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

页岩气的水力压裂对水供应有潜在的巨大影响。与宾夕法尼亚州目前的页岩气热潮形成鲜明对比的是，纽约州一直在暂停水力压裂。这为完成水力压裂前水化学的大规模、无偏见评估创造了机会，有助于检测水力压裂后水化学的变化。该项目将根据卤素浓度（Br、I和Cl）、同位素比率（129I/I、87Sr/86Sr）和有机物荧光的组合，开发页岩化学特征指纹。该项目将有助于制定一套科学可行的方案，适用于整个Marcellus区块，从而确定水力压裂法可能造成的污染。该项目将开发地球化学指纹识别工具，以明确识别由于水力压裂能源生产相关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识别工具将有助于在水力压裂发生地区对污染源进行科学决策，并将为开发评估页岩气盆地水质演变的最佳实践奠定框架。该项目将描述当前地表水和浅层地下水的地球化学参数，并建立区域生产前基线，以便在纽约州水力压裂开始后比较未来地表水和浅层地下水。本研究将利用；1)无偏采样，2)新颖且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。所有参与计划的土地拥有人将收到所有井水水质测试结果。该项目将开发一个开放获取的、详细的、地理空间参考的地表水和地下水化学数据库。该数据库将在网上公开提供，并将有一个网络地理信息系统接口，以便非技术人员可以浏览。

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.