Title: Elevated Methane Levels from Biogenic Coalbed Gas in Ohio Drinking Water Wells near Shale Gas Extraction
Author: Elizabeth Claire Botner, B.S. Environmental Science, Georgetown College, 2013
Publisher: Master’s Thesis submitted to the University of Cincinnati Department of Geology
Date: July 19, 2015
Summary:
- Based on analysis of 27 private drinking water wells in Carroll County, Ohio and the surrounding region, a team of researchers from the University of Cincinnati investigated the impact of fracking over time. The researchers found elevated levels of CH4, but concluded that these elevated levels were a result of biological sources unrelated to fracking in the region. The researchers found no evidence of natural gas contamination from shale oil and gas mining in any of the groundwater samples.