Excellent points, thanks for taking the time to provide them. These kind of issues that you point out are the most important, as opposed to the sky is falling environmentalist whining. I am going to take some time to investigate your points more thoroughly, especially about the forced pooling.
My primary concern is with all the claims of drinking water contamination that propaganda like Gaslands make. As a groundwater geologist, I need to see hard data before I reach a conclusion on any claims of contamination. I am still trying to find conclusive evidence.
It is really, really tempting to say, "ZOMG Libtard made a film!! Lies!! All lies!!!" I've seen the film and yeah, it's biased and artsy, but it's a great conversation starter that reaches across the whole political spectrum. The people he goes to interview are salt of the earth folks - rural Americans, without wealth or influence. Americans who have had to shell out thousands of dollars to get their water tested, try to install filtration systems, and then give up and sign their first amendment rights away (confidentiality agreements) in order for the gas co to bring potable water to their homes. The injustice is staggering. For this kind of thing to be happening in the U.S, in the 21st century, is obscene.
Energy In Depth is not a credible source. It's a PR firm hired by the gas companies. Each of their supposed "debunking" points takes the cues from the same liberal spin tactics (referenced previously in the thread and dismissed out of hand). Shades of the truth, out-of-context quotes, outdated studies, etc. Anyone who clings to it as Universal and Absolute Truth looks rather foolish to the folks on the front lines. It's spin and marketing. Just because it has a "ZOMG Libtard is WRONG" theme, doesn't mean it's correct. Each and every single one of their points can be "debunked" in turn.
You might have heard of Argumentum ad Ignorantium if not, you'll find plenty of it when you go looking for studies proving this or that or the other. It translates to "absence of evidence is not evidence of absence." The studies haven't been done. There are hundreds of instances that aren't investigated or studied! We don't even know how many due to the confidentiality agreements. (Stockholders might want to look into that, btw) and the state environmental agencies don't have a fraction of the staffing they'd need to do the job right.
We do know that the original EPA study wasn't looking for the things that are popping up in the water. That's why they're doing another one and actually looking at the impact on residential areas. As a groundwater geologist, you know that tests are specific and expensive and you can't do them all all the time. Further, geomorphology and hydrology varies from region to region. Thus a study that proves nothing in the San Juan Basin is irrelevant in PA. Totally different climate, totally different geomorphology. Speaking of geology, the Divide Creek Contamination was indeed found to have thermogenic methane. It also had a fault that was 1) either unmapped or 2) known about and they drilled anyway. The gas came bubbling right on up.
My theories: I doubt very much that frack solutions getting into the aquifer is due to migration up through strata. I think it is getting in through piss poor concrete casings. Concrete is a fine art and there are a lot of fly-by-night sub contractors floating around the gas patch. I think that is probably the route for most of the thermogenic migrations. Marcellus shale gas has groovy isotopic fingerprints that make it easy to spot. I think that some part of the drilling process is causing otherwise stable pockets of shallow biogenic methane to migrate - quickly and in large volumes. I'm thinking something in the vibrational profile is doing it because methane migrations are known to precede earthquakes and ultrasound frequencies are being studied to wriggle methane out of coal seams - both for collection and to vent coal mines. There has also been some work studying carbon dioxide migrations in areas where explosive charges are detonated in the soil.
Bottom line is that something is going on and no one has done any homework. It's much easier to pump billions of dollars into lobbying efforts and convince the burecrats and pols that there's nothing to see here, perfectly safe, pay no attention to the country bumpkins with flammable water, move along move along. T. Boone's agenda is more important than their rights. And how is it that their #1 advocate right now is a ZOMG LIBTARD with a camera??????????