1. Hydraulic Fracturing: Gas Drilling at What Cost? DAVID A. LUDDER 2012 Alabama Water Rally Camp Beckwith March 18, 2012

2. What is Hydraulic Fracturing? Alabama coalbeds can exist between 350 and 2500 feet

3. Coalbed Methane Fields in Alabama

4. 5,904 Producing Wells (Aug 2011)

5. Groundwater Salinity in Coalbed Methane Fields

6. Migration of Fracturing Fluids

10. Abandoned Unplugged Core Well Fracture

13. Abandoned Unplugged Core Well

14. Composition of Fracture Fluids

17. Migration of Methane Gas

19. Gas Production Water Production 102.9 Bcf/yr 72.9 Mbbl/yr Produced Water Withdrawal (a/k/a Groundwater Depletion) 60 bbl/well/day=1893 gal/well/day

20. Produced Water Disposal Instream Chlorides < 230 mg/L (Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Chloride-1988, EPA) Alabama Permit Requirements: Instream Monitoring of Chlorides Effluent Monitoring of Conductivity Development of Site-specific Relationship Between Instream Chlorides and Effluent Conductivity Typical Treatment: Sedimentation, Aeration Typical Disposal: Surface Water Discharge “EPA said it would propose wastewater rules for coalbed methane drilling in 2013.”

21. Vibrations caused by pressurized injection of hydraulic fracturing fluids may travel short distances and agitate sediments in water wells Micro Seismic Disturbances

22. Major Hydraulic Fracturing Environmental Concerns ● Depletion of underground sources of drinking water ● Saline discharges of “produced water” to fresh water streams and rivers ● Migration of fracturing fluids to water wells ● Migration of methane gas to water wells ● Micro seismic disturbances (vibrations) caused by pressurized injection of fracturing fluids resulting in degradation of well water quality

23. Alabama is Not Alone

24. Coalbed Methane Production is Small and Flat