Marcellus Shale Air Sampling Project

1
Marcellus Shale Air Sampling Project

• Nick Lazor
• Chief, Air Quality Monitoring Division
• Bureau of Air Quality
• PA Department of Environmental Protection
• nlazor_at_state.pa.us

2
Marcellus Shale Air Sampling Project Goals

• The Bureau of Air Quality developed a sampling
  protocol for approximately 48 compounds volatile
  organic compounds, carbon monoxide and nitrogen
  oxides.
• In collaboration with DEPs Bureau of
  Laboratories (BOL), the Mobile Analytical Unit
  (MAU) has been deployed for this initiative
• Many of the gas exploration operations are
  located in remote locations.
• The MAU is used on-site for short-term sampling
  this
• unit will also provide meteorological data.

3
Description of Marcellus Shale Air Sampling
Project

• In April 2010, sampling was conducted at an
  upwind background site.
• Ambient samples are being collected at or near
  four gas extraction sites in the Southwest region
  (Washington and Greene Counties).
• Concurrent samples will be collected using SUMMA
  canisters to assess population exposure.

4
Status of Marcellus Shale Sampling in the
Southwest Region

• SWRO Sampling Effort
• Background sampling event complete (Florence, PA)
• Two of four industry oriented sampling events
  complete (Stewart Compressor Station and Cross
  Creek Tank Farm)
• The 3rd source-oriented sampling event is
  scheduled for June 28, 2010
• Coordinating for access to a wastewater
  impoundment.

5
Marcellus Shale Air Sampling Locations

• Logistics for sampling in the Northcentral
  (Bradford and Tioga Counties) region are being
  developed in consultation with the Northcentral
  Regional Office. Sampling is tentatively
  schedule to begin in early July 2010.
• In addition, sampling will occur in the
  Northeast region (i.e., Susquehanna County) in
  the fall 2010.

6
Marcellus Shale Air Sampling Schedule

• Expected Timeline

SWRO Sampling
NCRO Sampling
NERO Sampling
7
Source Categories

• DEPs sampling initiative is focusing mainly on
  the following
• Compressor Stations
• Wellheads
• Drip (Condensate) Tanks
• Wastewater Impoundments
• Flaring Operations

8
Technology Utilized During the Marcellus Shale
Air Sampling Project

• The Mobile Analytical Unit utilizes Gas
  Chromatography/ Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) and
  Open Path Fourier Transform Infrared (OPFTIR)
  samplers to analyze for VOCs related to gas
  extraction operations.
• Additional samples are being collected downwind
  from selected sites utilizing SUMMA canisters
  (passive sampling devices)

9
Team/Resources for Marcellus Air Sampling Project

• The project is managed by the Bureau of Air
  Quality in cooperation with
• The Bureau of Laboratories
• The Bureau of Oil Gas
• Regional Air Quality and Oil Gas personnel
• Samples are being analyzed by the BOL in
  Harrisburg.
• We have also conferred with the Bureau of
  Radiation Protection concerning radionuclides,
  naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM)
  and technologically enhanced naturally occurring
  radioactive material (TENORM).

10
Next Steps

• Following the completion of the short-term
  Marcellus Shale monitoring initiative, the
  Department will
• determine if follow-up monitoring should be
  conducted after the MAU results are analyzed
• determine if the sampling initiative should be
  expanded.
• determine if long-term special project monitors
  should be installed at certain locations.
• prepare a report of the findings

11
Next Steps

• Continue to pursue collaborations with the U.S.
  DOE National Energy Technology Laboratory during
  its monitoring initiative in western
  Pennsylvania.
• Hickory, Washington County
• Kane Experimental Forest (east edge of the
  Allegheny Forest), Elk County
• Bradford Ranger Station, McKean County
• Hearts Content National Recreation Area, Warren
  County

12
QUESTIONS

• Nick Lazor
• Division of Air Quality Monitoring
• nlazor_at_state.pa.us