Presentation to the US Environmental Protection Agency Community Air Conference June 27, 2012

Human Health Impacts Associated with Chemicals and Air Pathways of Exposure from the Development of Shale Gas Plays

By Wilma Subra - Subra Company/Louisiana Environmental Action Network
P. O. Box 9813 New Iberia, LA 70562

Shale gas plays are being developed in more than 20 states in the United States as well as a number of foreign countries. The shale plays are very deep tight formations that were too expensive to develop when natural gas prices were low. As a result of increased natural gas prices and new technologies, the gas and in some cases oil within the shales are now being extracted.

The development of shale gas plays consist of vertical drilling followed by horizontal drilling out to distances of up to 2 miles. Following the horizontal phase of drilling, the formation along the horizontal phase is fractured using large quantities of water with fracturing chemicals (fracking fluids) under great pressures to crack open the formation. Hydraulic fracturing fluids used to fracture each well contain 60 to 160 tons of very toxic chemicals. When the fracturing fluid flows back to the surface, it is called flow back water.

Pollution

Shale gas operators admit pollution is released into the environment as a result of shale gas drilling, fracturing and production:

Spills and Leaks Contaminate
-Air
-Surface and ground water
-Soils
Failure of Cement Around the Casing Contaminate
-Ground and surface water resources
-Soils
-Air
Failure of Casing Contaminate
-Ground and surface water
-Soil
-Air

Pathways of Human Exposure

The pathways of human exposure consist of inhalation and dermal (skin) absorption from the air emissions associated with shale gas development.

Air emissions from natural gas production consist of the release of methane and associated hydrocarbons and condensates. Condensate contains extremely toxic volatile organic chemicals such as Benzene, known human cancer causing agent, Xylene, Toluene, Ethyl Benzene and other probable and possible cancer causing agents and sulfur based compounds.

Chemicals are released into the air during production, separation processes, tank storage and pipeline transportation. Emissions into the air from produced water tanks on the production site release methane, toxic volatile organic chemicals and sulfur compounds into the air. Natural gas is frequently vented to the air when a well is completed. Compressors and motors on the drilling and production sites, injection well disposal sites and along pipelines, release combustion products and volatile organic hydrocarbons into the air and degrade the air quality. These combustion products also combine with the volatile organic chemicals in the presence of heat and sunlight to produce ground level ozone.

Health Impacts

Acute health impacts experienced by individuals living in close proximity to shale Gas drilling, fracturing and production sites as a result of air pathways of exposure consist of :
Irritates Skin, Eyes, Nose, Throat and Lungs
Headaches
Dizziness, Light Headiness
Nausea, Vomiting
Skin Rashes
Fatigue
Tense and Nervous reactions
Personality Changes
Depression, Anxiety, Irritability
Confusion
Drowsiness
Weakness
Muscle Cramps
Irregular Heartbeat (arrhythmia)

Chronic Health Impacts as a result of long term exposure to air emissions by individuals living in close proximity to shale gas drilling, fracturing and production sites consist of:
Damage to Liver and Kidneys
Damage to Lungs
Damage to Nervous System Causing Weakness
Leukemia
Aplastic Anemia
Changes in Blood Cells
Impacts to Blood Clotting Ability

Compressor Stations Air Emission Sources

In addition to drilling, fracturing and production shale gas activities that release air emissions, compressor stations at production sites, along pipeline transportation routes and at gas metering stations also release toxic air emission that impact the health of community members in the area.
-Compressor Engines
-Compressor Blowdowns
-Condensate Tanks
-Storage Tanks
-Truck Loading Racks
-Glycol Dehydration Unitsbr
-Amine Units
-Separators
-Fugitive Emission Sources

Example of Air Emissions from a Single Stage Frac Job in the Barnett Shale in February 2012

A single stage fracturing job was scheduled to be performed in a residential area of the Barnett Shale in February 2012. The drilling company assured residents in the area that there would be no air emissions.

A consultant for a local governmental authority detected air emissions from the flow back water, methane concentrations in the air as high as 20%, and Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOC) in the air. The consultant identified open frac tank emissions from open hatches releasing methane and VOCs. During hydro fracturing activities, the air emissions consisted of o-Xylene, Toluene, Ethyl Benzene and Nitric Oxide. During hydro fracturing and flow back operations the air emissions consisted of Benzene, Xylene(o,m,p), Toluene, Ammonia and Nitric Oxide.

The consultant recommended improving emissions capture and removal of VOC emissions during fracturing and flow back operations.

In order to monitor the air quality during the fracturing process, residential neighbors collected their own air samples. An air sample collected on the day of fracturing at one residents homes, a distance of 1700’ from the well contained Benzene, Ethylbenzene, Toluene, m,p-Xylene, Carbon Disulfide in excess of TCEQ Short Term (1.97X) and Long Term (20X) Effects Screening Levels, and Naphthalene in excess of TCEQ Long Term (7.6X) Effects Screening Level. Samples collected on two other days from residential areas contained similar chemicals in the air.

The results of the community air sampling and the consultants monitoring demonstrated that there were air emissions from the fracturing process, the air emissions exceeded agency standards, and those emissions extended out into the residential areas a distances of at least 1700 feet.

Chemicals Detected in the Air in Association with Shale Gas Drilling, Production and Distribution Based on Sampling Programs I Have Been Involved In

Benzene
1,3-Butadiene
n-Butyl Alcohol
Carbon disulfide
Carbonyl Sulfide
Chlorobenzene
Chloromethane
1,2-Dichloroethane
Diethyl Benzene
Dimethyl Pyridine
Dimethyl disulfide
Ethyl Benzene
Ethylene
Ethylene Oxide
Ethyl-methyl ethyl disulfide
Formaldehyde
Methyl-Methyl ethyl Benzene
Methyl Pyridine
Naphthalene
1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane
Tetramethyl Benzene
Toluene
1,1,2-Trichloroethane
Trichloroethylene
Trimethyl Benzene
1,2,4-Trimethyl Benzene
Xylene
Ethane
Isobutane
Methane
Propane
Propylene
Nitrogen Oxide
Carbon Monoxide
Sulfur Dioxide

These chemicals released into the environment by shale gas activities are toxic and pose a threat to human health. The EPA new air regulations dealing with shale gas only apply to new wells and do not require emissions controls for a number of years. Thus, the communities in the shale development areas need to be aware of what is being released into their environment and the health impacts associated with those emissions.