scholarly journals Monitoring Environmental Parameters with Oil and Gas Developments in the Permian Basin, USA

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (11) ◽  
pp. 4026
Author(s):  
Robert Nelson ◽  
Joonghyeok Heo
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Change ◽  
Groundwater Quality ◽  
Groundwater Contamination ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Open Data ◽  
Permian Basin ◽  
Distribution Maps ◽  
Quality Maps

This study evaluates the groundwater qualities and environmental changes to obtain information on the groundwater contamination in the Permian Basin, Texas. Coupled with the U.S. government’s open data, these analyses can identify regions where environmental change could have affected groundwater quality. A total of thirty-six wells were selected within the six counties: Andrews, Martin, Ector, Midland, Crane, and Upton. Spatial distribution maps were created for six different parameters: pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), chloride, fluoride, nitrate, and arsenic. Total groundwater quality maps incorporate all the contaminants and denote regions of poor, medium, and optimum conditions. To identify spatial changes in groundwater quality, maps were separated into two different time intervals, 1992–2005 and 2006–2019. We found that groundwater contamination resulted primarily from the mobilization of the contaminant from anthropogenic activities such as chemical fertilizers, oil and gas developments. Overall, groundwater quality decreased during the study period from 1992 to 2019 as population and urban growth began to develop in the Permian Basin. This study contributes on understanding of the response of groundwater quality associated with environmental change in the Permian Basin. Therefore, this research provides important information for groundwater managements in developing plans for the use of water resource in the future.

scholarly journals Multiple Groundwater Parameters and Environmental Changes using Geospatial Techniques in the Permian Basin, Texas

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Nelson ◽  
Joonghyeok Heo
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Change ◽  
Groundwater Quality ◽  
Groundwater Contamination ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Open Data ◽  
Permian Basin ◽  
Distribution Maps ◽  
Spatial Changes ◽  
Quality Maps

This study evaluates spatial analyses of groundwater quality and environmental changes to obtain information on the groundwater contamination in the Permian Basin, Texas. Coupled with the U.S. government’s open data, these analyses can identify regions where environmental change could have potentially effected groundwater quality. A total of thirty-six wells were selected within the six counties: Andrews, Martin, Ector, Midland, Crane, and Upton. Spatial distribution maps were created for six different parameters: pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), chloride, fluoride, nitrate, and arsenic. Total groundwater quality maps incorporate all the contaminants and denote regions of poor, medium, and optimum conditions. To identify spatial changes in groundwater quality, maps were separated into two different time intervals, 1992-2005 and 2006-2019. We found that groundwater contamination resulted primarily from the mobilization of the contaminant from natural sources or anthropogenic activities such as chemical fertilizers. Overall, groundwater quality decreased during the study period from 1992 to 2019 as population and urban growth began to develop in the Permian Basin. This study contributes on understanding of the response of groundwater quality associated with environmental change in the Permian Basin. Therefore, this research provides important information for groundwater managements in developing plans for the use of water resource in the future for Texas.

scholarly journals The Impact of Hydraulic Fracturing on Groundwater Quality in the Permian Basin, West Texas, USA

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 796 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jose Rodriguez ◽  
Joonghyeok Heo ◽  
Kee Han Kim
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Fracturing ◽  
Groundwater Quality ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Historical Analysis ◽  
Quality Parameters ◽  
Quality Analysis ◽  
Permian Basin ◽  
West Texas ◽  
Normal Probability ◽  
The Impact

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of hydraulic fracturing on groundwater quality in Ector, Midland, and Martin Counties located in the Permian Basin, West Texas. Chemical fluids used in hydraulic fracturing and groundwater quality parameters (chloride, fluoride, calcium carbonate, nitrate, pH, and total dissolved solids), were statistically analyzed assuming a normal probability function distribution and through a one-way analysis of variance of the parameters. Additionally, the depth of groundwater well versus water quality analysis as well as historical analysis of groundwater quality parameters of wells were performed. The result for each county was individually examined and contrasted with the other two counties, in order to make inferences about groundwater quality and oil and gas activities for the three counties. Potential risks to human health from the abnormal levels of the groundwater quality parameters studied were also discussed based on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) standards. This research provides important information on groundwater quality in the Permian Basin and contributes on understanding the response to development in hydraulic fracturing.

scholarly journals Evaluating Potential for Groundwater Contamination from Surface Spills Associated with Unconventional Oil and Gas Production: Methodology and Application to the South Platte Alluvial Aquifer

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 353
Author(s):  
Cynthia Mai Kanno ◽  
John E. McCray
Keyword(s):  
Groundwater Quality ◽  
Groundwater Contamination ◽  
Surface Area ◽  
Water Table ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Gas Production ◽  
The South ◽  
Oil And Gas Production ◽  
Unconventional Oil And Gas ◽  
South Platte

Surface spills occur frequently during unconventional oil and gas production operations and have the potential to impact groundwater quality. A screening-level analysis using contaminant fate and transport simulations was performed to: (1) evaluate whether hypothetical (yet realistic) spills of aqueous produced fluids pose risks to groundwater quality in the South Platte Aquifer, (2) identify the key hydrologic and transport factors that determine these risks, and (3) develop a screening-level methodology that could be applied for other sites and pollutants. This assessment considered a range of representative hydrologic conditions and transport behavior for benzene, a regulated pollutant in production fluids. Realistic spill volumes and areas were determined using publicly available data collected by Colorado’s regulatory agency. Risk of groundwater pollution was based on predicted benzene concentrations at the groundwater table. Results suggest that the risk of groundwater contamination from benzene in a produced water spill was relatively low in the South Platte Aquifer. Spill size was the dominant factor influencing whether a contaminant reached the water table. Only statistically larger spills (volume per surface area ≥12.0 cm) posed a clear risk. Storm events following a spill were generally required to transport typical (median)-sized spills (0.38 cm volume per surface area) to the water table; typical spills only posed risk if a 500 or 100 year storm (followed by little degradation or sorption) occurred right after the spill. This methodology could be applied to evaluate spills occurring over other aquifers.

scholarly journals Groundwater quality assessment for irrigation use in the Godavari delta region of east coast India using IRWQI and GIS

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Nageswara Rao ◽  
P. Swarna Latha ◽  
P.V. Ramesh Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Groundwater Quality ◽  
Saline Water ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Fresh Groundwater ◽  
Study Region ◽  
Distribution Maps ◽  
Groundwater Aquifers ◽  
The Status ◽  
Kelly’S Ratio ◽  
Physical And Chemical

Abstract The present work was carried out in the deltaic region of the river Godavari in Coastal Andhra Pradesh of Southern India to evaluate the status of groundwater quality for irrigation. Groundwater is predominantly used in these productive agricultural fields. Saline water intrusion in fresh groundwater aquifers was recorded in the study area which is mainly due to the excess withdrawal of groundwater. A total of 80 groundwater samples were analyzed for various physical and chemical parameters using standard chemical procedures. The groundwater mainly represents sodium-chloride type which exhibits the mixing of fresh water with the saline water. The high correlation between Na+-Cl− and Mg2+-HCO3− explained that the intermixing of aquifer waters and the leaching of secondary salts. The mechanisms of groundwater have been shown mainly evaporation-fractional crystallization process. The irrigation water quality index was calculated by using different quality indices such as Na%, SAR, RSBC, PI, MH, KR, PS, Cl−:HCO3−, Mg2+:Ca2+, and Na+:Ca2+ to estimate the suitability of groundwater quality for irrigation. Spatial distribution maps were prepared using raster interpolation in GIS. The assessment revealed that the areas covering 67.6% of electrical conductivity, 100% of total dissolved solids, 57.5% of percent sodium, 21.3% of residual sodium bicarbonate, 66.3% of permeable index, 16.3% of magnesium hazard, 65% of Kelly's ratio, 100% of potential salinity were required severe to moderate restrictions. Overall, the groundwater in the study region showed potential salinity due to geogenic and anthropogenic activities thus it must be monitored for sustainable agriculture.

scholarly journals Hydrogeochemical Assessment of Groundwater and Suitability Analysis for Domestic and Agricultural Utility in Southern Punjab, Pakistan

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (24) ◽  
pp. 3589
Author(s):  
Javed Iqbal ◽  
Chunli Su ◽  
Abdur Rashid ◽  
Nan Yang ◽  
Muhammad Yousuf Jat Baloch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Groundwater Quality ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Exchange Process ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Suitability Analysis ◽  
Ion Exchange Process ◽  
Reverse Ion Exchange ◽  
Groundwater Samples

Groundwater is a critical water supply for safe drinking water, agriculture, and industry worldwide. In the Khanewal district of Punjab, Pakistan, groundwater has severely deteriorated during the last few decades due to environmental changes and anthropogenic activities. Therefore, 68 groundwater samples were collected and analyzed for their main ions and trace elements to investigate the suitability of groundwater sources for drinking and agricultural purposes. Principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis (CA) were employed to determine the major factors influencing groundwater quality. To assess the groundwater’s appropriateness for drinking and irrigation, drinking and agricultural indices were used. The pH of the groundwater samples ranged from 6.9 to 9.2, indicating that the aquifers were slightly acidic to alkaline. The major cations were distributed as follows: Na+ > Ca2+ > Mg2+ > K+. Meanwhile, the anions are distributed as follows: HCO3− > SO42− > Cl− > F−. The main hydrochemical facies were identified as a mixed type; however, a mixed magnesium, calcium, and chloride pattern was observed. The reverse ion exchange process helps in exchanging Na+ with Ca2+ and Mg2+ ions in the groundwater system. Rock weathering processes, such as the dissolution of calcite, dolomite, and gypsum minerals, dominated the groundwater hydrochemistry. According to the Weight Arithmetic Water Quality Index (WAWQI), 50% of the water samples were unsafe for drinking. The Wilcox diagram, USSL diagram, and some other agricultural indices resulted in around 32% of the groundwater samples being unsuitable for irrigation purposes. The Khanewal’s groundwater quality was vulnerable due to geology and the influence of anthropogenic activities. For groundwater sustainability in Khanewal, management strategies and policies are required.

Temporal variation in groundwater quality in the Permian Basin of Texas, a region of increasing unconventional oil and gas development

2016 ◽  
Vol 562 ◽  
pp. 906-913 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zacariah L. Hildenbrand ◽  
Doug D. Carlton ◽  
Brian E. Fontenot ◽  
Jesse M. Meik ◽  
Jayme L. Walton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Groundwater Quality ◽  
Temporal Variation ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Permian Basin ◽  
Oil And Gas Development ◽  
Unconventional Oil ◽  
Unconventional Oil And Gas

Human- environment interactions during the mid-late Holocene and the Anthropocene - lessons from NW Indian plains and Bengal Delta

2021 ◽  
pp. SP515-2020-122
Author(s):  
Yama Dixit ◽  
Sravani Biswas
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Change ◽  
Late Holocene ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Indian Subcontinent ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Environment Interaction ◽  
Indus Civilization ◽  
Human Environment ◽  
Bengal Delta

AbstractThe Indian subcontinent today houses about one- third of the global population and is one of the most vulnerable regions to future climate variability. This region has seen changes in civilizations, kingdoms and more recently political regimes, that were intricately linked to changing environment over mid-late Holocene. A comparative analysis of human-environment interaction within different regions at different time scales of the Quaternary is however lacking. In this paper we discuss the human-environment interactions taking case studies from two diverse time periods and geographically different regions from the Indian sub-continent. First, we review and analyze the role of environmental change in the evolution of Indus civilization on the northwestern Indian subcontinent during the mid-late Holocene and secondly, we discuss the role of both the anthropogenic activities and environmental change during the Anthropocene in shaping up the Bengal delta. Overall, during the mid-late Holocene, Indus cultural transformations were driven by natural environmental changes, whereas the anthropogenic activities in the last few centuries modified the Bengal deltaic landscape which intensified the impacts of natural disasters - in both cases a change in socio-political scenarios occurred. Such studies can be used as benchmarks to understand the future response of societies to environmental changes.

Groundwater Quality Assessment Using Geospatial Techniques and WQI in North East of Adama Town, Oromia Region, Ethiopia

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shankar Karuppannan ◽  
Nafyad Serre Kawo
Keyword(s):  
Groundwater Quality ◽  
Sustainable Use ◽  
World Health ◽  
Geospatial Techniques ◽  
Distribution Maps ◽  
North East ◽  
Drinking And Irrigation ◽  
Groundwater Samples ◽  
Arc Gis ◽  
Health Organization

Assessment of groundwater quality is vital for the sustainable use of the resources for domestic and agricultural purposes. In this study spatial variation of physicochemical parameters were analyzed for Northeast Adama Town. Water Quality Index (WQI) and irrigation indices were used to determine the suitability of groundwater for drinking and irrigation purposes, respectively. Further, the physical-chemical results were compared with the Ethiopian standards and the World Health Organization (WHO) standards for drinking and public health. Using GIS interpolation methods in Arc GIS 10.3.1, spatial distribution maps of pH, TDS, EC, Cl−, HCO32−, SO42−, Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+ and K+, RSC, SAR, Na% were prepared. Results indicated that except ASTU well 2, all samples are below the desirable limits of WHO. The WQI results indicated that 85% of samples and 15% of samples were in good and poor categories, respectively. Irrigation indices show that the most groundwater samples have excellent water classes, indicating that they are suitable for irrigation purposes.

scholarly journals Historical Assessments of Inorganic Pollutants in the Sinkhole Region of Winkler County, Texas, USA

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 7513
Author(s):  
Joshua Lozano ◽  
Joonghyeok Heo ◽  
Mijin Seo
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Environmental Protection Agency ◽  
Water Contamination ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Inorganic Pollutants ◽  
Safety Standards ◽  
The Public ◽  
West Texas ◽  
Contamination Levels

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the public water contamination levels of Winkler County, in West Texas. With water scarcity becoming more prevalent in arid climates like West Texas, it is important to ensure the water quality in these areas. The Dockum and Pecos Valley aquifers were analyzed for inorganic pollutants that could inhibit the water. The parameters such as copper, lead, arsenic, nitrate, chloride, and chromium level reports were provided from 1972 to 2018 to analyze and compare to other studies such as the ones conducted in the Midland/Odessa area. The results were compared to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) safety standards, and conclusions were made for the safety consumption of water within the county. We found that inorganic pollutants resulted mainly from the mobilization of the contaminant from anthropogenic activities such as chemical fertilizers, oil and gas developments. This research provides important information for inorganic pollutants in the sinkhole region of Winkler County and contributes to understanding the response to the aquifers. The significance of water quality in West Texas is now more important than ever to ensure that everyone has clean drinking water.

scholarly journals Multi-domain probiotic consortium as an alternative to chemical remediation of oil spills at coral reefs and adjacent sites

Microbiome ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Denise P. Silva ◽  
Helena D. M. Villela ◽  
Henrique F. Santos ◽  
Gustavo A. S. Duarte ◽  
José Roberto Ribeiro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Community ◽  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Oil Spills ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Oil Contamination ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Corexit 9500 ◽  
Coral Health ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Beginning in the last century, coral reefs have suffered the consequences of anthropogenic activities, including oil contamination. Chemical remediation methods, such as dispersants, can cause substantial harm to corals and reduce their resilience to stressors. To evaluate the impacts of oil contamination and find potential alternative solutions to chemical dispersants, we conducted a mesocosm experiment with the fire coral Millepora alcicornis, which is sensitive to environmental changes. We exposed M. alcicornis to a realistic oil-spill scenario in which we applied an innovative multi-domain bioremediator consortium (bacteria, filamentous fungi, and yeast) and a chemical dispersant (Corexit® 9500, one of the most widely used dispersants), to assess the effects on host health and host-associated microbial communities. Results The selected multi-domain microbial consortium helped to mitigate the impacts of the oil, substantially degrading the polycyclic aromatic and n-alkane fractions and maintaining the physiological integrity of the corals. Exposure to Corexit 9500 negatively impacted the host physiology and altered the coral-associated microbial community. After exposure, the abundances of certain bacterial genera such as Rugeria and Roseovarius increased, as previously reported in stressed or diseased corals. We also identified several bioindicators of Corexit 9500 in the microbiome. The impact of Corexit 9500 on the coral health and microbial community was far greater than oil alone, killing corals after only 4 days of exposure in the flow-through system. In the treatments with Corexit 9500, the action of the bioremediator consortium could not be observed directly because of the extreme toxicity of the dispersant to M. alcicornis and its associated microbiome. Conclusions Our results emphasize the importance of investigating the host-associated microbiome in order to detect and mitigate the effects of oil contamination on corals and the potential role of microbial mitigation and bioindicators as conservation tools. Chemical dispersants were far more damaging to corals and their associated microbiome than oil, and should not be used close to coral reefs. This study can aid in decision-making to minimize the negative effects of oil and dispersants on coral reefs.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document