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McDevitt B, Tasker TL, Coyte R, Blondes MS, Stewart BW, Capo RC, Hakala JA, Vengosh A, Burgos WD, Warner NR. Utica/Point Pleasant brine isotopic compositions (δ 7Li, δ 11B, δ 138Ba) elucidate mechanisms of lithium enrichment in the Appalachian Basin. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 947:174588. [PMID: 38981550 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 07/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024]
Abstract
Global Li production will require a ∼500 % increase to meet 2050 projected energy storage demands. One potential source is oil and gas wastewater (i.e., produced water or brine), which naturally has high total dissolved solids (TDS) concentrations, that can also be enriched in Li (>100 mg/L). Understanding the sources and mechanisms responsible for high naturally-occurring Li concentrations can aid in efficient targeting of these brines. The isotopic composition (δ7Li, δ11B, δ138Ba) of produced water and core samples from the Utica Shale and Point Pleasant Formation (UPP) in the Appalachian Basin, USA indicates that depth-dependent thermal maturity and water-rock interaction, including diagenetic clay mineral transformations, likely control Li concentrations. A survey of Li content in produced waters throughout the USA indicates that Appalachian Basin brines from the Marcellus Shale to the UPP have the potential for economic resource recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bonnie McDevitt
- U.S. Geological Survey, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Reston, VA, United States of America.
| | - Travis L Tasker
- Saint Francis University, Department of Environmental Engineering, Loretto, PA, United States of America
| | - Rachel Coyte
- New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Earth and Environmental Science Department, Socorro, NM, United States of America
| | - Madalyn S Blondes
- U.S. Geological Survey, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Reston, VA, United States of America
| | - Brian W Stewart
- University of Pittsburgh, Department of Geology and Environmental Science, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
| | - Rosemary C Capo
- University of Pittsburgh, Department of Geology and Environmental Science, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
| | - J Alexandra Hakala
- Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
| | - Avner Vengosh
- Duke University, Nicholas School of the Environment, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - William D Burgos
- The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, State College, PA, United States of America
| | - Nathaniel R Warner
- The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, State College, PA, United States of America
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Farnan J, Eck A, Kearney A, Dorman FL, Ismail H, Chase E, Liu X, Warner NR, Burgos WD. Oil and gas produced waters fail to meet beneficial reuse recommendations for use as dust suppressants. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 919:170807. [PMID: 38336068 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Produced water from conventional oil and gas wells (O&G PW) is beneficially reused as an inexpensive alternative to commercial dust suppressants which minimize inhalable particulate matter (PM10) from unpaved roads. The efficacy and environmental impacts of using O&G PW instead of commercial products have not been extensively investigated, although O&G PW has been used for dust suppression for decades and often has elevated concentrations of environmental pollutants. In this study, the effectiveness of O&G PW is compared to commercial products under variable humidity conditions by measuring total generated PM10 emissions from treated road aggregate discs. To measure environmental impacts, model roadbeds were treated with six O&G PW and commercial products then subjected to a simulated two-year, 24-h storm event. Generated runoff water was collected and characterized. In efficacy studies, O&G PW offered variable dust reduction (10-85 %) compared to rainwater controls under high humidity (50 %) conditions but performed similarly or worse than controls when humidity was low (20 %). Conversely, all but two commercial products reduced dust emissions by over 90 % regardless of humidity. In rainfall-runoff experiments, roads treated with O&G PWs and CaCl2 Brine generated runoff that was hypersaline, indicating that mobilization of soluble salts could contribute to freshwater salinization. Though most runoff concentrations were highest from roadbeds treated with CaCl2 Brine, runoff from roadbeds treated with O&G PW had the highest concentrations of combined radium (83.6 pCi/L), sodium (3560 mg/L), and suspended solids (5330 mg/L). High sodium concentrations likely dispersed clay particles, which increased road mass loss by 47.2 kg solids/km/storm event compared to rainwater controls. Roadbeds treated with CaCl2 Brine, which had low sodium concentrations, reduced solid road mass loss by 98.1 kg solids/km/storm event. Based on this study, O&G PW do not perform as well as commercial products and pose unique risks to environmental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Farnan
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
| | - Andrew Eck
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
| | - Andrew Kearney
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
| | - Frank L Dorman
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
| | - Hassan Ismail
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
| | - Eric Chase
- Center for Dirt and Gravel Road Studies, Larson Transportation Institute, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
| | - Xiaofeng Liu
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
| | - Nathaniel R Warner
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
| | - William D Burgos
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
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Bondu R, Kloppmann W, Naumenko-Dèzes MO, Humez P, Mayer B. Potential Impacts of Shale Gas Development on Inorganic Groundwater Chemistry: Implications for Environmental Baseline Assessment in Shallow Aquifers. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:9657-9671. [PMID: 34251200 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c01172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The potential contamination of shallow groundwater with inorganic constituents is a major environmental concern associated with shale gas extraction through hydraulic fracturing. However, the impact of shale gas development on groundwater quality is a highly controversial issue. The only way to reliably assess whether groundwater quality has been impacted by shale gas development is to collect pre-development baseline data against which subsequent changes in groundwater quality can be compared. The objective of this paper is to provide a conceptual and methodological framework for establishing a baseline of inorganic groundwater quality in shale gas areas, which is becoming standard practice as a prerequisite for evaluating shale gas development impacts on shallow aquifers. For this purpose, this paper first reviews the potential sources of inorganic contaminants in shallow groundwater from shale gas areas. Then, it reviews the previous baseline studies of groundwater geochemistry in shale gas areas, showing that a comprehensive baseline assessment includes documenting the natural sources of salinity, potential geogenic contamination, and potential anthropogenic influences from legacy contamination and surface land use activities that are not related to shale gas development. Based on this knowledge, best practices are identified in terms of baseline sampling, selection of inorganic baseline parameters, and definition of threshold levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raphaël Bondu
- BRGM (French Geological Survey), 3 Avenue Claude-Guillemin, 45060 Orléans, France
| | - Wolfram Kloppmann
- BRGM (French Geological Survey), 3 Avenue Claude-Guillemin, 45060 Orléans, France
| | | | - Pauline Humez
- Department of Geoscience, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Bernhard Mayer
- Department of Geoscience, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
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Blondes MS, Shelton JL, Engle MA, Trembly JP, Doolan CA, Jubb AM, Chenault JC, Rowan EL, Haefner RJ, Mailot BE. Utica Shale Play Oil and Gas Brines: Geochemistry and Factors Influencing Wastewater Management. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:13917-13925. [PMID: 33052649 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c02461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The Utica and Marcellus Shale Plays in the Appalachian Basin are the fourth and first largest natural gas producing plays in the United States, respectively. Hydrocarbon production generates large volumes of brine ("produced water") that must be disposed of, treated, or reused. Though Marcellus brines have been studied extensively, there are few studies from the Utica Shale Play. This study presents new brine chemical analyses from 16 Utica Shale Play wells in Ohio and Pennsylvania. Results from Na-Cl-Br systematics and stable and radiogenic isotopes suggest that the Utica Shale Play brines are likely residual pore water concentrated beyond halite saturation during the formation of the Ordovician Beekmantown evaporative sequence. The narrow range of chemistry for the Utica Shale Play produced waters (e.g., total dissolved solids = 214-283 g/L) over both time and space implies a consistent composition for disposal and reuse planning. The amount of salt produced annually from the Utica Shale Play is equivalent to 3.4% of the annual U.S. halite production. Utica Shale Play brines have radium activities 580 times the EPA maximum contaminant level and are supersaturated with respect to barite, indicating the potential for surface and aqueous radium hazards if not properly disposed of.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madalyn S Blondes
- U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Energy Resources Science Center, 12201 Sunrise Valley Dr., MS956, Reston, Virginia 20192 United States
| | - Jenna L Shelton
- U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Energy Resources Science Center, 12201 Sunrise Valley Dr., MS956, Reston, Virginia 20192 United States
| | - Mark A Engle
- U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Energy Resources Science Center, 12201 Sunrise Valley Dr., MS956, Reston, Virginia 20192 United States
| | - Jason P Trembly
- Ohio University, Institute for Sustainable Energy and the Environment, 259 Stocker Center, Athens, Ohio 45701, United States
| | - Colin A Doolan
- U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Energy Resources Science Center, 12201 Sunrise Valley Dr., MS956, Reston, Virginia 20192 United States
| | - Aaron M Jubb
- U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Energy Resources Science Center, 12201 Sunrise Valley Dr., MS956, Reston, Virginia 20192 United States
| | - Jessica C Chenault
- U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Energy Resources Science Center, 12201 Sunrise Valley Dr., MS956, Reston, Virginia 20192 United States
| | - Elisabeth L Rowan
- U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Energy Resources Science Center, 12201 Sunrise Valley Dr., MS956, Reston, Virginia 20192 United States
| | - Ralph J Haefner
- U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Water Science Center 5840 Enterprise Drive Lansing, Lansing, Michigan 48911, United States
| | - Brian E Mailot
- U.S. Geological Survey, Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Water Science Center, 6460 Busch Blvd. Ste. 100, Columbus, Ohio 43229, United States
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