REGIONAL WATER BUDGETS AND WATER SOURCING IN UNCONVENTIONAL ENERGY DEVELOPMENT

Water resources in the arid west are allocated, and sometimes oversubscribed, to a range of regional uses, including urban supply, recreation, riparian flow, industry and agriculture. The assessment of water resources for activities such as shale gas drilling has generally been conducted at the project level, e.g. the potential environmental impacts of an individual well on its immediate surroundings. Cumulative water resources assessments that include the requirements of multiple uses, multiple development activities, and/or the collective influence of multiple activities over entire watersheds, are not typically conducted. Current work includes development of methodologies and models for assessing shale gas water resources needs that can be used to compare and contrast differences among regions and stakeholders, as well as identify effective resource strategies. Our presentation will overview initial evaluation of water budgets and stakeholder needs in the Rocky mountain region, including the Denver-Julesberg (DJ) basin where there is extensive and growing energy development. Ultimately, work will be integrated with source water quality investigations to facilitate additional advances in this important area.