ideal location for natural gas. ALL Consulting, 2009 5
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The Robert N. Dennis Collection of Stereoscopic Views (inset :NYPG91-F314 036f; background: NYPG91F314035f) Courtesy of NY Public Library Early Drilling Practices Limited tools Casing not grouted Leather seed bag packer Nitroglycerin Well floods Accidental Sabotage/extortion Dry Hole Recycle steel casing No backfilling ALL Consulting, 2009 7
Orphan, Plugged, and Abandoned Sparse details related to related to drilling, production, and well closure practices. Missing or failing casing Well construction materials. Target zone(s) Location Unplugged abandoned wells are: H&S concern Source to groundwater degradation Source to deep fluid migration Source to gas migration The Robert N. Dennis Collection of Stereoscopic Views, Courtesy of the New York Public Library ALL Consulting, 2009 8
Legacy Wells Case Study Well drilled to 1,420 ft bgs Well cased to 1,420 ft bgs Oil used to heat/light house only Shot the well Pulled the casing Marked bore with small pipe Capped with a wood plug 15 yrs. later Mr. Maryott placed a lighted match about the wooden plug and instantly flames leaped up. ALL Consulting, 2009 9
Bradford Co.: Industrial Activities Mineral Extractions Iron Ore, Copper, Clay, Mineral Paint, Salt, Stone Quarries Timbering Wood Chemical Industries, Lumber Mills Manufacturing Railroads Coal Mining Barclay Mountain (1812 to 1909) Mineral Springs Salt Springs in Upper Pike Twp. Sulfur Springs in N. Rome Twp. Minnequa Springs Hotel in Canton Twp. ALL Consulting, 2009 10
1930 Groundwater Data Groundwater data gathered during a period following the resurgence of oil and gas activity in northeastern Pa. Lock Haven Formation: Natural gas (ignitable and non- ignitable), elevated sodium chloride and hydrogen sulfide. Catskill Formation: Noticeable chloride. ALL Consulting, 2009 11
1980 Groundwater Data The 1980s groundwater quality data was gathered during a period of relatively little oil and gas activity in northeastern Pa. The findings presented in WRR 58 (1980s) are similar to the findings presented in WRR 6 (1930s) with elevated concentrations of chloride, nitrates, and sodium chloride as well as iron and manganese. Note: 1980s data does not include any findings related to the presence or measurement of natural gas in groundwater. ALL Consulting, 2009 12
Conclusions During the late 1800s and early 1900s there were several reports of people encountering shallow pockets of gas either while drilling water supply wells or while drilling deep oil or gas wells. The presence of naturally occurring shallow gas in the potable aquifers or discharging to surface water features is not a new occurrence. Early oil well drilling and completion practices employed during the mid-1850s to the 1930s did not completely isolate groundwater aquifers from oil and gas bearing strata. The well drilling and abandonment techniques used in early oil and gas development could have further contributed to the presence of natural gas in shallow aquifers by serving as preferential conduits for vertical migration of the gas. Observations of natural gas, which on occasion were reported to be flammable, elevated sodium chloride and hydrogen sulfide in groundwater were documented in the 1930s and commented on in the 1980s. The 1930s groundwater quality data was gathered during a period following the resurgence of oil and gas activity and the 1980s groundwater quality data was gathered during a period of relatively little oil and gas activity. ALL Consulting, 2009 13
Contact Information: Damian M. Zampogna, P.G. Geologist / Water Resources dzampogna@all-llc.com www.all-ll.com ALL Consulting 1718 S. Cheyenne Ave. Tulsa, OK 74119 Citation Information: Zampogna, D.M. (ALL Consulting); Cornue, D., (ALL Consulting); Bohm, B. (ALL Consulting); Arthur, J.D., (ALL Consulting). Summary of Water Quality Impacts from Historical Oil and Gas Well and Industrial Development in Northeast Pennsylvania Counties. Presented at the Ground Water Protection Council s Stray Gas Forum, Cleveland, Ohio, July 24-26, 2012. ALL Consulting, 2009 14