Assessing the Effects of Unconventional Oil and Gas Development on Community Water Sources
Principal Investigator:
Joseph Ryan
Professor
University of Colorado Boulder
Principal Investigator:
John Adgate
Professor
Colorado School of Public Health
Principal Investigator:
William Allshouse
Instructor
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
Principal Investigator:
Lisa McKenzie
Clinical Assistant Professor
Colorado School of Public Health
Principal Investigator:
Harihar Rajaram
Professor
Johns Hopkins University

The goal of this study is to evaluate whether instances of community water supply contamination in Colorado and New Mexico might be the result of unconventional oil and gas development (UOGD). The study will be useful for understanding the UOGD operational conditions that might present a risk to community water supplies. The investigators will apply the following methods to achieve their goals:

  1. Analyze existing groundwater and surface water quality data for community water supplies near UOGD and examine correlations between water quality and oil and gas operational data.
  2. Examine temporal and spatial correlations between UOGD and community water supply contamination to identify possible exposure pathways.
  3. Model contaminant transport along possible exposure pathways to evaluate the feasibility of the pathways connecting community water supplies with UOGD.

Ryan Study Locations

Ryan Study Locations

 

Video
Joseph Ryan
Joseph Ryan

Research Team

Joseph Ryan
Professor
University of Colorado Boulder
John Adgate
Professor
Colorado School of Public Health
William Allshouse
Instructor
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
Lisa McKenzie
Clinical Assistant Professor
Colorado School of Public Health
Harihar Rajaram
Professor
Johns Hopkins University

Project Updates

Ryan Quarterly Update - March 2024

Assessing the Effects of Unconventional Oil and Gas Development on Community Water Sources

Joseph Ryan

The goal of this study is to evaluate whether instances of community water supply contamination in Colorado and New Mexico might be the result of unconventional oil and gas development (UOGD). The study will be useful for understanding the UOGD operational conditions that might present a risk to community water supplies. The investigators will apply the following methods to achieve their goals:

  1. Analyze existing groundwater and surface water quality data for community water supplies near UOGD and examine correlations between water quality and oil and gas operational data.
  2. Examine temporal and spatial correlations between UOGD and community water supply contamination to identify possible exposure pathways.
  3. Model contaminant transport along possible exposure pathways to evaluate the feasibility of the pathways connecting community water supplies with UOGD.

What's Happened

  • The research team submitted its draft Investigator Report for evaluation by the HEI Energy Review Committee.

What's New

  • Research is complete and under review by the HEI Energy Review Committee.

What's Next

  • Following review by the HEI Energy Review Committee, the final Investigator Report for this study will be posted to HEI Energy’s website along with the Committee’s Commentary on the study. The Commentary describes the strengths and limitations of the research and describes it in the context of the broader scientific literature.
Ryan Quarterly Update - December 2023

Assessing the Effects of Unconventional Oil and Gas Development on Community Water Sources

Joseph Ryan

The goal of this study is to evaluate whether instances of community water supply contamination in Colorado and New Mexico might be the result of unconventional oil and gas development (UOGD). The study will be useful for understanding the UOGD operational conditions that might present a risk to community water supplies. The investigators will apply the following methods to achieve their goals:

  1. Analyze existing groundwater and surface water quality data for community water supplies near UOGD and examine correlations between water quality and oil and gas operational data.
  2. Examine temporal and spatial correlations between UOGD and community water supply contamination to identify possible exposure pathways.
  3. Model contaminant transport along possible exposure pathways to evaluate the feasibility of the pathways connecting community water supplies with UOGD.

What's Happened

  • Continued modeling of groundwater flow and transport to assess the feasibility of oil and gas development affecting community water supplies.

What's New

  • Completing research, and Dr. Ryan’s draft Investigator Report will be due soon afterward.

What's Next

  • Revise and submit manuscripts as the study wraps up. 
  • When received, the team’s draft Investigator Report will undergo review by HEI’s Energy Review Committee before being finalized and posted to HEI Energy’s website along with the Committee’s Commentary on the study. The Commentary describes the strengths and limitations of the research and describes it in the context of the broader scientific literature
Ryan Quarterly Update - September 2023

Assessing the Effects of Unconventional Oil and Gas Development on Community Water Sources

Joseph Ryan

The goal of this study is to evaluate whether instances of community water supply contamination in Colorado and New Mexico might be the result of unconventional oil and gas development (UOGD). The study will be useful for understanding the UOGD operational conditions that might present a risk to community water supplies. The investigators will apply the following methods to achieve their goals:

  1. Analyze existing groundwater and surface water quality data for community water supplies near UOGD and examine correlations between water quality and oil and gas operational data.
  2. Examine temporal and spatial correlations between UOGD and community water supply contamination to identify possible exposure pathways.
  3. Model contaminant transport along possible exposure pathways to evaluate the feasibility of the pathways connecting community water supplies with UOGD.

What's Happened

  • Using groundwater flow and transport modeling, continued work assessing the feasibility of oil and gas development affecting community water supplies.
  • Did not find sufficient water quality data for New Mexico community water supplies to conduct the same analyses conducted for Colorado community water supplies.

What's New

  • Preparing four manuscripts for submission to peer-reviewed journals:
    • Detailed examination of the co-occurrence of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes with thermogenic methane and oil and gas well integrity in the Wattenberg Field of the Denver-Julesburg Basin in northeastern Colorado.
    • Broad examination of the co-occurrence of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes with thermogenic methane and oil and gas well integrity across Colorado, including oil and gas, dry gas, and coalbed methane basins.
    • Assessment of the feasibility of contamination of water supplies by oil and gas development in Colorado using groundwater flow and transport modeling.
    • Assessment of risks associated with contamination detected in water supplies near oil and gas development in Colorado, with recommendations for improving water supply protection.
       

What's Next

  • Revising and submitting manuscripts as the study wraps up.
  • Submitting final Investigator Report to HEI Energy for rigorous peer review.
Ryan Quarterly Update - June 2023

Assessing the Effects of Unconventional Oil and Gas Development on Community Water Sources

Joseph Ryan

The goal of this study is to evaluate whether instances of community water supply contamination in Colorado and New Mexico might be the result of unconventional oil and gas development (UOGD). The study will be useful for understanding the UOGD operational conditions that might present a risk to community water supplies. The investigators will apply the following methods to achieve their goals:

  1. Analyze existing groundwater and surface water quality data for community water supplies near UOGD and examine correlations between water quality and oil and gas operational data.
  2. Examine temporal and spatial correlations between UOGD and community water supply contamination to identify possible exposure pathways.
  3. Model contaminant transport along possible exposure pathways to evaluate the feasibility of the pathways connecting community water supplies with UOGD.

What's Happened

  • Examined co-occurrence of volatile organic compounds such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX) with thermogenic methane in Colorado using the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission’s water quality database.
  • In two of the nineteen case studies previously identified as having BTEX concentrations higher than Colorado’s drinking water maximum contaminant levels (MCLs), the team estimated health risks from exposure to BTEX and other contaminants (primarily metals).
  • Started modeling groundwater flow and transport for four of the nineteen case studies where BTEX concentrations exceeded Colorado’s drinking water MCLs. 
  • Dr. Allshouse from the Colorado School of Public Health presented at the Shale Network Workshop, Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania, (May 18-19, 2023) on a draft paper entitled, "Assessing the effects of oil and gas development on Colorado’s water sources: Potential risks and policy recommendations."  
  • Dr. Ryan gave a poster presentation on the research at the 2023 HEI Annual Conference in Boston.

What's New

  • Assessing the co-occurrence of BTEX and thermogenic methane in community water.
  • Connecting with the Drinking Water Bureau and their Ground Water Quality Bureau of the New Mexico Environment Department to obtain water quality data that will be analyzed similarly to the Colorado water quality data.

What's Next

  • Obtain New Mexico data on water quality and oil and gas operations that are necessary to conduct analyses similar to those conducted using data from Colorado. 
Ryan Quarterly Update - March 2023

Assessing the Effects of Unconventional Oil and Gas Development on Community Water Sources

Joseph Ryan

The goal of this study is to evaluate whether instances of community water supply contamination in Colorado and New Mexico might be the result of unconventional oil and gas development (UOGD). The study will be useful for understanding the UOGD operational conditions that might present a risk to community water supplies. The investigators will apply the following methods to achieve their goals:

  1. Analyze existing groundwater and surface water quality data for community water supplies near UOGD and examine correlations between water quality and oil and gas operational data.
  2. Examine temporal and spatial correlations between UOGD and community water supply contamination to identify possible exposure pathways.
  3. Model contaminant transport along possible exposure pathways to evaluate the feasibility of the pathways connecting community water supplies with UOGD.

What's Happened

  • Identified cases of contamination of drinking water supplies by volatile organic compounds, such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX). where at least one of these compounds exceeded the Colorado drinking water maximum contaminant level. 
  • Assessed correlations between BTEX detections and oil and gas operations through review of public information and records, such as violation notices.  
  • Selected three of these cases for more detailed analysis of groundwater transport of contamination from potential oil and gas operational sources.

What's New

  • Collecting data and selecting a model for analysis of contaminant transport.
  • Using the three case studies to analyze groundwater transport of contamination to assess the possible extent of contamination and the risk it poses to people who use the water. 
     

What's Next

  • Produce (1) an examination of correlations of BTEX occurrence with oil and gas operations, (2) a risk assessment for residents exposed to contamination attributable to oil and gas operations, and (3) a commentary on the adequacy of Colorado’s regulations requiring groundwater monitoring near oil and gas operations. 
  • Contact state officials in New Mexico to obtain data on water quality and oil and gas operations that are necessary to conduct analyses similar to those conducted using data from Colorado.
Ryan Quarterly Update - December 2022

Assessing the Effects of Unconventional Oil and Gas Development on Community Water Sources

Joseph Ryan

The goal of this study is to evaluate whether instances of community water supply contamination in Colorado and New Mexico might be the result of unconventional oil and gas development (UOGD). The study will be useful for understanding the UOGD operational conditions that might present a risk to community water supplies. The investigators will apply the following methods to achieve their goals:

  1. Analyze existing groundwater and surface water quality data for community water supplies near UOGD and examine correlations between water quality and oil and gas operational data.
  2. Examine temporal and spatial correlations between UOGD and community water supply contamination to identify possible exposure pathways.
  3. Model contaminant transport along possible exposure pathways to evaluate the feasibility of the pathways connecting community water supplies with UOGD.

What's Happened

  • Analyzed community water supply data and oil and gas operational records for Colorado to assess whether detected chemicals might be associated with UOGD.
  • Consulted with state officials in New Mexico about the availability of water quality data and oil and gas development operational records to inform the research.

What's New

  • Continuing to analyze water quality data and oil and gas operational records for Colorado to identify potential indications of UOGD sources affecting community water supplies.
  • Identifying case studies of possible pathways connecting communities with UOGD.

What's Next

  • Assess whether the case study connections between UOGD sources and communities are feasible by modeling how chemicals from UOGD might move through the environment.
  • Engage with communities, state officials, and others to increase awareness of the research and its relevance to policy decisions to protect public health.
Ryan Quarterly Update - September 2022

Assessing the Effects of Unconventional Oil and Gas Development on Community Water Sources

Joseph Ryan

The goal of this study is to evaluate whether instances of community water supply contamination in Colorado and New Mexico might be the result of unconventional oil and gas development (UOGD). The study will be useful for understanding the UOGD operational conditions that might present a risk to community water supplies. The investigators will apply the following methods to achieve their goals:

  1. Analyze existing groundwater and surface water quality data for community water supplies near UOGD and examine correlations between water quality and oil and gas operational data.
  2. Examine temporal and spatial correlations between UOGD and community water supply contamination to identify possible exposure pathways.
  3. Model contaminant transport along possible exposure pathways to evaluate the feasibility of the pathways connecting community water supplies with UOGD.

What's Happened

  • Analyzed water quality data and oil and gas operations records to identify case studies involving water supply contamination by benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX) in Colorado.
  • Examined the water quality data to identify whether concentrations of other chemicals exceed drinking water standards. This information will be used to help determine the source of BTEX detected in community water supplies.

What's New

  • Exploring the water quality data and oil and gas operations records to identify potential cases of release and transport of chemicals from oil and gas facilities to community water supplies.

What's Next

  • Use the cases to inform in-depth chemical transport pathway modeling.
  • Use the cases to estimate the health risk associated with community exposure to chemicals detected in community water supplies.