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Bordeleau G, Lavoie D, Rivard C, Pinet N, Barton D, Hinds S, Al T. Saline and hydrocarbon-bearing fluids detected in shallow aquifers of southern New Brunswick, Canada: Natural occurrence, or deep migration along faults and industrial wellbores? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 933:172999. [PMID: 38714261 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/09/2024]
Abstract
Unconventional hydrocarbon production has sparked public concerns for several years, especially regarding potential potable groundwater contamination by hydrocarbons, brines, and various chemicals related to hydraulic fracturing operations. One possible contamination mechanism is upward migration of deep-seated contaminants over large vertical distances, through preferential pathways such as leaky well casings or permeable geological faults. In New Brunswick (Canada), thermogenic hydrocarbons and brackish water were previously reported in shallow water wells, some of them located close to unconventional gas wells or to major faults, but the exact origin of these fluids remained uncertain. The objective of this paper is to determine whether the presence of these fluids is the result of migration from the deep (>1 km) hydrocarbon bearing units (via natural or anthropogenic migration pathways), or whether they rather originate within the shallow aquifer (<100 m) or from intermediate zone. Tracking fluid origin was achieved by fingerprinting compositional and isotopic values of three indicators: 1) water isotopic signature (including tritium (3H), radiocarbon (14CDIC), δ18OH2O, δ2HH2O), 2) salinity (including Na, Ca, K, SO4, Cl, Br, 87Sr/86Sr), and 3) hydrocarbons (compositional data and δ13CCH4). These various analyses were conducted, when relevant, on samples of different matrices composing the hydrogeological system, namely shallow groundwater (12-90 m depth), shallow bedrock gas (8-131 m), and intermediate zone evaporitic rocks (173-332 m); they were compared with previously published values for deep basin brines and gases (1940-3168 m) from the hydrocarbon bearing Carboniferous Albert Formation. This unique suite of indicators, analytes and matrices allowed drawing the conclusion that thermogenic gas and high salinities present in the sampled wells were naturally occurring and originating from shallow and intermediate-zone bedrock units. Results obtained through this approach did not provide any evidence that hydrocarbon wells in this area have acted as preferential migration pathways for deep-seated fluids towards shallow aquifers.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Bordeleau
- Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS), Québec, QC, Canada.
| | - D Lavoie
- Geological Survey of Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - C Rivard
- Geological Survey of Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - N Pinet
- Geological Survey of Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - D Barton
- University of Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - S Hinds
- Natural Resources and Energy Development New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB, Canada
| | - Tom Al
- University of Ottawa, 75 Laurier Ave E, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
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2
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Mendoza-Cano O, Trujillo X, Huerta M, Ríos-Silva M, Lugo-Radillo A, Bricio-Barrios JA, Rueda-Abad JC, Pérez-Rodríguez RY, Quintanilla-Montoya AL, Uribe-Ramos JM, Mendoza-Olivo VA, Murillo-Zamora E. Assessing the relationship between energy-related methane emissions and the burden of cardiovascular diseases: a cross-sectional study of 73 countries. Sci Rep 2023; 13:13515. [PMID: 37598225 PMCID: PMC10439906 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-40444-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The energy industry significantly contributes to anthropogenic methane emissions, which add to global warming and have been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). This study aims to evaluate the relationship between energy-related methane emissions and the burden of CVD, measured in disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), in 2019. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of datasets from 73 countries across all continents. The analyzed datasets included information from 2019 on environmental energy-related methane emissions, burden of DALYs due to CVD. The age-standardized prevalence of obesity in adults and life expectancy at birth were retrieved. The relationship between the variables of interest was evaluated using multiple linear regression models. In the multiple model, we observed a positive linear association between methane emissions and the log-transformed count of DALYs related to CVD. Specifically, for each unit increase in energy-related methane emissions, the burden of CVD increased by 0.06% (95% CI 0.03-0.09%, p < 0.001). The study suggests that reducing methane emissions from the energy industry could improve public health for those at risk of CVD. Policymakers can use these findings to develop strategies to reduce methane emissions and protect public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Mendoza-Cano
- Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Colima, km. 9 Colima-Coquimatlán Highway, 28400, Coquimatlán, Colima, Mexico
| | - Xóchitl Trujillo
- University Center for Biomedical Research, University of Colima, 25 de Julio Avenue 965, 28045, Colima, Colima, Mexico
| | - Miguel Huerta
- University Center for Biomedical Research, University of Colima, 25 de Julio Avenue 965, 28045, Colima, Colima, Mexico
| | - Mónica Ríos-Silva
- CONAHCyT-University of Colima, University Center for Biomedical Research, 25 de Julio Avenue 965, 28045, Colima, Colima, Mexico
| | - Agustin Lugo-Radillo
- CONAHCyT - Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Universidad Autónoma Benito Juárez de Oaxaca, Ex Hacienda de Aguilera S/N, Carr. a San Felipe del Agua, 68020, Oaxaca, Oaxaca, Mexico
| | | | - José Clemente Rueda-Abad
- Climate Change Research Program, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Scientific Research S/N, University City, 04510, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Rebeca Yasmín Pérez-Rodríguez
- Division of Natural and Exact Sciences, Department of Chemistry, University of Guanajuato, Noria Alta Unit, Col. Noria Alta S/N, 36050, Guanajuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | - Ana Luz Quintanilla-Montoya
- Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Colima, km. 9 Colima-Coquimatlán Highway, 28400, Coquimatlán, Colima, Mexico
| | - Juan Manuel Uribe-Ramos
- Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Colima, km. 9 Colima-Coquimatlán Highway, 28400, Coquimatlán, Colima, Mexico
| | | | - Efrén Murillo-Zamora
- Unit of Clinical Epidemiology Research, Mexican Institute of Social Security, Lapislázuli Avenue 250, 28984, Villa de Álvarez, Colima, Mexico.
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3
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Siegel HG, Soriano MA, Clark CJ, Johnson NP, Wulsin HG, Deziel NC, Plata DL, Darrah TH, Saiers JE. Natural and Anthropogenic Processes Affecting Domestic Groundwater Quality within the Northwestern Appalachian Basin. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:13761-13773. [PMID: 36129683 PMCID: PMC9536308 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c04011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Domestic wells serve as the primary drinking-water source for rural residents in the northern Appalachian Basin (NAB), despite a limited understanding of contaminant distributions in groundwater sources. We employ a newly collected dataset of 216 water samples from domestic wells in Ohio and West Virginia and an integrated contaminant-source attribution method to describe water quality in the western NAB and characterize key agents influencing contaminant distributions. Our results reveal arsenic and nitrate concentrations above federal maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in 6.8 and 1.3% of samples and manganese concentrations above health advisory in 7.3% of samples. Recently recharged groundwaters beneath upland regions appear vulnerable to surface-related impacts, including nitrate pollution from agricultural activities and salinization from road salting and domestic sewage sources. Valley regions serve as terminal discharge points for long-residence-time groundwaters, where mixing with basin brines is possible. Arsenic impairments occurred in alkaline groundwaters with major-ion compositions altered by ion exchange and in low-oxygen metal-rich groundwaters. Mixing with as much as 4-10% of mine discharge-like waters was observed near coal mining operations. Our study provides new insights into key agents of groundwater impairment in an understudied region of the NAB and presents an integrated approach for contaminant-source attribution applicable to other regions of intensive resource extraction.
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Affiliation(s)
- H. G. Siegel
- School
of the Environment, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06411, United States
| | - M. A. Soriano
- School
of the Environment, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06411, United States
| | - C. J. Clark
- School
of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
| | - N. P. Johnson
- School
of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
| | - H. G. Wulsin
- School
of Earth Sciences, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - N. C. Deziel
- School
of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
| | - D. L. Plata
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - T. H. Darrah
- School
of Earth Sciences, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
- Ohio
State University Global Water Institute, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - J. E. Saiers
- School
of the Environment, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06411, United States
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4
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Xiong B, Soriano MA, Gutchess KM, Hoffman N, Clark CJ, Siegel HG, De Vera GAD, Li Y, Brenneis RJ, Cox AJ, Ryan EC, Sumner AJ, Deziel NC, Saiers JE, Plata DL. Groundwaters in Northeastern Pennsylvania near intense hydraulic fracturing activities exhibit few organic chemical impacts. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2022; 24:252-264. [PMID: 35018906 PMCID: PMC11094648 DOI: 10.1039/d1em00124h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Horizontal drilling with hydraulic fracturing (HDHF) relies on the use of anthropogenic organic chemicals in proximity to residential areas, raising concern for groundwater contamination. Here, we extensively characterized organic contaminants in 94 domestic groundwater sites in Northeastern Pennsylvania after ten years of activity in the region. All analyzed volatile and semi-volatile compounds were below recommended United States Environmental Protection Agency maximum contaminant levels, and integrated concentrations across two volatility ranges, gasoline range organic compounds (GRO) and diesel range organic compounds (DRO), were low (0.13 ± 0.06 to 2.2 ± 0.7 ppb and 5.2-101.6 ppb, respectively). Following dozens of correlation analyses with distance-to-well metrics and inter-chemical indicator correlations, no statistically significant correlations were found except: (1) GRO levels were higher within 2 km of violations and (2) correlation between DRO and a few inorganic species (e.g., Ba and Sr) and methane. The correlation of DRO with inorganic species suggests a potential high salinity source, whereas elevated GRO may result from nearby safety violations. Highest-concentration DRO samples contained bis-2-ethylhexyl phthalate and N,N-dimethyltetradecylamine. Nevertheless, the overall low rate of contamination for the analytes could be explained by a spatially-resolved hydrogeologic model, where estimated transport distances from gas wells over the relevant timeframes were short relative to the distance to the nearest groundwater wells. Together, the observations and modeled results suggest a low probability of systematic groundwater organic contamination in the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boya Xiong
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
| | - Mario A Soriano
- School of the Environment, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | | | - Nicholas Hoffman
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
| | - Cassandra J Clark
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Helen G Siegel
- School of the Environment, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Glen Andrew D De Vera
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
| | - Yunpo Li
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
| | - Rebecca J Brenneis
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
| | - Austin J Cox
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
| | - Emma C Ryan
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Tufts University, Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, 136 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02111, USA
| | - Andrew J Sumner
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
| | - Nicole C Deziel
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - James E Saiers
- School of the Environment, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Desiree L Plata
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
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5
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Clark CJ, Xiong B, Soriano MA, Gutchess K, Siegel HG, Ryan EC, Johnson NP, Cassell K, Elliott EG, Li Y, Cox AJ, Bugher N, Glist L, Brenneis RJ, Sorrentino KM, Plano J, Ma X, Warren JL, Plata DL, Saiers JE, Deziel NC. Assessing Unconventional Oil and Gas Exposure in the Appalachian Basin: Comparison of Exposure Surrogates and Residential Drinking Water Measurements. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:1091-1103. [PMID: 34982938 PMCID: PMC10259677 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c05081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Health studies report associations between metrics of residential proximity to unconventional oil and gas (UOG) development and adverse health endpoints. We investigated whether exposure through household groundwater is captured by existing metrics and a newly developed metric incorporating groundwater flow paths. We compared metrics with detection frequencies/concentrations of 64 organic and inorganic UOG-related chemicals/groups in residential groundwater from 255 homes (Pennsylvania n = 94 and Ohio n = 161). Twenty-seven chemicals were detected in ≥20% of water samples at concentrations generally below U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards. In Pennsylvania, two organic chemicals/groups had reduced odds of detection with increasing distance to the nearest well: 1,2-dichloroethene and benzene (Odds Ratio [OR]: 0.46, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.23-0.93) and m- and p-xylene (OR: 0.28, 95% CI: 0.10-0.80); results were consistent across metrics. In Ohio, the odds of detecting toluene increased with increasing distance to the nearest well (OR: 1.48, 95% CI: 1.12-1.95), also consistent across metrics. Correlations between inorganic chemicals and metrics were limited (all |ρ| ≤ 0.28). Limited associations between metrics and chemicals may indicate that UOG-related water contamination occurs rarely/episodically, more complex metrics may be needed to capture drinking water exposure, and/or spatial metrics in health studies may better reflect exposure to other stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassandra J Clark
- Yale School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, 60 College Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06510, United States
| | - Boya Xiong
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Parsons Laboratory, 15 Vassar Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- University of Minnesota, Department of Civil, Environmental and Geo-Engineering, 500 Pillsbury Dr. SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Mario A Soriano
- Yale School of the Environment, 195 Prospect Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
| | - Kristina Gutchess
- Yale School of the Environment, 195 Prospect Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
| | - Helen G Siegel
- Yale School of the Environment, 195 Prospect Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
| | - Emma C Ryan
- Tufts University, Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, 136 Harrison Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, United States
| | - Nicholaus P Johnson
- Yale School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, 60 College Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06510, United States
| | - Kelsie Cassell
- Yale School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, 60 College Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06510, United States
| | - Elise G Elliott
- Yale School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, 60 College Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06510, United States
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Yunpo Li
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Parsons Laboratory, 15 Vassar Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Austin J Cox
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Parsons Laboratory, 15 Vassar Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Nicolette Bugher
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Parsons Laboratory, 15 Vassar Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Lukas Glist
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Parsons Laboratory, 15 Vassar Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Rebecca J Brenneis
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Parsons Laboratory, 15 Vassar Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Keli M Sorrentino
- Center for Perinatal, Pediatric and Environmental Epidemiology, Yale University Schools of Public Health and Medicine, 1 Church Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06510, United States
| | - Julie Plano
- Center for Perinatal, Pediatric and Environmental Epidemiology, Yale University Schools of Public Health and Medicine, 1 Church Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06510, United States
| | - Xiaomei Ma
- Yale School of Public Health, Department of Chronic Disease Epidemiology, 60 College Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06510, United States
| | - Joshua L Warren
- Yale School of Public Health, Department of Biostatistics, 60 College Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06510, United States
| | - Desiree L Plata
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Parsons Laboratory, 15 Vassar Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - James E Saiers
- Yale School of the Environment, 195 Prospect Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
| | - Nicole C Deziel
- Yale School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, 60 College Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06510, United States
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Jin T, Meng Q, Li X, Zhou L. Fluorescence Characteristics of Coalbed Methane Produced Water and Its Influence on Freshwater Bacteria in the South Qinshui Basin, China. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182412921. [PMID: 34948531 PMCID: PMC8701165 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182412921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2021] [Revised: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Production of coalbed methane (CBM) resources commonly requires using hydraulic fracturing and chemical production well additives. Concern exists for the existence of chemical compounds in CBM produced water, due to the risk of environmental receptor contamination. In this study, parallel factor method analysis (PARAFAC), fluorescence index, and the fluorescence area integral methods were used to analyse the properties of CBM produced water sampled from Shizhuang Block (one of the most active CBM-producing regions in the Qinshui Basin). A culture experiment was designed to determine the effect of discharged CBM produced water on microorganisms in freshwater. Water quality analysis shows the hydrochemistry of most water samples as Na-HCO3 type produced water of CBM appears as a generally weak alkaline (pH 8.69 ± 0.185) with high salinity, high alkalinity, and a high chemical oxygen demand (COD) value. Three individual components were identified by using parallel factor method analysis as humic-like components (C1), fulvic-like components (C2), and amino acid-like substances (C3). The fluorescence characteristic index comprehensively explains that the fluorescent substances in CBM produced water has the characteristics of a low degree of humification and a high recent self-generating source. The region integration results of characteristic peaks show that tyrosine-like and tryptophan-like materials account for more than 67% of fluorescent substances in CBM produced water. The addition of produced water from coalbed methane promotes the growth of freshwater bacteria, and this process is accompanied by the decrease of the proportion of fulvic acid, humic acid, and the increase of the proportion of soluble microbial metabolites. This paper proposes a convenient method for organic matter identification of CBM produced water and provides some theoretical support and reference for the improvement of CBM water treatment and utilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Jin
- School of Environmental Science and Spatial Informatics, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China; (T.J.); (X.L.); (L.Z.)
| | - Qingjun Meng
- School of Environmental Science and Spatial Informatics, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China; (T.J.); (X.L.); (L.Z.)
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Resource Utilization and Ecological Restoration of Old Industrial Base, Xuzhou 221116, China
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-138-5203-7608
| | - Xiangdong Li
- School of Environmental Science and Spatial Informatics, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China; (T.J.); (X.L.); (L.Z.)
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Resource Utilization and Ecological Restoration of Old Industrial Base, Xuzhou 221116, China
| | - Lai Zhou
- School of Environmental Science and Spatial Informatics, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China; (T.J.); (X.L.); (L.Z.)
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Resource Utilization and Ecological Restoration of Old Industrial Base, Xuzhou 221116, China
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7
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Baseline Groundwater Quality before Shale Gas Development in Xishui, Southwest China: Analyses of Hydrochemistry and Multiple Environmental Isotopes (2H, 18O, 13C, 87Sr/86Sr, 11B, and Noble Gas Isotopes). WATER 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/w12061741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The baseline quality of pre-drilling shallow groundwater is essential for the evaluation of potential environmental impacts of shale gas development. The Xishui region in the northern Guizhou Province of Southwest China has the potential for shale gas development but there is a lack of commercial production. As for the future environmental concerns in this undeveloped area, this study presented the hydrochemical and isotopic characteristics of shallow groundwater and its dissolved gas before shale gas development and determined the sensitive monitoring indicators. Results showed that shallow groundwater with an average pH of 7.73 had low total dissolved solids (TDS) ranging between 102 and 397 mg/L, with the main water chemistry types of HCO3-Ca and HCO3-Ca·Mg. The quality of most groundwater samples satisfied the drinking water standards of China. The mass concentration of dissolved methane in groundwater was below the detection limit (<0.01 mg/L), suggesting the low baseline value of hydrocarbon. The shallow groundwater was mainly recharged by local precipitation based on water isotopes. Water chemistry was modified by the dominant dissolution of carbonate rocks and partial dissolution of clastic rocks, as indicated by δ13C-DIC, 87Sr/86Sr, and δ11B. Evidence from carbon isotopes of dissolved methane and CO2 (δ13C-CH4 and δ13C-CO2) and noble gas isotopes (3He/4He and 4He/20Ne) demonstrated that the biogenic methane mainly originated from acetate fermentation and the dissolved noble gas was a result of the dissolution of air. Based on the geochemical and isotopic differences between shallow groundwater and flowback and produced water (including shale gas) from the Weiyuan and Fuling shale gas fields as well as shale gas from Xishui, this study has provided the sensitive monitoring indicators and methods for identifying potential pollution of regional shallow groundwater related to shale gas development in the future.
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8
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Iverach CP, Cendón DI, Beckmann S, Hankin SI, Manefield M, Kelly BFJ. Constraining source attribution of methane in an alluvial aquifer with multiple recharge pathways. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 703:134927. [PMID: 31767334 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2019] [Revised: 10/08/2019] [Accepted: 10/09/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Identifying the source of methane (CH4) in groundwater is often complicated due to various production, degradation and migration pathways, particularly in settings where there are multiple groundwater recharge pathways. This study demonstrates the ability to constrain the origin of CH4 within an alluvial aquifer that could be sourced from in situ microbiological production or underlying formations at depth. To characterise the hydrochemical and microbiological processes active within the alluvium, previously reported hydrochemical data (major ion chemistry and isotopic tracers (3H, 14C, 36Cl)) were interpreted in the context of CH4 and carbon dioxide (CO2) isotopic chemistry, and the microbial community composition in the groundwater. The rate of observed oxidation of CH4 within the aquifer was then characterised using a Rayleigh fractionation model. The stratification of the hydrochemical facies and microbiological community populations is interpreted to be a result of the gradational mixing of water from river leakage and floodwater recharge with water from basal artesian inflow. Within the aquifer there is a low abundance of methanogenic archaea indicating that there is limited biological potential for microbial CH4 production. Our results show that the resulting interconnection between hydrochemistry and microbial community composition affects the occurrence and oxidation of CH4 within the alluvial aquifer, constraining the source of CH4 in the groundwater to the geological formations beneath the alluvium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte P Iverach
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia; Connected Waters Initiative Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia; Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, New Illawarra Rd, Lucas Heights, NSW 2234, Australia
| | - Dioni I Cendón
- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, New Illawarra Rd, Lucas Heights, NSW 2234, Australia; Connected Waters Initiative Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Sabrina Beckmann
- College of Earth, Ocean and Environment, University of Delaware, 700 Pilottown Road, 19958 Lewes, USA
| | - Stuart I Hankin
- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, New Illawarra Rd, Lucas Heights, NSW 2234, Australia
| | - Mike Manefield
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, UNSW Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Bryce F J Kelly
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia; Connected Waters Initiative Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
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