Exploring the potential effects of shale oil and gas development on freshwaters Completed
Widespread shale oil and gas (unconventional oil and gas, UOG) has only recently begun and many gaps in our knowledge of its potential effects to freshwaters exist.
We conducted several studies aimed at filling these gaps, providing data on the rates and volumes of materials spilled, proximity of spills to important ecosystems, and overall production of wastes. These data together with current UOG development and future build-out scenarios and information on ecosystems and key species of interest were used to identify vulnerable or at-risk ecosystems with a particular focus on streams and rivers. Results from this project can aid in management of ecosystems and can be incorporated into environmental assessments or conservation and restoration goals.
The overarching goal of this project is to better understand the potential effects that shale oil and gas development may have on associated freshwater ecosystems and to develop models designed to identify possible vulnerable and at-risk ecosystems.
Shale gas development has limited effects on stream biology and geochemistry in a gradient-based, multiparameter study in Pennsylvania
The number of horizontally drilled shale oil and gas wells in the United States has increased from nearly 28,000 in 2007 to nearly 127,000 in 2017, and research has suggested the potential for the development of shale resources to affect nearby stream ecosystems. However, the ability to generalize current studies is limited by the small geographic scope as well as limited breadth and integration o
- Overview
Widespread shale oil and gas (unconventional oil and gas, UOG) has only recently begun and many gaps in our knowledge of its potential effects to freshwaters exist.
We conducted several studies aimed at filling these gaps, providing data on the rates and volumes of materials spilled, proximity of spills to important ecosystems, and overall production of wastes. These data together with current UOG development and future build-out scenarios and information on ecosystems and key species of interest were used to identify vulnerable or at-risk ecosystems with a particular focus on streams and rivers. Results from this project can aid in management of ecosystems and can be incorporated into environmental assessments or conservation and restoration goals.
The overarching goal of this project is to better understand the potential effects that shale oil and gas development may have on associated freshwater ecosystems and to develop models designed to identify possible vulnerable and at-risk ecosystems.
- Publications
Shale gas development has limited effects on stream biology and geochemistry in a gradient-based, multiparameter study in Pennsylvania
The number of horizontally drilled shale oil and gas wells in the United States has increased from nearly 28,000 in 2007 to nearly 127,000 in 2017, and research has suggested the potential for the development of shale resources to affect nearby stream ecosystems. However, the ability to generalize current studies is limited by the small geographic scope as well as limited breadth and integration o
AuthorsAdam Mumford, Kelly O. Maloney, Denise M. Akob, Sarah Nettemann, Arianne Proctor, Jason Ditty, Luke Ulsamer, Josh Lookenbill, Isabelle M. Cozzarelli