Unconventional Oil and Gas Production Not Currently Affecting Drinking Water Quality

By US Geological Survey

Decades or longer may be needed to fully assess the effects of unconventional oil and gas production on the quality of groundwater used for drinking water in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas.

A new U.S. Geological Survey study shows that unconventional oil and gas production in some areas of Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas is not currently a significant source of methane or benzene to drinking water wells. These production areas include the Eagle Ford, Fayetteville, and Haynesville shale formations, which are some of the largest sources of natural gas in the country and have trillions of cubic feet of gas.

This is the first study of these areas to systematically determine the presence of benzene and methane in drinking water wells near unconventional oil and gas production areas in relation to the age of the groundwater. 

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Thirsty for more? Click the links below to learn about studies done by researchers in Arkansas.

Bradley J Austin and others, “Unconventional natural gas development did not result in detectable changes in water chemistry (within the South Fork Little Red River)”

Bradley J Austin and others, “Stream macroinvertebrate communities across a gradient of natural gas development in the Fayetteville Shale”

Sally A. Entrekin and others, “Stream vulnerability to widespread and emergent stressors: a focus on unconventional oil and gas”

Bradley J Austin and others, “Stream primary producers relate positively to watershed natural gas measures in north-central Arkansas streams”

G Allen Burton and others, “Hydraulic ‘fracking’: are we surface water impacts an ecological concern?”

Sally A Entrekin and others, “Rapid expansion of natural gas development poses a threat to surface waters”

(Photo credit: Patty Ging, US Geological Survey)