Marcellus Shale Educational 

Webinar Series

October 2010 – March 2011
Penn State Cooperative Extension Marcellus 

Shale Educational Webinar Series

October 2010 – March 2011

• Six-part series of one-hour on-line educational seminars

• Our goal is to help address the opportunities and challenges related to 

exploring for gas in the Marcellus shale in Pennsylvania

• Audiences

– Public officials at all levels

– Cooperative Extension and other educational organizations

– Planning and economic development agencies or groups 

– Environmental organizations

– People who might influence public policy or individual decisions regarding 

exploration for gas

– Citizens

For more information:

http://naturalgas.extension.psu.edu/Events.htm
Today’s Webinar

Water Use and Water 

Reuse/Recycling in Marcellus Shale 

Gas Exploration and Production

Dave Yoxtheimer - Penn State University 

Tony Gaudlip - Range Resources
Marcellus Shale Water Management l October 2010 l 4

Marcellus Shale Water Management

Tony Gaudlip, Water Operations Manager

October, 2010
Marcellus Shale Water Management l October 2010 l 5

Requirements

Conventional versus unconventional

Sources

Balancing regulatory considerations with operational flexibility

Reuse

Surface aesthetics versus downhole performance

Storage

Tanks, pit, impoundments... 

Transfer

Reducing truck traffic while ensuring integrity

Key Points
Marcellus Shale Water Management l October 2010 l 6

Substantially Larger Volumes

4-6 million gallons per well

Increased Pump Rates

80-100 bpm

Requirements
Marcellus Shale Water Management l October 2010 l 7

Simplified Fluid Design

Slickwater with corrosion inhibitor and bactericide

Water Quality

Shale permeability

Production mechanism

Water mobility

Challenge conventional rules of thumb

Requirements

Parameter Conventional Limits Considerations

pH 6.0 to 8.0 Fluid Stability, Scaling

Chlorides <20,000 mg/L Fluid Stability

Iron <20 mg/L Fluid Stability

Ca, Mg, Ba, SO4, CO3, ... ƒ(P,T,pH) (+/- 350 mg/L) Scaling

Bacteria Count <100/100 mg/L Bacteria Growth

Suspended Solids <50 mg/L Skin

Oil & Soluble Organics <25 mg/L Fluid Stability

nanodarcy, nD, 1 x 10-9 D

millidarcy, mD, 1 x 10-3 D
Marcellus Shale Water Management l October 2010 l 8

Water Network

Sources
Marcellus Shale Water Management l October 2010 l 9

Surface water

Sources
Marcellus Shale Water Management l October 2010 l 10

Municipal

Sources
Marcellus Shale Water Management l October 2010 l 11

Acid Mine Drainage

Sources
Marcellus Shale Water Management l October 2010 l 12

“Super Sources”

Sources
Marcellus Shale Water Management l October 2010 l 13

Reuse

Range Resources Reuses 100% of Our Flowback

Potential Downhole Issues:

 Fluid Stability

 Bacteria

 Scaling

Non-issues - Supported by well performance

TDS Build-up Concerns

 Not an issue because of required dilution

Known Surface Issues...Aesthetics

 Solids

 Bacteria (anaerobic)
Marcellus Shale Water Management l October 2010 l 14

Reuse

Keys to Remediating Surface Issues

 Solids – Clarification

 Bacteria (anaerobic/SRBs)

– Remove Food Source

– Chlorinate

– Maintain with Aeration

Pre-Aeration Post-Aeration
Marcellus Shale Water Management l October 2010 l 15

Storage

Impoundments vs. Tanks

The Goal is Maintenance

Double Liner System w/Runway

Permanent Fill/Withdrawal Manifold System

Under-Drain Catch Basin System with Leak Alarm

Front-End Weir Tank Battery for Solids and Condensate Capture
Marcellus Shale Water Management l October 2010 l 16

Storage

Aeration System

Bird Netting

Remote Level Monitoring System

Security/Privacy Perimeter Fencing
Marcellus Shale Water Management l October 2010 l 17

Transfer

Minimize Trucking

Pumping and Pipelines

Temporary

Integrity

Distance

Permanent network

Link super sources to storage locations

Noise Mitigation
Marcellus Shale Water Management l October 2010 l 18

Questions?
Marcellus Shale Educational 

Webinar Series

More information is available at

http://extension.psu.edu/naturalgas/webinars
Previously Recorded Educational Webinars

Water Use & Water Quality Issues 

Minimizing Impacts to Forests & Wildlife

Planning for Community Impacts

Workforce Needs Assessment

Treatment/Disposal Options for Shale Gas Drilling Wastewaters 

Leasing & Drilling on State-Owned Lands

Post Leasing-Considerations

Underground Injection Wells for Disposal of Shale Gas Wastewaters

Impact of Marcellus Shale: What Do the Economic Impact Studies Imply?

Perspectives on Shale Gas Development in Southwest PA

Lessons Learned from Urban Drilling in Fort Worth

Water Quality Monitoring Programs in PA 

Gas Development Land Use Controls in Lycoming County

Local Natural Gas Task Force Initiatives

Natural Gas Experiences of Marcellus Residents: Preliminary Results from 

the Community Satisfaction Survey

• http://extension.psu.edu/naturalgas/webinars

The above webinars can be viewed at: 
Marcellus Shale Webinar Series 

Planning Committee

• Members

– Neal Fogle, Montour 

County

– Joann Kowalski,

Susquehanna County

– John Turack,

Westmoreland County

– Peter Wulfhorst, 

Pike County

– Charles Abdalla, 

Agricultural Economics 

& Rural Sociology Dept. 

University Park

• With help from:

– Mark Douglass, 

Jefferson County

– Tim Kelsey & Rachel 

Perry, Agricultural 

Economics & Rural 

Sociology Dept., 

University Park

– Nancy Ellen Kiernan,

Program Evaluator 

– Peg Shuffstall, Jacki 

Weikert & Sherry Crum, 

Information Technology 

Specialists

Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences