Marcellus Shale Coalition / SGICC Technology Showcase - Marcellus Shale Research Technology Showcase - September 19, 2012

Descriptions of Selected Technologies

Technology Showcase – What’s Next

September 19, 2012 – 9 a.m.

Convention Center – Philadelphia

The MSC Research Collaborative has assembled 13 emerging technology suppliers covering a variety of issues associated with drilling and midstream applications for the Technology Showcase, “What’s Ahead” scheduled for Wednesday, September 19 from 9 to 11:45 AM just prior to the SGI Conference.  A one-paragraph description of each of the suppliers is attached.  The selected presenters have been pre-screened for applicability and readiness for field demonstration.   Each presenter will be given 8 minutes to present, followed by 2 minutes for Q&A.  This approach is used at Venture Capital fairs and we think it will be a very efficient way to learn about emerging technologies.  The presenters will also have table space for discussions after their presentations. 

If you or your colleagues have not signed up for the SGI yet, you can sign up for the Showcase then.  If you are already signed up for the SGI, simply go to the SGI website where you can access their electronic registration and add this Showcase to your registration.  Please forward this e-mail to your colleagues as appropriate.  We encourage attendance, as it will be well worth your and/or your colleague’s time to bring back important information for your company.

  

Advanced Tec Materials, LLC (ATM)  ( www.advancedtecmaterials.com ) is dedicated to the research, development and commercialization of green material technologies, primarily through the conversion of coal combustion byproducts into environmentally sound formulations with advanced performance characteristics. ATM has developed a patent pending, modified polyurethane foam that can be used to encapsulate underground pipelines and reinforce anchoring structures. ATM’s foam sets rapidly, bonds solidly within 60 seconds (which significantly reduces material and labor costs), and resists temperatures of ~750°F. ATM foams have been field tested as grout material for permanent installations replacing concrete for pier installations. Independent laboratory tests showed a maximum strain resistance of over 6,500 pounds.

Altela, Inc. ( www.altelainc.com ) is addressing the E&P industry's water recycling needs through its proprietary, patented AltelaRain® thermal distillation process that utilizes a revolutionary new technology that purifies water without the need for energy intensive equipment, high temperatures, expensive membranes, or high pressures required by other technologies.  Altela can treat a minimum of three gallons of contaminated water for the heat energy usually required to treat only one gallon by conventional thermal distillation.  Commercial installations have been successfully completed in the Marcellus Shale, Piceance Basin, San Juan Basin, and in Alberta, Canada.  The technology has been tested and approved by the USDOE, USEPA, and other governmental agencies.

ARCADIS US, Inc. ( www.arcadis-us.com ) has developed a mobile emissions measurement and leak detection unit that consists of a rapid-response methane analyzer, GPS, and meteorological instrumentation for installation in a field vehicle.  Air samples are collected from a vehicle-mounted measurement mast and real-time data logged to a control computer.  Custom-designed software displays real-time methane concentrations, vehicle position, and meteorological conditions.  The software is also used to map methane concentrations along the measurement path, which allows the user to quickly identify emitting sites.  After an emitting site is identified, additional monitoring can quantify the methane emission rate from the site in real-time.

Capstone Turbine Corporation® ( www.capstoneturbine.com ) is the world’s leading producer of low-emission, microturbine systems, and was first to market with commercially viable air bearing turbine technology. Capstone has developed the Clean Cycle 125 (CC125), an organic rankine cycle (ORC) system, that can produce up to 125 kWe gross at 380-480V, 3 phase, 3 wire, 50/60hz. The CC125 can produce power from many different heat sources, such as reciprocating engines, heaters and boilers, with a minimum of 177°C (350°F) and a heat flow of 3.04 MMBTU (890 kW). The heat source must be higher than this amount to account for heat transfer process losses (waste heat to CC125 working fluid).

Eagle One Green Solutions, LLC  ( www.goeagleone.com ) has developed a treatment for recycling hydraulic fracturing waters using ferrate (Fe⁶⁺).  In a single dose, Fe⁶⁺ can simultaneously perform as an oxidant, coagulant, anti-foulant, disinfectant, and deodorant; and it reduces the formation of scale-causing metals, and removes compounds imparting color.  Fe⁶⁺ has been used to achieve a total kill of sulfate reducing bacteria and acid producing bacteria in flowback waters, and significantly reduced soluble barium, calcium, iron, manganese, phosphorous, silicon and strontium in production waters. Flowback and produced waters treated with Fe⁶⁺ can be wholly recycled and reused for well site-completion operations.

Epiphany Solar Water Systems ( www.epiphanysws.com ) is applying a two-stage process with PMC BioTec to process shale gas well frac water onsite and create renewable products with virtually no residuals. Stage 1 uses PMC BioTec’s biological conversion technology to destroy organics and recover heavy metals minerals/chemicals from the frac water, leaving clean brine. Stage 2 uses concentrated solar power to flash distill the brine into distilled water and salt – both of which can be reused or repurposed. They expect that 1 gallon of frac water will yield approximately .70 gallons of water, 1.7-2.0 lbs of salt, and 1-2 oz. of solid waste. This process will dramatically reduce the number of waste water hauling trucks required, as well as truck traffic and its resultant damage.

Greenways Service, Inc. is developing a proprietary filtration system to treat shale wastewater. Greenways’ filter membranes are sustainable and reusable; they utilize powdered metal for many scales of filtration - from micro, ultra, to nanofiltration - and minimize waste throughout not only the filtration process but also during the construction of the filter system.  Using the Greenways’ process, total suspended and dissolved solids, and heavy metals will be reduced.  The Greenways process produces reusable water with reduced scale-building potential, measured using the Langelier Saturation Index, while also preventing corrosion. Treated water can be reused, as can salts captured through the filtration process.

HydroConfidence ( http://hydroconfidence.com ) has developed a groundwater and casing monitoring system that can detect well pad methane migration as well as monitor the freshwater casing and caprock for mechanical integrity using microseismic sensors.  HydroMonitor provides continuous, independent monitoring of aqueous methane and well mechanical integrity to identify and fingerprint potential contamination at natural gas production sites.  The system can detect methane leakage or a failure in a well's integrity in real-time, allowing well owners to address a contamination source before it causes a public health hazard and before it affects well productivity; conversely, it can be used to disprove false claims of contamination.  A not-for profit entity, CTC, will operate a 24/7 Response Center to monitor these networks.  HydroMonitor can augment existing microseismic installations, be installed with a new microseismic system, or be deployed independently with its own seismic sensors.

Osorb® is a silica-based, swellable glass produced by ABS Materials that is capable of removing water soluble organics and volatile organic compounds from water.   Produced Water Absorbents 

( www.pwabsorbents.com ) utilizes Osorb's ability to capture up to 99% of dissolved and dispersed nonpolar organics for oil and natural gas applications. Reusable and hydrophobic, it can repeatedly and reversibly absorb up to 25% of its own mass in dissolved hydrocarbons. An automated mobile pilot system has been developed to remove dissolved organics at rates up to 2160 bpd. A skid-mounted cartridge system that treats up to 1440 bpd is also available.

Pepro, LLC ( www.peprollc.com )  has developed their Pan & Tilt 300 Directional Antenna Mount (PT-300) that provides speed, precision and reliability for positioning antennas used for wireless communications and backhaul.  Adjustments are quickly made from the ground with a manual or wireless handheld controller.  The PT-300 provides fine adjustments without drift, eliminating the need for tedious offset manual shaft adjustments at the antenna. It has a pan range of 60 degrees, a tilt range of 10 degrees, and can withstand 120 mph wind speeds and other extreme weather conditions.

TM Filtration has developed their patented GFC series coalescing filter which removes solid contaminates and separates liquids from natural gas streams. Conventional coalescing filter element flow is from inside the element to outside. In TM’s coalescing filter the gas flows from outside the filter element to inside which provides several functional and economic benefits over conventional coalescing element design. Additionally TM’s elements can be ultrasonically cleaned and reused thus reducing cost and waste. Most importantly re-entrainment of contaminates into the downstream cleaned gas is not possible due to removed liquids not being in contact with outlet nozzle.

US Seismic Systems Inc. has developed ultrasensitive fiber optic sensor systems to detect the microseismic fractures occurring during the hydraulic fracturing process.  USSI’s sensors are powered only by light, with no downhole electronics, copper conductors, or electrical power, and are much more sensitive and have a lower noise floor than the current copper wire-based sensor technology.   USSI believes that its new fiber optic technology, which provides substantially higher performance at an 80-90% cost reduction as compared to the legacy systems, will enable operators to cost-effectively monitor 100% of their frac jobs, leading to reduced environmental impact as well as improvements in extraction efficiency.

New Logic Research, Inc. ( www.vsep.com ) has developed a proprietary membrane filtration system, the Vibratory Shear Enhanced Process (VSEP). Their flowback water treatment strategy is to produce a reusable water that when blended with fresh water to frac another well, will have a low Langelier Saturation Index indicating minimum potential for scaling in the well and formation. VSEP produces a clear water permeate (about 95+% recovery) laden with disassociated salts. This concentrate contains about 35% total solids – suspended solids, colloids, organic materials, and some salts – of which about 30% is volatile. The concentrate can be thickened and conditioned for landfill disposal as a residual waste, and the disassociated salts returned to the well.


For more about this event - Go to http://www.sgicc.org/marcellus-shale-coalition--sgicc-technology-showcase.html


For More Information, Visit - http://www.water-research.net

Methane Gas Migration and Your Water Well- A Pennsylvania Perspective and Action Plan

Final Draft - Post for final review and comment

This is a free resource that is being provided by Mr. Brian Oram, Professional Geologist and owner of B.F. Environmental Consultants Inc. and the Water-Research Center.  This fact sheet is part of our on-going education program for private well homeowners, i.e.,  as The Homeowner Outreach Program.  B.F. Environmental Consultants, Inc. and Mr. Brian Oram support the Citizens Groundwater/Surfacewater Database, which is a grassroots effort to compile the water quality data for Northeastern Pennsylvania.  To learn more, please contact the Water-Research Center- http://www.water-research.net.

Introduction

Methane gas has been a “hidden” problem in Northeastern Pennsylvania.  The gas is typically associated with wetlands, bogs, landfills, coal-producing formations, natural saline seeps, some glacial deposits, and gas storage areas.  Because of the development of the Marcellus Shale, the presence of methane gas and the potential for methane gas migration is a growing concern.   Methane is a colorless, odorless gas that is lighter than air.   Natural gas is mostly methane (70 – 90 % CH₄), carbon dioxide (0 to 8 % CO₂), plus other gases.  The other gases may include ethane (C₂H₆), propane (C₃H₈), butane (C₄H₁₀), and hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) as well as small amounts of helium.

Methane gas is highly flammable between a lower explosion limit (LEL) of 5.53 percent by volume in air and an upper explosion limit (UEL) of 15 percent.  The minimum concentration level at which the gas has the potential to explode is called the lower explosive limit (LEL); below the LEL level there is not enough gas to cause an explosion.  Above the UEL, there is inadequate oxygen to fuel combustion, but if the space is vented and the gas concentration drops below the UEL, the gas can explode.  Methane is not considered toxic, but it is an asphyxiant at a concentration of over 50 percent in air (it displaces oxygen).  Therefore, the primary risks for methane would be asphyxiation in a confined or poorly vented area or a potential explosion hazard.   As a safety measure, the natural gas industry adds mercaptans to the produced methane gas that enters the pipeline and your home. The mercaptans produce a very pungent odor so that gas leaks will be noticed, but unprocessed methane gas tends to have NO ODOR.  It is critical to note that some unprocessed methane gas may contain long chain hydrocarbon molecules that can create an odor.

From the available data in the Citizen Groundwater/Surfacewater Database, it would appear that the natural background level of methane in private wells in Northeastern Pennsylvania ranges from not detectable or trace levels to over 28 mg/L.  You may suspect the presence of methane gas in your water if you hear a “gurgling noise”, sputtering at the tap, the water has a lot of gas bubbles, is effervescent or fizzy.  

Note: If the pumping level of water in your well starts to fall below your pump intake, ordinary air may mix with the water and produce similar symptoms. When in doubt, contact a professional to determine the nature of the observed gas.

Water hammer or pressure surge is another potential sign of a methane or entrapped gas-related problem. These conditions do not necessarily mean you have a methane problem but it does suggest that additional water testing and possibly more aggressive venting would be needed.  Methane gas typically out-gases very quickly from water.  Therefore, if it takes over 2 minutes for the gas and water to separate, it is most likely carbon dioxide.   If you have a lot of gas and the methane content of the water is low, it may be a mixture of carbon dioxide or air entrapment within the system.   If there is a strong odor and the level of methane is low, you may want to test for sulfur (hydrogen sulfide; odor of rotten eggs) or propane.  Testing for propane would be advisable if you or your neighbors use propane gas.

Note:  Some articles suggest that you should try to collect the water and allow the gas to outgas in a sealed container and then attempt to light the accumulated gas – we do not recommend this practice. This practice is not safe, especially if you do not know the level of methane gas in the water, your home, or under the wellhead.  This may make a great “YouTube” video or “Facebook” post, but it is safer to purchase a small methane gas or flammable gas detector.

There are two main types of methane found in rock formations and groundwater.  The types are based on a difference in origin, not composition:

1. Thermogenic methane, which is formed from buried organic matter at considerable depths where the rocks are compressed and heated; this includes the methane found in coal, gas from some Devonian sandstones/shales, and gas from the Marcellus and Utica Formations.  Methane is produced by the inorganic breakdown of organic matter (heat and pressure). 

2. Biogenic or bacterial methane which formed closer to the surface by the action of bacteria (methanogens- “bacteria that produce methane and cannot live in an environment with oxygen).  This would include methane generated in landfills, lake sediments, wetlands/swamps, organic-rich glacial deposits, other recently buried organic deposits, and other carbon rich environments that are without oxygen.

Natural gas formed by thermogenic processes contains small amounts of ethane and propane and may contain very small amounts of butane and pentane as well as methane. Some coals, like from the anthracite region, contain thermogenic gas, but some coal bed methane could be either biogenic or thermogenic gas. When bacteria generate “biogenic” gas, they create mainly methane.

The source of the natural gas can to some extent be determined by the relative proportion of methane, ethane and propane within the gas, i.e., gas fingerprinting.  Even very small amounts of ethane and propane may be important in helping to identify the source of the gas, i.e., gas composition analysis. Unfortunately, gas composition analysis is expensive, requires an expert, may require large volumes of sample, and a reference sample.   The primary difficulty with the analysis and interpretation of methane by either composition or isotope ratios is that after the gas is created it can be altered during the migration process.  This alteration affects the relative proportions and isotopic composition of the gases, thus making it more difficult to distinguish and identify a specific source.  As a guide, it may be possible to use a ratio to suggest the source of the gas- “ if the ratio of methane to ethane is 25, the source is thermogenic, but if the ratio is over 2500, then it is biogenic" (Mr. Bob Pirkle, President of Microseeps, Inc.), but between 25 and 2500 this is where isotopic analysis is critical.

Methane Gas Concerns and Concentrations

Just like radon gas, methane gas migrates naturally up through the soil, geological materials, and through the groundwater and into your home or well.  Some gas naturally enters houses through the foundation, which is why some homes can have a radon problem if the gas entering the home happens to have a relatively high concentration of radon.  When your water well is pumped, the drop in the level of the water in the wellbore reduces the pressure within the formation and permits more gas to migrate toward the wellbore.  If the well is not properly vented and there happens to be substantial amounts of methane, the gas could accumulate under the well cap near the electrical connections for your well or the methane could enter with the well water and outgas in your home.   The US Department of the Interior, Office of Surface Mining, suggests that when the level of methane gas in the water is less than 10 mg/L it is safe, but monitoring is required at 10 to 28 mg/L, and immediate action is needed above 28 mg/L.  At a level of 28 mg/L, the water is fully saturated with methane and it is likely that any air space in the well is at or approaching the LEL.  The air and out-gassing methane, not the water, is now flammable.

Based on a review of regulations and guidance from other states, the following are our professional recommendations related to suggested actions for your well depending on the level of methane gas detected in the water:

u < 2 mg/L – Make sure your well is fitted with a passive venting system using a vented sanitary well cap.

u > 2 to 7 mg/L – Monitor quarterly for one year and install a passive venting system using a vented pipe and vented sanitary well cap.

u > 7 mg/L to < 10 mg/L – Corrective Action is Needed! – Seek help from a professional.
Install active venting and monitor quarterly for one year. Consider Isotopic Analysis – “Like fingerprinting the source of the gas.” Remove ignition sources - if the well is in a well pit or basement, corrective action is needed and you should seek guidance from a licensed professional.

u > 10 mg/L to < 20 mg/L –  Corrective Action and Additional Testing are Needed! – Seek help from a professional.

Install active venting system, an in-home methane detection system, and a gas shroud on the pump.  If the well is very deep or deeper than the surrounding wells, it may be advisable to consider cementing the lower portions of the well (which could be another problem if most of the water in the well is entering the well from its lower section).  Monitoring and Testing - isotopic analysis with monitoring is recommended and the gases and gas concentrations should be tested multiple times during a year with at least one test under conditions when the greatest out-gassing is anticipated.  If there is natural gas development in your area, contact the PADEP and the local Natural Gas Company.  Seek help from a licensed professional !

u  > 20 mg/L – Immediate Corrective Action is Needed! – Seek help from a professional.

Install active venting and active point-of-entry treatment system, remove ignition sources, install a gas shroud on the pump, consider raising the pump,        and consider cementing the lower portions of the well.   Monitoring and Testing – there should be real-time monitoring in the home and a treatment system, regular monitoring of the untreated water and treated water from the system, and isotopic analysis.

It would be advisable to test for methane, ethane, and propane by a certified testing laboratory.  With respect to baseline testing, it would be wise to test for all three gases but if you’re on a budget at least test for methane and ethane and seek guidance from a professional. 

Note: Corrective action is recommended if the well is in a well pit or in the basement and the initial methane in water concentration is above 2 mg/L. 

When to Test for Methane?

This is a common question and to be honest all we can say is that the level of methane in well water is controlled by many factors and conditions and it can be highly variable. If you want to test under the conditions most favorable to methane gas migration or leakage, it would be advisable to conduct testing when one or more of the following conditions exist:

a. barometric pressure is low and soils are saturated;

b. when snow cover is just beginning to melt;

c. the ground is frozen or ice covered; or

d. under long-term pumping conditions for the well when the well is experiencing the lowest dynamic water level and greatest drawdown.

The variability in methane gas concentrations may require you to sample the well three to four times per year to establish a realistic baseline and provide some insight into background levels of methane gas.  You can visually monitor the quality of the water, if the amount of dissolved gases increase, i.e., if there are more bubbles and fizz, maybe it is time to check the water.   If you see a foam, you would probably want to test the water for surfactants.

Taking Action – Based on Your Level of Methane

Level 1- Passive Venting: Methane Levels < 2 mg/L
Passive venting could simply include checking the electrical connections at the top of the well and installing a vented sanitary well cap.  Wells should not be vented to a well pit, inside the home, or within any structure, but vented to the outside atmosphere. The well casing should extend at least 3 feet above the local flood stage for your area.  

Level 2 – Monitoring, Source Identification, and Passive Venting: Methane Levels 2 to

< 7 mg/L

At this stage, a passive venting system should be installed.  At this level, the venting system would consist of a vented well cap using a vented piping approach.  The vent piping should have an inside diameter of 0.5 inches , extend 6 to 12 inches below the sanitary well cap, at least 12 inches above the well cap, and the end of the pipe that extends above grade should be turned down and fitted with a corrosion resistant fine screen.  The screen should have a mesh size of  25 mesh or less. The vent piping should use watertight connections that extend above flood level and local ignition sources. A screen is added so insects cannot enter or clog the pipe and the pipe is turned down to prevent precipitation from directly entering the well.   The well casing should extend at least 3 feet above the local flood stage for your area.  

Level 3 – Active Venting, Removing Ignition Sources, and Seasonal Monitoring: Methane Level 7 to < 10 mg/L

Because the level of methane gas in the well water will fluctuate as the water level in the well changes, it would be advisable to conduct seasonal monitoring to better understand the variation in the gas concentration.  In addition, this level of action would also include installing additional monitoring devices, an active venting system on the well, and an evaluation of the well to determine if a modification to the well would reduce the level of methane gas.  The main goals are to attempt to understand the natural variation in methane levels, provide a venting system that will ensure your family and home is safe, and to proactively manage the potential risk. At this concentration, the venting system should vent the gas above local ignition sources, above flood level, and above a human exposure level, i.e., at least 6 feet or more.

At this time, it may be advisable to conduct an isotopic analysis to determine the likely source of the methane gas.  Isotopic analysis can determine if the source of the methane gas is from a landfill gas, sewer gas, biogenic gas, or thermogenic gas.  Isotopic analysis is a specialty test and costs approximately $ 450.00 to $ 500.00 per sample.  The primary reason for testing the gas at this point is not just to document the concentration, but also to obtain some information related to the source of the methane gas. 

Note:  Any time the level of methane is at or greater than 7 mg/L - Contact- PADEP and the Local Natural Gas Company in Your Area – Under Oil and Gas Law- Section 78.89 – “When an operator or owner is notified of or otherwise made aware of a POTENTIAL natural gas migration incident, the operator shall immediately conduct an investigation of the incident”.

Level 4 – Aggressive, Potentially Long-Term Treatment: Methane Levels > 10 mg/L to

< 20 mg/L.

At this level, it is most likely that a treatment system will be needed and it would be necessary to install intrinsically safe equipment, i.e., switches, pumps, fixtures, etc.  Intrinsic safety is a requirement that applies to devices that are being operated in areas with flammable gases or fuels. It means that the device is incapable of igniting those gases. In short, an intrinsically safe piece of equipment won't ignite flammable gases even if the unit is in a flammable environment.   Additional real-time monitoring equipment and a gas shroud should be installed around the pump. 

Before installing the treatment system, it would be advisable to complete a baseline analysis of the source, plus conduct additional water quality and wellbore analysis to evaluate the potential for modifying the well and aid in the design of the water treatment system.  Aeration or degasification is the primary way to eliminate the problem of methane gas in water.  There are a number of methods for venting the methane, which includes a vented tank, an air release valve, and an air separator.  Because elevated levels of methane gas may be associated with other water quality problems and atmospheric venting may introduce or facilitate bacterial growth it may be necessary to first vent the gas and then install secondary treatment systems.  In some cases, this may mean the treatment system may need to include some form of disinfection.  To maintain the removal efficiency of the methane reduction system and because of our cold climate, it may be necessary to put the treatment system in a climate-controlled space.  

Level 5 – Immediate Action – Aggressive Response, Mitigation and Long-Term Treatment: Methane Levels > 20 mg/L.

An immediate response and action is needed.  At this level, it is likely the water has a number of aesthetic and safety issues and concerns and it may be advisable check if the water is also influenced by elevated levels of pH, ORP (oxidation/reduction potential), barium, strontium, chloride, iron, manganese, bromide, total dissolved solids, and other elements associated with saline water.    Your first response should be to contact the PADEP and the local Natural Gas Company so they can conduct an investigation and seek the advice of a licensed professional.

Because a response at this level of methane gas is very site-specific, the following should only be used as a guide.

1.      Seek advice from a licensed professional.

2.      Conduct an assessment of the methane level in the water, space under the well cap, and methane level in the air in your home or other confined spaces.

3.      Mitigate any immediate hazards that could result in an explosion.

4.      If possible, modify the wellhead to properly vent the gas and upgrade electrical connections to reduce the level of methane in the water to less than 7 mg/L.

5.      This modification may include raising the well pump, installing a pump shroud, installing an active venting system, cement sealing a portion of the well, and any other modifications to make sure the well is properly and safely vented.

6.      Conduct biological and chemical analysis to determine the source of the methane gas and general quality of the water.

7.      If necessary, install a long-term treatment system.  This should include some type of aeration and degasing system.  Special precautions and additional testing will be needed if disinfection will be a component of the system. 

If the water is saturated with methane, i.e., > 28 mg/L, it may be advisable to retest the water/air using the IsoBag sampling method recommended by Isotech Laboratories, Inc. and conducting an isotropic analysis of the gas/water and seek the assistance of a professional.

Well/ System Modifications

The Gas Shroud - In some cases, well contractors have reduced or eliminated methane or other gas problems in the well by installing a gas “shroud” on a submersible pump. This involves placing a pipe or tube, often a thin-walled plastic pipe, from the top of the submersible pump motor, a distance of 10 or more feet above the pump. This method only works with 6-inch or larger diameter wells with standard well pumps, and wells that pump relatively small quantities of water at one time.  Because the gas shroud may interfere with cooling the motor, this modification to your system should be done under the supervision of a licensed professional.

Cementing – If the source of the methane gas is from a formation near the base of the well, it may be advisable to consider abandoning a portion of the well.  To make this decision, it would be advisable to have a copy of the well drillers log, so you have some idea of the type of rock units and location of water bearing zones; you don’t want to seal off the source of most of your well water.  For this option, it may be necessary to camera survey the well and use other tools to evaluate the change in water quality with depth in the well.

Raise the Pump – If the well is deep and the pump is set near the base of the well, it may be advisable to raise the level of the pump.  Do not raise the pump intake above its pumping level because you will then start to pump air along with the water (air bubbles in the water). 

Install a Dole Flow Control Valve- This modification has been successful in preventing gas locking in submersible pumps.  This modification would include the installation of a number of dole flow control valves to divert 1/3 of the pumped water back to the well. The bypass should be located at a point where the water will cascade back to the well.

Maintenance and Monitoring

After you have taken the necessary corrective action, it will be necessary to maintain the equipment and monitor your drinking water quality.  If you hire a water treatment specialist, you may want to consider a licensed or approved contractor who is certified by the Water Quality Association (WQA) and someone that is using an NSF Approved Process or components.  For water quality monitoring, there is some self-monitoring equipment for this task.  You should also conduct an annual water analysis and annual assessment of your system.

For more information, please do not hesitate to contact the Water-Research Center at bfenviro@ptd.net, http://www.water-research.net , http://www.bfenvironmental.com or 570-335-1947. 

Related Tags: methane, ethane, propane, aeration, ventilation, disinfection, radon, baseline testing, water treatment, well water, biogenic gas, water treatment,  thermogenic gas, methane gas migration, methane in drinking water private wells

Special Recognition

We want to take this opportunity to thank Dr. Brian Redmond, Professional Geologist at Wilkes University; Mr. Burt Waite, Professional Geologist at Moody and Associates, Inc., Mr. Bob Pirkle, President of Microseeps, Inc.; Mr. Tom Reilly, Jr. , Reilly Associates for providing a technical review of this factsheet.

Our company accepts no liability for the content of this document, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided.  This document is being provided as an educational and informational tool, but before you take action you should seek advice from a professional.

© 2011 by B.F. Environmental Consultants Inc.
All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of B.F. Environmental Consultants Inc., but the document may be reproduced in whole, without modification, for an educational purposes.

The Best Way to Make Ice

Article - Submitted by: jacob@water-softener-reviews.org
First of all, you can make ice cubes from water produced by RO Systems. In fact, ice made from reverse osmosis, or RO, water produces cleaner, clearer and better tasting ice cubes because most of the bacterias are removed from the water. So, just because water is purified by a certain procedure, (in this case, reverse osmosis), has no bearing on whether we can make ice. I prefer “clean ice” – in many cases it is perfectly see through, except for a little bubble in the center of the ice cube. Also the benefit is that the cube is more frozen and melts less rapidly. Almost all people enjoy that as well.

So, why would an ice maker technician tell someone that RO water will not function on an ice machine? I can’t help but to suspect that through his experience, he has witnessed many situations where he is summoned on a service job and noticed that when the RO Treatment Systems was turned off and the ice-maker was connected directly to the natural supply, it functioned. This however does not mean that a Reverse Osmosis Treatment Systems will not make ice cubes. When one supplies a considerable volume of water at an adequate pressure, any ice-maker will produce wonderful ice-cubes through reverse osmosis.

The challenge with a RO Systems on ice-makers, especially the bar style ice-makers, is that those types of ice machines use a tremendous supply of water. Believe it or not, some of those makers can use 80-90 gallons of water a day! Unless you have a high volume RO Systems, it is futile to try and generate Reverse osmosis water to that genre of ice-maker.

Another challenge is pressure. Many newer model ice machines need 30-40 PSI (pounds per square inch) to function properly. A home RO Systems drops the incoming pressure by 30-35% if you are starting out with 70-80 pounds per square inch, that is ok, but if the incoming water pressure is 40-60 pounds per square inch, there may be an obstacle. Volume and pressure are separate obstacles. You may have adequate pressure to operate an ice machine, but not sufficient volume and it’s not as simple as installing another tank with enough of volume and minuet pressure.

measuring a RO Treatment Systems is substantial when you have a few water outlets, especially if some of them are an under-the-counter ice-maker. Most in home reverse osmosis systems are 24 to 50 gallons per day, or GPD, which is not nearly adequate enough for such an ice-maker. Also, creation is decreased whenever the water temperature is less than 77 degrees F, and whenever the pressure is below 60 Pounds per square inch. In our world, a 50 GPD RO Treatment Systems in the Midwest will likely produce 20-25 GPD, when the demand can be up to 150 GPD.

There are many simple answers, and the awesome news is that they do not have to be considerably costly. One strategy is to install a bigger system, such as a 300 gallons per day reverse osmosis systems or a high production system, such as GE’s Merlin system, which produces 1/2 GPM of Reverse Osmosis water. Another idea is to super charge the pressure coming in with a booster pump or turbo charging the reverse osmosis system pressure to 80 pounds per Square Inch with a Demand Delivery Pump. This type of system will supply plenty of excellent, great-tasting RO Systems water, without ever running out! So, you can use RO Systems water on ice makers, and businesses, such as ours can even install RO Treatment Systems on very large non-residential machines. If we are able to do that, your residential ice machine will be simple} to [clean up and supercharge to Reverse Osmosis Treatment Systems ice. The key is properly sizing the RO Treatment Systems and pressure needed to glorify output. Look for a company that will do just that, and relax with a cold beverage and fresh ice.

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Recommended Natural Gas Well Construction Techniques for Pennsylvania

Because of the recent interest in the Marcellus Shale in PA, there has been a significant increase in drilling of deep natural gas production wells.  One of the primary concerns or issues is Pennsylvania, would be the potential for these wells to impact surrounding freshwater wells.  Since most of these freshwater wells are wells that are classified as private or unregulated wells and these wells are typically constructed with no minimal construction standard, a primary concern for developing the Marcellus Shale would be to throughly document the construction characteristics, water level, and quality of these wells.   Since it may not be easy to modifiy the existing wells, the primary recommendations are as follows:

1. A detailed well inventory should be completed and it could be supplemented by the PAGWIS database.
2. The private well data that is critical would be the well location (GPS- using same standard or better and datum) that is being used by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources - Web Driller Website.  The following is the information that is required for the on-line well submission form- http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/topogeo/groundwater/WebDriller/wdtips.aspx

Driller Well ID – A unique identification number assigned by the driller. It can be any unique combination up to 15 characters long. Once the report is submitted, this number cannot be changed.


Type of Activity – The subject of the driller’s report. “New Well” is the default activity. Click on the dropdown menu to select something other than “New Well.” When another option is chosen, a new box opens up: “Original Well By.” Select the appropriate button (either “Current Driller” or “Another Driller”). If “Another Driller” is selected, an additional box appears asking for the name of the “Original Driller.” If the original driller is not known, indicate “unknown.” If “Well Abandonment” is chosen as the Type of Activity, an additional box “Reason for Abandonment” appears. Select the reason from the dropdown menu.

Date Drilled – Click the date on the calendar.

Drilling Method – Select from the dropdown menu.

Owner – This can be a business entity or a person.

Coordinate Method – The method of determining the well’s location coordinates. Choose from the dropdown menu. When using a hand-held GPS for determining the coordinates, choose “GPS – Global Positioning System.”

Location Type – The type of coordinate system used to locate the well. Choose between “Latitude/Longitude” and “UTM.” Latitude/longitude is the most common method. UTM stands for the Universal Transverse Mercator global coordinate system that is based in meters. If UTM is selected, the latitude and longitude boxes change to the required fields of “UTM Northing” and “UTM Easting.”

Latitude and Longitude – Values of the coordinates of the well location. If using a GPS, set your GPS units to “decimal degrees,” and your datum to North American Datum (NAD) 1983. Latitude and longitude must be reported in decimal degrees in this format: xx.xxxxx for latitude and (negative) -xx.xxxxx for longitude. This format should be set on your GPS as decimal degrees. To convert “degrees and decimal minutes” to “decimal degrees,” divide the minutes by 60 and add this number to the degrees. (There are 60 minutes in a degree and 60 seconds in a minute. There are 3,600 seconds in a degree.)

3.  The size of the pump should be documented, drillers log reviewed, and water level measured.
4. Regarding baseline monitoring, the monitoring should include parameters that can be related to the drinking water standard, parameters characteristic of saline/brine water, parameters that may be related to existing sources of contamination, and constituents related to the mixture and blend of fracing and development chemicals used on-site.
5. Based on a review of the private well logs and water levels, it may be advisable to use a multiple freshwater casing approach.  This multiple casing approach would add additional casing to provide a second barrier between the shallow and deeper portions of the freshwater aquifer.  For most of NEPA, it would be likely that the first cemented casement should probably be at a depth of 250 to 300 feet, the next casement at about 700 to 800 feet, next casement maybe 1500 to 2000 feet, and finally something at about  2500 to 3000 feet.  This would properly seal off freshwater, saline water, and most shallow gas.    In addition, the inner most cement should not just extend 500 to 1000 feet above the kickoff point, but extend up into the protective casing or better to the surface.
6. From the results of the background analysis, the results should not only be used to establish a formal baseline, but used by the community to identify areas were the wells should be improved or upgraded.  The solution to a contaminated private well may not be simply adding treatment, but modifying the well to prevent the contamination from occurring or abandoning the well and drilling a new sanitary well.
7. Local agencies should implement a Water Well Construction and Siting Ordinance and require existing wells that are contaminate to be properly repaired and upgraded.
 
Just a few thoughts
 
Brian Oram, PG
B.F. Environmental Consultants Inc.
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