Groundwater Quality and Hydraulic Fracturing: Current Understanding and Science Needs

Hydraulic fracturing (fracking) is a process used for the stimulation and production of ultra-low permeability shale gas and tight oil resources. Fracking poses two main risks to groundwater quality: (1) stray gas migration and (2) potential contamination from chemical and fluid spills. Risk assessment is complicated by the lack of predrilling baseline measurements, limited access to well sites and industry data, the constant introduction of new chemical additives to frack fluids, and difficulties comparing data sets obtained by different sampling and analytical methods. Specific recommendations to reduce uncertainties and meet science needs for better assessment of groundwater risks include improving data-sharing among researchers, adopting standardized methodologies, collecting predrilling baseline data, installing dedicated monitoring wells, developing shale-specific environmental indicators, and providing greater access to field sites, samples, and industry data to the research community.