RAPID: Developing sensitive tests for detecting water chemistry changes associated with shale bed methane production in the Appalachian Basin

页岩气储量的水力压裂可能会对供水产生巨大影响。与宾夕法尼亚州目前的页岩气繁荣形成对比的是，纽约州一直处于水力压裂暂停状态。这创造了完成水力压裂前水化学的大规模、公正评估的机会，以便于检测水力压裂后的水化学变化。该项目将开发基于卤素浓度(溴、碘和氯)、同位素比(129I/I、87Sr/86Sr)和有机质荧光的页岩化学特征指纹。该项目将有助于制定一项科学可预防的方案，适用于整个马塞卢斯行动，从而可以确定水力压裂的潜在污染。该项目将开发地球化学指纹工具，以明确识别由于与水力压裂产生能源相关的活动而导致的地表水和地下水化学变化。这些新的地球化学指纹工具将有助于对发生水力压裂的地区的污染源做出基于科学的决策，并将为制定评估页岩气盆地不断演变的水质的最佳做法奠定框架。该项目将确定当今地表水和浅层地下水的地球化学参数，并建立一个区域生产前基线，以便在纽约州开始水力压裂后与未来的地表水和浅层地下水进行比较。这项研究将利用：1)无偏见的采样，2)新颖和明确的地球化学指纹，以及3)通过公共数据库和网络界面快速传播结果。所有参与的地主将收到井水的所有水质测试结果。该项目将开发一个开放获取的、详细的、地理空间参照的地表水和地下水化学数据库。该数据库将在网上向公众开放，并将有一个网络地理信息系统界面，以便非技术受众可以浏览。

Hydraulic fracturing of shale gas deposits has a potentially large impact on water supplies. In contrast to the current shale gas boom in Pennsylvania, New York State has been under a hydrofracking moratorium. This creates an opportunity to complete a large-scale, unbiased assessment of water chemistry pre-hydraulic fracturing, to facilitate detection of water chemistry changes following hydraulic fracturing. This project will develop a shale chemistry signature fingerprint based on a combination of halogen concentrations (Br, I, and Cl), isotopic ratios (129I/I, 87Sr/86Sr), and fluorescence of organic matter. The project will contribute to a scientifically-defendable protocol, applicable throughout the Marcellus play, whereby potential contamination from hydrofracking can be determined.The project will develop geochemical fingerprinting tools to unambiguously identify changes in chemistry of surface water and groundwater due to activities related to energy production via hydraulic fracturing. These new geochemical fingerprinting tools will contribute to science-based decision making about the sources of contamination in regions where hydraulic fracturing is occurring and will lay the framework for developing best practices for evaluating evolving water quality in shale gas basins. The project will characterize geochemical parameters for present-day surface and shallow ground waters and establish a regional, pre-production baseline against which to compare future surface and shallow ground waters following the onset of hydraulic fracturing in New York State. This study will utilize; 1) unbiased sampling, 2) novel and unambiguous geochemical fingerprinting, and 3) rapid dissemination of results through a public database and web interface. All participating landowners will receive results of all water quality testing for their well water. The project will develop an open-access, detailed, geospatially-referenced database of surface and groundwater chemistry. The database will be made publically-available online and will have a web-GIS interface, such that it is navigable by a non-technical audience.