Brine spills associated with unconventional oil development in North ...
Supporting Information
Brine spills associated with unconventional oil development in North Dakota Nancy E. Lauer1, Jennifer S. Harkness1, Avner Vengosh1*
1
Division of Earth and Ocean Sciences, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
*Corresponding author phone: 919-681-8050. Fax: 919-684-5833; email: [email protected]
Contents
Page
1. Sample Collection Protocols
S2
2. Supporting Figures (9 figures)
S3-S11
3. Supporting Tables (8 tables)
S12-S18
S1
Sample Collection Protocols Water samples were collected from July 9- July 14, 2015. Samples were collected for analysis of (1) major anions, (2) major cations, (3) trace metals, (4) strontium isotopes, (5) oxygen and hydrogen isotopes, (6) alkalinity, and (7) dissolved organic carbon, and (8) dissolved radium. Samples collected for major anions, Sr isotopes, and dissolved organic carbon were filtered in the field in new high-density polyethylene (HDPE) sample bottles using 0.45µm syringe filters. Samples collected for major cations and trace metals were filtered (0.45µm syringe filters) in the field in new HDPE sample bottles that were acid washed and preserved using ~10% high purity nitric acid. Samples collected for alkalinity and oxygen and hydrogen isotopes were collected unfiltered and underwater in new HDPE sample bottles with zero headspace. Immediately following collection, samples were stored on ice until returned to the laboratory. Dissolved Ra was measured in select spill water samples by concentrating dissolved Ra on manganese oxide fibers. 2-25 liters of spill water were run through two sequential columns each containing ~10 grams of MnO fibers. Flow rates were kept at less than 1 liter per minute, and if necessary, samples were diluted using distilled water to conductivity less than 10 mS/cm to ensure efficient adsorption of Ra to the fibers. The two fibers for each sample were analyzed on the gamma detector separately. In spill waters containing dissolved Ra, all Ra appeared to be captured on the first fiber, indicating that nearly 100% retention of the samples dissolved Ra on the fiber.
S2
Supporting Figures
Figure S1. Specific locations of collected spillwater and spill sediments in the Bear Den Bay Spill site. Soil/sediment samples were collected at ND102A, ND102B, ND102C, ND102D, ND102E, and ND103. Water samples were collected at ND102 and ND103. Lake Sakakawea is located downstream of the spill.
S3
Figure S2. Specific locations of collected spill water and spill sediments in the Blacktail Creek Spill site. Soil/sediment samples were collected at ND125, ND124, ND123, ND123A, ND123B, and ND122. Water samples were collected at ND125, ND124, ND123, ND126, and ND122.
S4
Figure S3. Alkalinity vs. TOC in all samples
S5
Figure S4. Lithium, strontium, and boron vs. chloride in water samples, sorted by water source.
S6
Figure S5. δ2H vs. δ18O in water samples, sorted by water types. Stable isotopes in background surface water were highly correlated with a slope of ~5.4 (r=0.92). Such a slope is expected from mixing of the Bakken brines (red circles) with background water, which was observed in Type A spills.
S7
Figure S6. Sulfate, barium, and manganese vs. chloride in water samples, sorted by water source.
S8
Figure S7. Brine spills vs. oil and gas wells in North Dakota. Note the positive correlation (R2= 0.66) between the number of brine spills and the number of oil and gas wells, suggesting there is a relatively higher occurrence of spills in areas with higher well density. This co-occurrence of brine spills and oil and gas wells is drawn from comparing the number of brine spills to the number of gas wells in each township (36 square miles) in North Dakota.
S9
Figure S8. A histogram of the occurrences of spills volumes in North Dakota since 2007. Note that the data has been log transformed. Data were compiled from North Dakota Department of Health: Environmental Releases & Investigations. (https://www.ndhealth.gov/WQ/GW/spills.htm)
S10
Figure S9. The distribution of brine spills sources in North Dakota based on (A) the volume of spilled brine, and (B) the number of spills. Data were compiled from North Dakota Department of Health: Environmental Releases & Investigations. (https://www.ndhealth.gov/WQ/GW/spills.htm)
S11
Supporting Tables Table S1. Sample description
Sample ID
Lat (N)
Long (W)
Spill Date
Spill Volume (bbls)
Documented Spill Cause
Sampled Water Type
Description
Type A Spills ND102
47.78302
-102.65152
1/17/15
70,000
Pipeline
Small pond, standing water
Bear Den Brine Spill
ND103
47.7827
-102.6511
1/17/15
70,000
Pipeline
Small pond, standing water
Bear Den Brine Spill, uphill of ND102
ND113
47.86885
-102.95044
Wetlands
Brine Spill adjacent to plant
ND123
48.39835
-103.62457
7/7/14
24,000
Pipeline
River
Blacktail Creek, 10 m downstream of spill
ND126
48.39835
-103.62457
7/8/14
24,000
Pipeline
River
Blacktail Creek, sample collected on spill site
ND120
48.47578
-102.8269
Small pond/wetlands
Located adjacent to well pad
ND128
48.77762
-101.31268
2/25/11
300
Connection Leak
Small pond/wetlands
0.1 mile away from storage tanks
ND129
48.79811
-101.34384
7/20/11
300
Pipeline
Standing water
0.25 mile away from spill
ND130
48.80805
-101.19978
Small pond/wetlands
Located adjacent to disposal site
ND131
48.73949
-101.23452
Standing water
Located in ditch on side of road next to rig
PW1
Produced Water
Bakken Produced Water
PW2
Produced Water
Bakken Produced Water
PW3
Produced Water
Bakken Produced Water
PW4
Produced Water
Bakken Produced Water
Type B Spills
Produced Water
Background Sites ND104
47.73263
-102.59772
Pond from natural spring
Previous evidence for bubbling
ND105
47.80302
-102.54898
Large Lake
Bear Den Drinking Water Intake in Lake Sakakawea
ND106
47.66506
-102.54247
Pond
ND107
47.66431
-102.545
Stream
Area covered with salts; stream meets with ND106 pond
ND108
47.59779
-102.51086
River
Little Missouri Tributary
ND109
47.61797
-102.60488
Stream
McGregor Creek; Rig sites nearby
ND110
47.6116
-102.77017
River
Little Missouri Tributary
ND111
47.59742
-102.76648
River
Little Missouri River
ND112
47.32603
-102.8495
Standing Water
Standing water on well pad
ND114
47.8825
-102.95243
Wetlands
Adjacent to well pad
ND116
47.8287
-103.32613
Stream
ND117
47.81425
-102.71712
Stream
Bear Den Creek
ND118
47.95393
-102.7517
Stream
Clark's Creek
ND119
48.17346
-102.38839
Stream
ND121
48.02315
-102.18806
Stream
Shell Creek
ND122
48.37291
-103.59431
River
Blacktail Creek; Downstream of spill site
ND124
48.41182
-103.68964
River
Blacktail Creek; Upstream of spill site
ND125
48.41645
-103.70071
River
Blacktail Creek; Upstream of spill site
ND127
47.9469
-102.20802
Stream
Stream near 260 barrel brine spill
S12
Table S2. Major chemistry of all samples Sample ID Type A Spills ND102 ND103 ND113 ND123 ND126 AVERAGE Type B Spills ND120 ND128 ND129 ND130 ND131 AVERAGE Produced Water PW1 PW2 PW3 PW4 AVERAGE Background Sites ND104 ND105 ND106 ND107 ND108 ND109 ND110 ND111 ND112 ND114 ND116 ND117 ND118 ND119 ND121 ND122 ND124 ND125 ND127 AVERAGE
Cl mg/L
Br mg/L
SO4 mg/L
Alkalinity Ca mg/L mg/L
Mg mg/L
Sr mg/L
Na mg/L
NH4+ mg/L
14795 16032 996 1487 1900 7042
72.5 74.0 5.5 5.2 5.9 33
1713 3210 4090 3025 3117 3031
279 247 668 880 941 603
1953 1773 576 156 212 934
684 902 376 235 258 491
52.6 51.1 5.7 3.5 4.7 24
6003 6754 1513 2029 2282 3716
9.14 42.4 0.62 21.0 17.0 18
207 269 5833 189 18703 5040
0.22 0.56 5.8 0.17 20.5 5
464 946 856 387 2739 1078
306 466 116 345 110 268
111 187 1225 109 1381 603
101 148 475 91 2220 607
0.46 0.89 5.94 0.49 8.53 3.3
102 298 1876 99 6829 1841
0.76 0.40
Brine spills associated with unconventional oil development in North Dakota Nancy E. Lauer1, Jennifer S. Harkness1, Avner Vengosh1*
1
Division of Earth and Ocean Sciences, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
*Corresponding author phone: 919-681-8050. Fax: 919-684-5833; email: [email protected]
Contents
Page
1. Sample Collection Protocols
S2
2. Supporting Figures (9 figures)
S3-S11
3. Supporting Tables (8 tables)
S12-S18
S1
Sample Collection Protocols Water samples were collected from July 9- July 14, 2015. Samples were collected for analysis of (1) major anions, (2) major cations, (3) trace metals, (4) strontium isotopes, (5) oxygen and hydrogen isotopes, (6) alkalinity, and (7) dissolved organic carbon, and (8) dissolved radium. Samples collected for major anions, Sr isotopes, and dissolved organic carbon were filtered in the field in new high-density polyethylene (HDPE) sample bottles using 0.45µm syringe filters. Samples collected for major cations and trace metals were filtered (0.45µm syringe filters) in the field in new HDPE sample bottles that were acid washed and preserved using ~10% high purity nitric acid. Samples collected for alkalinity and oxygen and hydrogen isotopes were collected unfiltered and underwater in new HDPE sample bottles with zero headspace. Immediately following collection, samples were stored on ice until returned to the laboratory. Dissolved Ra was measured in select spill water samples by concentrating dissolved Ra on manganese oxide fibers. 2-25 liters of spill water were run through two sequential columns each containing ~10 grams of MnO fibers. Flow rates were kept at less than 1 liter per minute, and if necessary, samples were diluted using distilled water to conductivity less than 10 mS/cm to ensure efficient adsorption of Ra to the fibers. The two fibers for each sample were analyzed on the gamma detector separately. In spill waters containing dissolved Ra, all Ra appeared to be captured on the first fiber, indicating that nearly 100% retention of the samples dissolved Ra on the fiber.
S2
Supporting Figures
Figure S1. Specific locations of collected spillwater and spill sediments in the Bear Den Bay Spill site. Soil/sediment samples were collected at ND102A, ND102B, ND102C, ND102D, ND102E, and ND103. Water samples were collected at ND102 and ND103. Lake Sakakawea is located downstream of the spill.
S3
Figure S2. Specific locations of collected spill water and spill sediments in the Blacktail Creek Spill site. Soil/sediment samples were collected at ND125, ND124, ND123, ND123A, ND123B, and ND122. Water samples were collected at ND125, ND124, ND123, ND126, and ND122.
S4
Figure S3. Alkalinity vs. TOC in all samples
S5
Figure S4. Lithium, strontium, and boron vs. chloride in water samples, sorted by water source.
S6
Figure S5. δ2H vs. δ18O in water samples, sorted by water types. Stable isotopes in background surface water were highly correlated with a slope of ~5.4 (r=0.92). Such a slope is expected from mixing of the Bakken brines (red circles) with background water, which was observed in Type A spills.
S7
Figure S6. Sulfate, barium, and manganese vs. chloride in water samples, sorted by water source.
S8
Figure S7. Brine spills vs. oil and gas wells in North Dakota. Note the positive correlation (R2= 0.66) between the number of brine spills and the number of oil and gas wells, suggesting there is a relatively higher occurrence of spills in areas with higher well density. This co-occurrence of brine spills and oil and gas wells is drawn from comparing the number of brine spills to the number of gas wells in each township (36 square miles) in North Dakota.
S9
Figure S8. A histogram of the occurrences of spills volumes in North Dakota since 2007. Note that the data has been log transformed. Data were compiled from North Dakota Department of Health: Environmental Releases & Investigations. (https://www.ndhealth.gov/WQ/GW/spills.htm)
S10
Figure S9. The distribution of brine spills sources in North Dakota based on (A) the volume of spilled brine, and (B) the number of spills. Data were compiled from North Dakota Department of Health: Environmental Releases & Investigations. (https://www.ndhealth.gov/WQ/GW/spills.htm)
S11
Supporting Tables Table S1. Sample description
Sample ID
Lat (N)
Long (W)
Spill Date
Spill Volume (bbls)
Documented Spill Cause
Sampled Water Type
Description
Type A Spills ND102
47.78302
-102.65152
1/17/15
70,000
Pipeline
Small pond, standing water
Bear Den Brine Spill
ND103
47.7827
-102.6511
1/17/15
70,000
Pipeline
Small pond, standing water
Bear Den Brine Spill, uphill of ND102
ND113
47.86885
-102.95044
Wetlands
Brine Spill adjacent to plant
ND123
48.39835
-103.62457
7/7/14
24,000
Pipeline
River
Blacktail Creek, 10 m downstream of spill
ND126
48.39835
-103.62457
7/8/14
24,000
Pipeline
River
Blacktail Creek, sample collected on spill site
ND120
48.47578
-102.8269
Small pond/wetlands
Located adjacent to well pad
ND128
48.77762
-101.31268
2/25/11
300
Connection Leak
Small pond/wetlands
0.1 mile away from storage tanks
ND129
48.79811
-101.34384
7/20/11
300
Pipeline
Standing water
0.25 mile away from spill
ND130
48.80805
-101.19978
Small pond/wetlands
Located adjacent to disposal site
ND131
48.73949
-101.23452
Standing water
Located in ditch on side of road next to rig
PW1
Produced Water
Bakken Produced Water
PW2
Produced Water
Bakken Produced Water
PW3
Produced Water
Bakken Produced Water
PW4
Produced Water
Bakken Produced Water
Type B Spills
Produced Water
Background Sites ND104
47.73263
-102.59772
Pond from natural spring
Previous evidence for bubbling
ND105
47.80302
-102.54898
Large Lake
Bear Den Drinking Water Intake in Lake Sakakawea
ND106
47.66506
-102.54247
Pond
ND107
47.66431
-102.545
Stream
Area covered with salts; stream meets with ND106 pond
ND108
47.59779
-102.51086
River
Little Missouri Tributary
ND109
47.61797
-102.60488
Stream
McGregor Creek; Rig sites nearby
ND110
47.6116
-102.77017
River
Little Missouri Tributary
ND111
47.59742
-102.76648
River
Little Missouri River
ND112
47.32603
-102.8495
Standing Water
Standing water on well pad
ND114
47.8825
-102.95243
Wetlands
Adjacent to well pad
ND116
47.8287
-103.32613
Stream
ND117
47.81425
-102.71712
Stream
Bear Den Creek
ND118
47.95393
-102.7517
Stream
Clark's Creek
ND119
48.17346
-102.38839
Stream
ND121
48.02315
-102.18806
Stream
Shell Creek
ND122
48.37291
-103.59431
River
Blacktail Creek; Downstream of spill site
ND124
48.41182
-103.68964
River
Blacktail Creek; Upstream of spill site
ND125
48.41645
-103.70071
River
Blacktail Creek; Upstream of spill site
ND127
47.9469
-102.20802
Stream
Stream near 260 barrel brine spill
S12
Table S2. Major chemistry of all samples Sample ID Type A Spills ND102 ND103 ND113 ND123 ND126 AVERAGE Type B Spills ND120 ND128 ND129 ND130 ND131 AVERAGE Produced Water PW1 PW2 PW3 PW4 AVERAGE Background Sites ND104 ND105 ND106 ND107 ND108 ND109 ND110 ND111 ND112 ND114 ND116 ND117 ND118 ND119 ND121 ND122 ND124 ND125 ND127 AVERAGE
Cl mg/L
Br mg/L
SO4 mg/L
Alkalinity Ca mg/L mg/L
Mg mg/L
Sr mg/L
Na mg/L
NH4+ mg/L
14795 16032 996 1487 1900 7042
72.5 74.0 5.5 5.2 5.9 33
1713 3210 4090 3025 3117 3031
279 247 668 880 941 603
1953 1773 576 156 212 934
684 902 376 235 258 491
52.6 51.1 5.7 3.5 4.7 24
6003 6754 1513 2029 2282 3716
9.14 42.4 0.62 21.0 17.0 18
207 269 5833 189 18703 5040
0.22 0.56 5.8 0.17 20.5 5
464 946 856 387 2739 1078
306 466 116 345 110 268
111 187 1225 109 1381 603
101 148 475 91 2220 607
0.46 0.89 5.94 0.49 8.53 3.3
102 298 1876 99 6829 1841
0.76 0.40
