M. Clara Castro

Methane Occurrences in Aquifers Overlying the Barnett Shale Play with a Focus on Parker County, Texas

Clusters of elevated methane concentrations in aquifers overlying the Barnett Shale play have been the focus of recent national attention as they relate to impacts of hydraulic fracturing. The objective of this study was to assess the spatial extent of high dissolved methane previously observed on the western edge of the play (Parker County) and to evaluate its most likely source. A total of 509 well water samples from 12 counties (14,500 km2 ) were analyzed for methane, major ions, and carbon isotopes. Most samples were collected from the regional Trinity Aquifer and show only low levels of dissolved methane (85% of 457 unique locations <0.1 mg/L). Methane, when present is primarily thermogenic (δ13 C 10th and 90th percentiles of -57.54 and -39.00‰ and C1/C2+C3 ratio 10th, 50th, and 90th percentiles of 5, 15, and 42). High methane concentrations (>20 mg/L) are limited to a few spatial clusters. The Parker County cluster area includes historical vertical oil and gas wells producing from relatively shallow formations and recent horizontal wells producing from the Barnett Shale (depth of ∼1500 m). Lack of correlation with distance to Barnett Shale horizontal wells, with distance to conventional wells, and with well density suggests a natural origin of the dissolved methane. Known commercial very shallow gas accumulations (<200 m in places) and historical instances of water wells reaching gas pockets point to the underlying Strawn Group of Paleozoic age as the main natural source of the dissolved gas.

Characterizing the Noble Gas Isotopic Composition of the Barnett Shale and Strawn Group and Constraining the Source of Stray Gas in the Trinity Aquifer, North-Central Texas

This study presents the complete set of stable noble gases for Barnett Shale and Strawn Group production gas together with stray flowing gas in the Trinity Aquifer, Texas. It places new constraints on the source of this stray gas and further shows that Barnett and Strawn gas have distinct crustal and atmospheric noble gas signatures, allowing clear identification of these two sources. Like stray gas, Strawn gas is significantly more enriched in crustal 4He*, 21Ne*, and 40Ar* than Barnett gas. The similarity of Strawn and stray gas crustal noble gas signatures suggests that the Strawn is the source of stray gas in the Trinity Aquifer. Atmospheric 22Ne/36Ar ratios of stray gas mimic also that of Strawn, further reinforcing the notion that the source of stray gas in this aquifer is the Strawn. While noble gas signatures of Strawn and stray gas are consistent with a single-stage water degassing model, a two-stage oil modified groundwater exsolution fractionation model is required to explain the light atmospheric noble gas signature of Barnett Shale production gas. These distinct Strawn and Barnett noble gas signatures are likely the reflection of distinct evolution histories with Strawn gas being possibly older than that of Barnett Shale.

Noble gas signatures in Greenland : tracing glacial meltwater sources

This study represents the first comprehensive noble gas study in glacial meltwater from the Greenland Ice Sheet. It shows that most samples are in disequilibrium with surface collection conditions. A preliminary Ne and Xe analysis suggests that about half of the samples equilibrated at a temperature of ~0°C and altitudes between 1000 m and 2000 m, with a few samples pointing to lower equilibration altitudes and temperatures between 2°C and 5°C. Two samples suggest an origin as melted ice and complete lack of equilibration with surface conditions. A helium component analysis suggests that this glacial meltwater was isolated from the atmosphere prior to the 1950s, with most samples yielding residence times ≤ 420 years. Most samples represent a mixture between a dominant atmospheric component originating as precipitation and basal meltwater or groundwater, which has accumulated crustal 4He over time.

Noble gas signatures in the Island of Maui, Hawaii: Characterizing groundwater sources in fractured systems

Uneven distribution of rainfall and freshwater scarcity in populated areas in the Island of Maui, Hawaii, renders water resources management a challenge in this complex and ill-defined hydrological system. A previous study in the Galapagos Islands suggests that noble gas temperatures (NGTs) record seasonality in this fractured, rapid infiltration groundwater system rather than the commonly observed mean annual air temperature (MAAT) in sedimentary systems where infiltration is slower thus, providing information on recharge sources and potential flow paths. Here, we report noble gas results from the basal aquifer, springs, and rainwater in Maui to explore the potential for noble gases in characterizing these complex fractured hydrologic systems. Most samples display a mass-dependent depletion pattern with respect to surface conditions consistent with previous observations both in the Galapagos Islands and Michigan rainwater. Basal aquifer and rainwater noble gas patterns are similar and suggest direct, fast recharge from precipitation to the basal aquifer. In contrast, multiple springs, representative of perched aquifers, display highly variable noble gas concentrations suggesting recharge from a variety of sources. The distinct noble gas patterns for the basal aquifer and springs suggest that basal and perched aquifers are separate entities. Maui rainwater displays high apparent NGTs, incompatible with surface conditions, pointing either to an origin at high altitudes with the presence of ice or an ice-like source of undetermined origin. Overall, noble gas signatures in Maui reflect the source of recharge rather than the expected altitude/temperature relationship commonly observed in sedimentary systems.

Monitoring Stray Natural Gas in Groundwater With Dissolved Nitrogen. An Example From Parker County, Texas

Concern that hydraulic fracturing and natural gas production contaminates groundwater requires techniques to attribute and estimate methane flux. Although dissolved alkane and noble gas chemistry may distinguish thermogenic and microbial methane, low solubility and concentration of methane in atmosphere-equilibrated groundwater precludes the use of methane to differentiate locations affected by high and low flux of stray methane. We present a method to estimate stray gas infiltration into groundwater using dissolved nitrogen. Due to the high concentration of nitrogen in atmospheric-recharged groundwater and low concentration in natural gas, dissolved nitrogen in groundwater is much less sensitive to change than dissolved methane and may differentiate groundwater affected high and low flux of stray natural gas. We report alkane and nitrogen chemistry from shallow groundwater wells and eight natural gas production wells in the Barnett Shale footprint to attribute methane and estimate mixing ratios of thermogenic natural gas to groundwater. Most groundwater wells have trace to nondetect concentrations of methane. A cluster of groundwater wells have greater than 10 mg/L dissolved methane concentrations with alkane chemistries similar to natural gas from the Barnett Shale and/or shallower Strawn Group suggesting that localized migration of natural gas occurred. Two-component mixing models constructed with dissolved nitrogen concentrations and isotope values identify three wells that were likely affected by a large influx of natural gas with gas:water mixing ratios approaching 1:5. Most groundwater wells, even those with greater than 10-mg/L methane, have dissolved nitrogen chemistry typical of atmosphere-equilibrated groundwater suggesting natural gas:water mixing ratios smaller than 1:20. Plain Language Summary Hydraulic fracturing, horizontal drilling, and associated natural gas production have dramatically changed the energy landscape across America over the past 10 years. Along with this renaissance in the energy sector has come public concern that hydraulic fracturing may contaminate groundwater. In this study we measure the chemistry of dissolved gas from shallow groundwater wells located above the Barnett Shale natural gas play, a tight gas reservoir located west of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. We compare groundwater chemistry results to natural gas chemistry results from nearby production wells. Most groundwater wells have trace to nondetectible concentrations of methane, consistent with no measurable infiltration of natural gas into shallow groundwater. A cluster of groundwater wells have greater than 10 mg/L dissolved methane concentrations with alkane chemistries similar to natural gas. Using dissolved nitrogen and alkane concentrations and their stable isotope ratios in combination with chemical mixing models, we conclude that natural gas transported from the shallower Strawn Group affected these groundwater wells rather than natural gas from the deeper Barnett Shale, which is the target of hydraulic fracturing in this area. These results suggest that hydraulic fracturing has not affected shallow groundwater drinking sources in this area.