HEI research report: Measuring and modeling air pollution and noise exposure near unconventional oil and gas development in Colorado

Rapid growth in unconventional oil and gas development (UOGD), driven by improvements in directional drilling and hydraulic fracturing technologies, has made the United States the world’s largest producer of oil and natural gas. Rapid UOGD expansion in Colorado’s Denver-Julesburg (DJ) Basin, often intersecting with a growing population, has elevated local concerns about noise and air quality impacts. Independent near-pad observations of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) exposure and noise are uncommon, particularly during well drilling and completions, where evolving technologies continue to alter emissions. The chief goals of this study were to identify potential impacts of UOGD HAPs emissions on nearby communities, characterize A- and C-weighted noise impacts from UOGD operations, and contextualize air and noise pollution measurement and modeling results at health-relevant temporal and spatial scales. Our focus was on the DJ Basin, where a changing regulatory environment has driven innovation to better protect human health and the environment, and past observations facilitate examining whether new operational practices have reduced impacts. This dataset contains results presented in the study report: Measuring and Modeling Air Pollution and Noise Exposure Near Unconventional Oil and Gas Development in Colorado and corresponding observations, simulations, and used in our analyses.

Methods
Air quality and noise impacts of UOGD operations conducted by three major DJ Basin operators were studied at four large well pads at three locations across the basin. Studied operations included well drilling, hydraulic fracturing, coiled tubing/millout operations, flowback, and early production. Methane and speciated volatile organic compound (VOC) measurements were made at near-pad and background locations to characterize increases in concentrations associated with specific UOGD activities. A- and C-weighted noise levels were monitored at multiple locations. Air dispersion and noise modeling were conducted to assess impacts as a function of distance from well pad operations.