Radioactivity in Marcellus Shale High radiation concentrations Need for additional information Marvin Resnikoff, Ph.D., RWMA

Areal Extent of Marcellus Shale Devonian Stratigraphy

Depth of Marcellus Shale

Marcellus Thickness in New York Feet Marcellus thickness increases from less than 25 feet to 300 feet Other layers also vary

Beaver Meadows Core Organic-rich Marcellus layer of varying thickness High GR and TOC% in Shale Low GR and TOC% in Limestone 16.5 GAPI = 1 pCi/gram 400 GAPI = 24.2 pCi/gram Reading the Logs

Marcellus Thickness in Pennsylvania

Counties with Marcellus Shale Wells

Fracking

Radioactivity in Marcellus Shale Drillers know the Marcellus shale horizon by gamma and total organic content logs. In 1980, USGS measured 17 logs, found up to 83.7 parts per million (ppm) natural U, which is equivalent to 30 pC/g U-238, and 30 pCi/g Ra-226.

Alchemy The gas industry commissioned Co-Physics, to study rock cuttings from the Marcellus shale formation. Results: rock cuttings are about background. Numerous problems with that study. Co-Physics measured the rock cuttings given to them. Not an ELAB-certified laboratory. If rock cuttings are background, where is the radioactivity from the Marcellus formation?

Radium in Brine Water WellTownCountyRa-226 (pCi/L)Ra-228 (pCi/L) Maxwell 1CCatonSteuben2, Frost 2OrangeSchuyler2, Webster T1OrangeSchuyler16, Calabro T1OrangeSchuyler13, Maxwell 1CCatonSteuben7, Haines 1AvocaSteuben Haines 2AvocaSteuben Carpenter 1TroupsburgSteuben5, Zinck 1WoodhullSteuben4, Schiavone 2ReadingSchuyler15, Parker 1OxfordChenango1, WGI 10DixSchuyler6, WGI 11DixSchuyler10,1601,252 Dewatered brine water can also be accepted in municipal landfills

Rock Cutting Shakers

Steuben County Recommendations 1) To avoid Co-Physics issues. Take moist rock cuttings from drill site. Send to ELAB- certified laboratory. Designate EPA protocols for measuring Ra-226 in Chain of Custody form. 2) Set entry monitors for Ra-226 at 5 pCi/g. 3) Follow B&L buffer suggestions.

RESRAD 6.5 Run Assume 2 meters topsoil at Ra-226 concentration 20 pCi/g Dose to adult, 50 years after disposal Default assumptions: 24-hour resident w/garden, cattle, cow Result (mrem/yr):  Direct gamma: 110  Garden:169  Meat: 5  Milk: 4  Incidental soil ingest: 3

WestEast Marcellus Shale Oatka Creek Gray Shale Cherry Valley Limestone Union Springs Black Mudrock Onondaga Limestone Strata Marcellus Cross Section