FLOWBACK WATER TREATMENT AND THE POTENTIAL IMPACT on THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVER

The Marcellus Shale formation, which extends through parts of New York, Pennsylvania, and in portions of northern West Virginia, contains extensive natural gas deposits. This once inaccessible formation can now be reached through the advanced technology of hydraulic fracturing. High pressured fracturing solutions of water, sand, and other additives drill the shale and keep the fissures open for gas extraction. The flowback water is eventually treated and released into the environment. Locally, Sunbury Generation, LLC at Shamokin Dam, PA has been treating and releasing fracturing water into Susquehanna River. This study was designed to investigate the water in the vicinity of the treatment facility and to evaluate the water quality near the flowback water release point. Two Hydrolab sondes were deployed upstream and downstream of the treatment plant to measure dissolved oxygen, conductivity, pH, temperature, oxidation-reduction potential, Chlorophyll and turbidity. In addition, water samples were collected to be tested in lab for salt cations and anions with a Dionex ICS 2000 ion chromatograph. Related to the goal of this study, a thermal plume caused by a discharge temperature from the cooling system of the same power plant was also examined. Three transects of temperature data loggers were strung at 33 feet intervals across the 1200 foot wide river. The compiled data from these methods suggests a thermal plume that is approximately 660 feet wide with significant temperature difference from one shore to another. Water samples downstream from the plant show elevated salt levels most probably linked to the release of treated flowback water. Though preliminary results have shown some indications of flowback water treatment on the Susquehanna River, the ultimate goal of this study is expected to develop an understanding of the water quality by continuously monitoring and comparing water samples above and below the power plant.