Resources for Landowners in Areas with Oil & Gas Development
As oil and gas development increases across the nation, so does public concern regarding the potential environmental impacts of the extraction process. These energy resources are often extracted by a process referred to as hydraulic fracturing (fracking). While the hydraulic fracturing process has many safeguards and restrictions to protect groundwater resources, routine sampling and testing of your private well water is recommended in order to determine its baseline quality and to monitor for possible impacts over time.
The following resources will provide you with general information regarding hydraulic fracturing, water quality testing guidelines, and frequently asked questions.
Adobe Reader is required to view PDF files. To download free Adobe Reader software click here.
What is Hydraulic Fracturing?
- Hydraulic Fracturing (US EPA)
- Horizontal Drilling Video (Northern Oil & Gas, Inc.)
- Just the Fracking Facts (University of Pittsburgh)
- Facts about Fracking….and Your Drinking Water Well (AgriLife Extension Texas A&M)
Water Quality Testing Guidance:
- Monitoring Water Quality in Areas of Oil and Natural Gas Development: A Guide for Water Well Users
- Water Wells in Proximity to Natural Gas or Oil Development (National Groundwater Association)
- Voluntary Baseline Groundwater Quality Sampling Program (Colorado Oil and Gas Association)
- Sampling and Testing Water Wells in Areas of Oil and Gas Development (WYDEQ/WQD)
- Laboratories and Costs Associated with Water Quality Testing in Areas of Oil & Gas Development
State Specific Information about Hydraulic Fracturing:
Colorado
- Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission
- Colorado’s New Oil Boom — the Niobrara (Colorado Geological Survey)
- Horizontal Drilling and Hydraulic Fracturing – A Calculation Tool (Colorado Geological Survey)
- Surface Use Agreement – Landowners in La Plata County, CO
- Center for Energy and Water Sustainability
Wyoming
- Sampling and Testing Water Wells in Areas of Oil and Gas Development (WYDEQ/WQD)
- Oil Development in Laramie County, WY (Laramie County Conservation District)
- Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality: Groundwater Section
- Niobrara Shale Development – Water Quality Questions and Answers (WYDEQ/DWQ)
Other Landowner Resources:
- Powder River Basin Resource Council – Surface and Damage Use Agreement
- Southeastern Wyoming RC&D Council – Landowner Guidelines for Negotiating a Mineral Lease or Surface Use Agreement
- Surface Use Agreement – Landowners in La Plata County, CO
- FracFocus: Chemical Disclosure Registry
- Intermountain Oil & Gas BMP Project (University of Colorado Law School)
- Coal Bed Methane: Land and Water Inventory Guide for Landowners (NPM Regional Water Program)
Related Research & Policy:
- EPA’s Study of Hydraulic Fracturing and Its Potential Impact on Drinking Water Resources
- Plan to Study the Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing on Drinking Water Resources (U.S. EPA)
- Advisory on EPA’s Research Scoping Document Related to Hydraulic Fracturing
- Oil and Gas Resources (USGS)
- Groundwater Chemistry and Hydraulic Properties of Fractured-Rock Aquifers (USGS)
- Research and Policy Recommendations for Hydraulic Fracturing and Shale-Gas Extraction (Duke University)
- Methane Contamination of Drinking Water Accompanying Gas-Well Drilling and Hydraulic Fracturing
Hydraulic Fracturing in the Marcellus Shale (New York and Pennsylvania):
- Cornell University Cooperative Extension: Natural Gas Resource Center
- Natural Gas Drilling in the Marcellus Shale
- Network Monitors Water Quality in Shale Gas Drilling Region
- Penn State Cooperative Extension: Natural Gas
- Penn State Marcellus Center
- Private Water Well Testing in Areas Impacted by Marcellus Shale Gas Drilling (NY State Water Resources Institute)
- Water Resources and Natural Gas Production from the Marcellus Shale
- Oil and Fuel: Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Program (NDSU resources)
- SPCC: Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (MSU resources)
- Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure Rule (EPA resources)
- A Guide to Changing Plant Communities
- Coal Bed Methane: Land and Water Inventory Guide for Landowners
- Coal Bed Methane (MSU Resources)