This task within the Oil and Gas Waters Project focuses on the development of oil and gas resources results in substantial volumes of produced water. Particularly when produced from deep geologic formations, these waters can exhibit elevated salinity in comparison to shallow groundwater at the same location. Knowing the spatial and temporal occurrence of high salinity produced water in groundwater aquifers can enhance environmental management, identify potential contamination pathways, and provide insight into the hydrogeologic conditions that may be explanatory factors for other studies related to geochemistry, ecosystem health, or groundwater quality and supply. The objectives of this task are (1) to locate produced water in soil and groundwater aquifers through the use of borehole, surface, and airborne geophysical methods and (2) to advance the application of geophysical techniques in infrastructure-rich environments typical of oil field and near-field settings.
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Below are other science projects associated with this project task.
Oil and Gas Waters Project
Quantifying broader impacts of oil and gas development
Quantities of water associated with oil and gas development
Science Team about Energy and Plains and Potholes Environments (STEPPE)
Big Data and Data Visualization
Characterization and Reuse of Oil and Gas Waters
Delineation of Brine Contamination in and near the East Poplar Oil Field, Fort Peck Indian Reservation, Northeastern Montana
Below are data or web applications associated with this project task.
Airborne electromagnetic and magnetic survey data, East Poplar Oil Field and surrounding area, October 2014, Fort Peck Indian Reservation, Montana
Below are multimedia items associated with this project task.
Below are publications associated with this project task.
Monitoring brine contamination using time-lapse airborne electromagnetic surveys, East Poplar Oil Field, Montana
Mapping protected groundwater adjacent to oil and gas fields, San Joaquin Valley, California
Delineation of brine contamination in and near the East Poplar oil field, Fort Peck Indian Reservation, northeastern Montana, 2004-09
- Overview
This task within the Oil and Gas Waters Project focuses on the development of oil and gas resources results in substantial volumes of produced water. Particularly when produced from deep geologic formations, these waters can exhibit elevated salinity in comparison to shallow groundwater at the same location. Knowing the spatial and temporal occurrence of high salinity produced water in groundwater aquifers can enhance environmental management, identify potential contamination pathways, and provide insight into the hydrogeologic conditions that may be explanatory factors for other studies related to geochemistry, ecosystem health, or groundwater quality and supply. The objectives of this task are (1) to locate produced water in soil and groundwater aquifers through the use of borehole, surface, and airborne geophysical methods and (2) to advance the application of geophysical techniques in infrastructure-rich environments typical of oil field and near-field settings.
Visit the Oil and Gas Waters Project to learn more.
- Science
Below are other science projects associated with this project task.
Oil and Gas Waters Project
The primary objective of this project is to provide information on the volume, quality, impacts, and possible uses of water produced during generation and development of energy resources (particularly hydrocarbons) as well as related fluids injected into reservoirs for energy development and associated waste disposal. The purpose of this work is to address scientific and societal questions...Quantifying broader impacts of oil and gas development
Work in this task of the Oil and Gas Waters project focuses on quantifying the effects of developing oil and gas resources. The approach is probabilistic, and it builds directly from USGS oil and gas assessment methods and geological studies. Efforts to date have revolved around quantifying habitat loss and land-use change and estimating soil loss. We are working on quantifying other types of...Quantities of water associated with oil and gas development
Work in this task of the Oil and Gas Waters Project focuses on quantifying the water used during hydrocarbon development and the water produced along with oil and gas. Hydraulic fracturing is an integral part of oil and gas development in many areas, and water use for this purpose has increased considerably in the last decade. Water produced from petroleum reservoirs includes hydraulic fracturing...Science Team about Energy and Plains and Potholes Environments (STEPPE)
Brine Contamination to Plains and Potholes Environments from Energy Development in the Williston BasinBig Data and Data Visualization
In the “Big Data and Data Visualization” task of the Oil and Gas Waters Project, we compile and update the USGS National Produced Waters Geochemical Database and use big data approaches to provide stakeholders with effortless access and modern tools for easier use and interpretation of our data.Characterization and Reuse of Oil and Gas Waters
In the “Characterization and Reuse of Oil and Gas Waters” task of the Oil and Gas Waters Project, we collect new water samples from conventional and hydraulically fractured unconventional plays in high priority oil and gas basins. Use the geochemistry of water produced along with oil and gas (a) as a tool to interpret deep basin fluid flow and to fingerprint brines from specific reservoirs, (b) to...Delineation of Brine Contamination in and near the East Poplar Oil Field, Fort Peck Indian Reservation, Northeastern Montana
Brine is a byproduct of crude oil production. Handling and disposal of brine during the last 50 years in the East Poplar oil field has resulted in contamination of not only the shallow Quaternary aquifers, but also the Poplar River. Previous investigations have documented and partially delineated the extent of brine contamination in the East Poplar oil field during the early 1990s. In the 10 years... - Data
Below are data or web applications associated with this project task.
Airborne electromagnetic and magnetic survey data, East Poplar Oil Field and surrounding area, October 2014, Fort Peck Indian Reservation, Montana
Airborne electromagnetic (AEM) and magnetic survey data were collected during October 2014 in a 553-square-kilometer area that includes the East Poplar oil field on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in northeastern Montana, USA. Data surround the town of Poplar and extend south into the Missouri River floodplain. Data were acquired with the SkyTEM301 transient electromagnetic helicopter-borne sys - Multimedia
Below are multimedia items associated with this project task.
- Publications
Below are publications associated with this project task.
Monitoring brine contamination using time-lapse airborne electromagnetic surveys, East Poplar Oil Field, Montana
Integrated geophysical and water-quality studies have been used to delineate areas of saline groundwater in shallow unconfined aquifers underlying the East Poplar oil field in northeastern Montana. In 2004, a RESOLVE survey was conducted over the oil field to identify high conductivity areas potentially associated with brine contamination and to map the shale unit comprising the base of aquifer. IMapping protected groundwater adjacent to oil and gas fields, San Joaquin Valley, California
Airborne electromagnetic (AEM) surveys are a major component of a regional study of groundwater quality adjacent to oil and gas fields in the San Joaquin Valley of California, USA. AEM resistivity models are being used to delineate groundwater salinity in an effort to locate groundwater adjacent to oil and gas fields that could have future beneficial use. AEM models are also being used to improveDelineation of brine contamination in and near the East Poplar oil field, Fort Peck Indian Reservation, northeastern Montana, 2004-09
The extent of brine contamination in the shallow aquifers in and near the East Poplar oil field is as much as 17.9 square miles and appears to be present throughout the entire saturated zone in contaminated areas. The brine contamination affects 15–37 billion gallons of groundwater. Brine contamination in the shallow aquifers east of the Poplar River generally moves to the southwest toward the riv