SUMMARY OF WATER QUALITY IMPACTS FROM HISTORICAL OIL AND GAS WELL AND INDUSTRIAL

DEVELOPMENT IN NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA

PREPARED BY:

DAMIAN M. ZAMPOGNA, P.G.

PRESENTED AT:

GROUND WATER PROTECTION COUNCIL STRAY GAS FORUM - CLEVELAND, OH

JULY 24-26, 2012

Historical Research

• Bradford & Wyoming Co. Historical Societies

– Newspaper

– Annals & Memoirs

• Pa. State Library

• Pa. Topo Geo. Library

– 1st & 2nd Pa. Survey

– USGS Mineral Surveys

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Mid-1800s to early 1900s

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Period Location and Development

1865

Alba, Sylvania, and Tuscarora Townships and Athens Borough: The reported wells that were drilled within these

townships and borough had mixed success. However, wells completed in Sylvania and Tuscarora Townships were

reported to have more favorable results.

1884

Weston, Monroe Township: In 1854 the Weston Oil Company drilled a well to 1,805 feet. Trace oil was observed in

limited quantities in February 1885. Due to the poor showing of oil, the well was plugged and abandoned on April 1,

1885.

New Era, Terry Township: An exploratory well was drilled and reported to contain trace amounts of oil and gas.

1899 –

1900

South Branch, Monroe Township: A gas well drilled in South Branch was reported to have produced a strong flow of gas.

The flow was so strong that the escaping gas could be heard at “great” distances.

1900 Troy Borough and vicinity: Several wells are reported to have been drilled around Troy. Two of the wells produced

limited amounts of oil and gas.

1901 Asylum Township: Of the gas and oil wells drilled in the vicinity, one was reported to have encountered only a trace of

oil. This well was later considered to be a “dry hole.”

1909

Towanda Borough: Following the initial discovery of oil and the Durreil oil field it was reported that subsequent work

had stopped. The article reports that the drilling company had raised the needed additional capital and was now

continuing with testing of the wells.

1914 Overton Township: One well was reported to be drilled to a depth of 3,000 feet without the return of oil or gas; this

well was then reported to be dry.

Mid-1800s to early 1900s

Boom Town Ghost Town

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Late 1920s to early 1930s

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Date Location and Development

April 15, 1931 Bradsted Farm Well (Wells Township): The Bradsted Farm well is reported to be the first well drilled in Bradford County

during the 1930s.

April 17, 1931 Hettrich Farm Well (near Towanda Borough): The Hettrich Farm well is reported to be the second well drilled in Bradford

County during the 1930s. The article reported that drilling had been initiated.

May 22, 1931

Bradford County Fairground Well (Towanda Borough): This well is reported to be the third well drilled in Bradford County

in the 1930s. The article reported that drilling had been initiated. The article goes on to mention that drilling activities

were likely to draw crowds of onlookers because the well was being drilled on the edge of town.

July 10, 1931

Bradsted Farm Well (Wells Township): An updated report states that drilling continued after drillers were dealing with a

cave-in at 4,500 feet, depth of the well was at 4,720 feet in “limestone”; early reports indicated that the well was

considered to have a “promising outlook.”

Hettrich Farm Well (Towanda Borough): An updated report discussed the resolution of the earlier problems with

groundwater and the need for additional casing. The article states that “after casing was put down for more than 200 feet

the water as [sic] shut off and now the hole is so dry that a barrel of water has to be put down every time the bailer is

used.”

Morris Well No. 1 (Orwell Township): The article reports that a new well had been spud (approximately two miles north of

Rome, PA) which was drilled to a depth of 18 feet before stopping due to a well materials issue (improper casing diameter

onsite).

Packard Well (Canton Township): The article reported that an exploration well previously drilled to a depth of 2,000 feet

would be re-entered and that the well would be deepened as this location was anticipated to be an “ideal location for

natural gas.”

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Early Drilling Practices

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• Limited tools

– Casing not grouted

– Leather seed bag packer

– Nitroglycerin

• Well floods

– Accidental

– Sabotage/extortion

• Dry Hole

– Recycle steel casing

– No backfilling

Orphan, Plugged, and Abandoned

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• Sparse details related to related to drilling, production, and well closure practices. – Missing or failing casing

– Well construction materials.

– Target zone(s)

– Location

• Unplugged abandoned wells are: – H&S concern

– Source to groundwater degradation

– Source to deep fluid migration

– Source to gas migration

The Robert N. Dennis Collection of Stereoscopic Views, Courtesy of the New York Public Library

Legacy Wells – Case Study

• Well drilled to 1,420 ft bgs

• Well cased to 1,420 ft bgs

– Oil used to heat/light house only

• Shot the well

• Pulled the casing

– Marked bore with small pipe

– Capped with a wood plug

• 15 yrs. later Mr. Maryott “placed a lighted match about the wooden plug and instantly flames leaped up.”

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Bradford Co.: Industrial Activities

• Mineral Extractions

– Iron Ore, Copper, Clay, Mineral Paint, Salt, Stone Quarries

• Timbering

– Wood Chemical Industries, Lumber Mills

• Manufacturing

• Railroads

• Coal Mining

– Barclay Mountain (1812 to 1909)

• Mineral Springs

– Salt Springs in Upper Pike Twp.

– Sulfur Springs in N. Rome Twp.

– Minnequa Springs Hotel in Canton Twp.

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1930 Groundwater Data

• Groundwater data gathered during a period following the resurgence of oil and gas activity in northeastern Pa.

• Lock Haven Formation: Natural gas (ignitable and non- ignitable), elevated sodium chloride and hydrogen sulfide.

• Catskill Formation: Noticeable chloride.

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1980 Groundwater Data • The 1980s groundwater quality data

was gathered during a period of relatively little oil and gas activity in northeastern Pa.

• The findings presented in WRR 58 (1980s) are similar to the findings presented in WRR 6 (1930s) with elevated concentrations of chloride, nitrates, and sodium chloride as well as iron and manganese.

• Note: 1980s data does not include any findings related to the presence or measurement of natural gas in groundwater.

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Conclusions • During the late 1800s and early 1900s there were several reports of people encountering

shallow pockets of gas either while drilling water supply wells or while drilling deep oil or gas wells.

– The presence of naturally occurring shallow gas in the potable aquifers or discharging to surface water features is not a new occurrence.

• Early oil well drilling and completion practices employed during the mid-1850s to the 1930s did not completely isolate groundwater aquifers from oil and gas bearing strata.

– The well drilling and abandonment techniques used in early oil and gas development could have further contributed to the presence of natural gas in shallow aquifers by serving as preferential conduits for vertical migration of the gas.

• Observations of natural gas, which on occasion were reported to be flammable, elevated sodium chloride and hydrogen sulfide in groundwater were documented in the 1930s and commented on in the 1980s.

– The 1930s groundwater quality data was gathered during a period following the resurgence of oil and gas activity and the 1980s groundwater quality data was gathered during a period of relatively little oil and gas activity.

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Contact Information: Damian M. Zampogna, P.G.

Geologist / Water Resources dzampogna@all-llc.com

Citation Information: Zampogna, D.M. (ALL Consulting); Cornue, D., (ALL Consulting); Bohm, B. (ALL Consulting); Arthur, J.D., (ALL Consulting). “Summary of Water Quality Impacts from Historical Oil and Gas Well and Industrial Development in Northeast Pennsylvania Counties”. Presented at the Ground Water Protection Council’s Stray Gas Forum, Cleveland, Ohio, July 24-26, 2012.

ALL Consulting 1718 S. Cheyenne Ave.

Tulsa, OK 74119

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