Oil and Gas
NIFA Northern Plains and Mountains Regional Water Program
The goal of the Northern Plains and Mountain Regional Water Program is to integrate
water research, education, and extension resources of the land-grant universities
and to partner with stakeholders to develop and deliver knowledge-based programs addressing
protection and improvement of water resources. This website houses resources to provide
you with general information regarding hydraulic fracturing, water quality testing
guidelines, and frequently asked questions.
http://region8water.colostate.edu/fracking_resources.shtml
Colorado Water and Energy Research Center
Research group from Colorado studying the connections between water and energy resources.
They have developed a guide for water well users titled ‘Monitoring Water Quality in Areas of Oil and Natural Gas Development’. The website has a picture slide show which walks you through the steps of collecting
a water sample. This is all available online at: http://cwerc.colorado.edu/
FrackingSENSE lectures: http://vimeo.com/cuoutreach/videos
Start with "What we know and don't know about the risks of oil and natural gas development
on water quality," by Joe Ryan, professor of civil, environmental, and architectural
engineering at CU–Boulder. http://vimeo.com/69253030
Summary of Selected Studies Related to the Possible Effects of Energy Development
on Water Quantity, Water Quality and Ecosystems Conducted by USGS Water Science Centers,
July 2014
http://water.usgs.gov/coop/products/energy/shale.cwp.summary.pdf
Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality
Wyoming DEQ is the state agency with jurisdiction over water and environmental quality.
Their groundwater section has a webpage with well water sampling and hydraulic fracturing
resources https://deq.wyoming.gov/water-quality/groundwater/
DEQ Guideline: Suggested Water Quality Testing For Private Wells in Areas of Oil
and Gas Development (2 page Guidance Document)
https://deq.wyoming.gov/water-quality/groundwater/
DEQ Guideline: Sampling and Testing Well Water Quality (3 page general well test
guidance)
https://deq.wyoming.gov/water-quality/groundwater/
Cornell University Extension Site:
List of information sources for natural gas development
https://www.css.cornell.edu/cwmi/waterquality/naturalgas.htm
Penn State Extension:
A resource for information on drinking water, hydrofracturing, waste water, water
use and more
http://extension.psu.edu/natural-resources/water/marcellus-shale
LawAtlas: Intermountain Oil and Gas BMP Project
An online database that displays statues and regulations pertaining to water quality
issues related to oil and gas activities.
http://www.lawatlas.org/oilandgas
FracFocus Chemical Disclosure Registry
Website is a joint project between Ground Water Protection Council and the Interstate
Oil and Gas Compact Commission. You can search for chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing
of oil and gas wells.
http://fracfocus.org/
University of Pittsburgh – Swanson School of Engineering
This is an essay that explains the fracking process in detail and examine the risks,
benefits, sustainability, and common misconceptions in an effort to better educate
others on the topic.
http://region8water.colostate.edu/PDFs/1267.pdf
National Ground Water Association
National non-profit composed of US and international groundwater professionals. Purpose
is to provide guidance to public, government and members for sound scientific, economic
and beneficial development, protection and management of groundwater.
http://www.ngwa.org/Pages/default.aspx
NGWA Guidance on Reducing Methane in Residential Water Wells
http://www.ngwa.org/Media-Center/press/2013/Pages/2013-11-19-bsp-methane.aspx
National Academy of Sciences Publication
Methane contamination of drink water accompanying gas-well drilling and hydraulic
fracturing. (5 page peer reviewed article) Osborn, S. G., A. Vangosh, N. R. Warner,
R. B. Jackson.
http://www.pnas.org/content/108/20/8172
New York State Water Resources Institute
NY WRI collaborates with regional, state, and national partners to increase awareness
of emerging water resources issues and to develop and assess new water management
technologies and policies. WRI connects the water research and water management communities.
http://wri.eas.cornell.edu/gas_wells.html
Private Water Well Testing in Areas Impacted by Marcellus Shale Gas Drilling
http://wri.eas.cornell.edu/gas_wells_18_2056378964.pdf
TEDX – The Endocrine Disruption Exchange
Non-profit founded by Dr. Theo Colborn to compile and disseminate information about
environmental problems caused by low-dose exposure to chemicals that interfere with
development and function, called endocrine disruptors.
http://endocrinedisruption.org/
Information on chemicals in natural gas operations:
http://endocrinedisruption.org/chemicals-in-natural-gas-operations/introduction
Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology
https://www.mbmg.mtech.edu/
Ground Water Information Center – Searchable database that houses well logs and some
water quality data
http://mbmggwic.mtech.edu/
Ground water Investigation program (GWIP)
https://www.mbmg.mtech.edu/WaterEnvironment/GWIP/main.asp
Department of Natural Resources and Conservation
http://dnrc.mt.gov/
Montana Board of Oil and Gas (housed under DNRC)
https://dnrc.mt.gov/BOGC/
Hydraulic Fracturing Information
https://bogwebfiles.dnrc.mt.gov/HydraulicFracturing/
Oil and gas development map and online database
http://www.bogc.dnrc.mt.gov/WebApps/DataMiner/
EPA Study of the Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing on Drinking Water Resources
https://www.epa.gov/hfstudy
Progress Report 2012
http://www2.epa.gov/sites/production/files/documents/hf-report20121214.pdf