Elucidating Environmental Fingerprinting Mechanisms of Unconventional Gas Development through Hydrocarbon Analysis.

Hydraulic fracturing is an increasingly common technique for the extraction of natural gas entrapped in shale formations. This technique has been highly criticized due to the possibility of environmental contamination, underscoring the need for method development to identify chemical factors that could be utilized in point-source identification of environmental contamination events. Here, we utilize comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC × GC) coupled to high-resolution time-of-flight (HRT) mass spectrometry, which offers a unique instrumental combination allowing for petroleomics hydrocarbon fingerprinting.

Wastewater management and Marcellus Shale gas development: trends, drivers, and planning implications.

Extraction of natural gas from tight shale formations has been made possible by recent technological advances, including hydraulic fracturing with horizontal drilling. Global shale gas development is seen as a potential energy and geopolitical "game-changer." However, widespread concern exists with respect to possible environmental consequences of this development, particularly impacts on water resources.