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Delineation of Brine Contamination in and near the East Poplar Oil Field, Fort Peck Indian Reservation, Northeastern Montana Active

By Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center May 1, 2018

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 since the last USGS study ended, the extent of contamination has changed and may have grown larger. Brine contamination has not only affected the water quality from privately owned wells in and near the East Poplar oil field, but also the city of Poplar’s public water-supply wells.

East Poplar Study Area map
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.

 

The objective of this project is to more fully delineate brine contamination in shallow aquifers in and near the East Poplar oil field. The project area includes the entire East Poplar oil field, much of the Northwest Poplar oil field and the City of Poplar. Results of the study are detailed in Thamke and Smith, 2014.

Below are other science projects associated with this project.

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Map of Prairie Pothole Region

Science Team about Energy and Plains and Potholes Environments (STEPPE)

Brine Contamination to Plains and Potholes Environments from Energy Development in the Williston Basin
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Fisheries Program (unpublished), Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center
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Science Team about Energy and Plains and Potholes Environments (STEPPE)

Brine Contamination to Plains and Potholes Environments from Energy Development in the Williston Basin
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Below are data associated with project.

Physical and chemical characteristics of samples collected in the East Poplar oil field study area, Fort Peck Indian Reservation, 1952-2016

These produced datasets include water-quality and quality assurance results collected by the USGS and other entities from 1952 to 2016 near the City of Poplar as well as throughout the East Poplar oil field, leachate results collected from drilling core within the Cretaceous Bearpaw Formation and Monoammonium phosphate (MAP) fertilizer results collected by the USGS in 2012. The handling and dispos
By
Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center

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
By
Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center

Below are publications associated with this project.

Characterization and origin of brines from the Bakken-Three Forks petroleum system in the Williston Basin, USA

Brine (also referred to as ‘produced water’) samples were collected from 28 wells producing oil from the Late Devonian-Early Mississippian Bakken and Three Forks Formations in the Williston Basin of eastern Montana and western North Dakota. The samples were analyzed for major ions, trace metals, stable isotopes, and strontium isotopes. The brines in these formations are highly saline with total di
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Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

Chemical and isotopic changes in Williston Basin brines during long-term oil production: An example from the Poplar dome, Montana

Brine samples were collected from 30 conventional oil wells producing mostly from the Charles Formation of the Madison Group in the East and Northwest Poplar oil fields on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, Montana. Dissolved concentrations of major ions, trace metals, Sr isotopes, and stable isotopes (oxygen and hydrogen) were analyzed to compare with a brine contaminant that affected groundwater
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Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

Delineation 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
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Water Resources Mission Area, Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center, Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center

Borehole geophysical data for the East Poplar oil field area, Fort Peck Indian Reservation, northeastern Montana, 1993, 2004, and 2005

Areas of high electrical conductivity in shallow aquifers in the East Poplar oil field area were delineated by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes, in order to interpret areas of saline-water contamination. Ground, airborne, and borehole geophysical data were collected in the East Poplar oil field area from 1992 through 2005 as part of
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Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center

Strontium isotope detection of brine contamination in the East Poplar oil field, Montana

Brine contamination of groundwater in the East Poplar oil field was first documented in the mid-1980s by the U.S. Geological Survey by using hydrochemistry, with an emphasis on chloride (Cl) and total dissolved solids concentrations. Supply wells for the City of Poplar are located downgradient from the oil field, are completed in the same shallow aquifers that are documented as contaminated, and t
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Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center

Helicopter electromagnetic and magnetic survey maps and data, East Poplar oil field area, Fort Peck Indian Reservation, northeastern Montana, August 2004

This report is a data release for a helicopter electromagnetic and magnetic survey that was conducted during August 2004 in a 275-square-kilometer area that includes the East Poplar oil field on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation. The electromagnetic equipment consisted of six different coil-pair orientations that measured resistivity at separate frequencies from about 400 hertz to about 140,000 her

Ground-water quality for two areas in the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, northeastern Montana, 1993-2000

Saline-water contamination in Quaternary deposits and the Poplar River, East Poplar Oil Field, northeastern Montana

The extent of saline-water contamination in Quaternary deposits in and near the East Poplar oil field may be as much as 12.4 square miles and appears to be present throughout the entire saturated zone. The saline-water contamination affects 9-60 billion gallons of ground water. Saline- contaminated water moves westward through Quaternary glacial deposits and merges with southward-flowing water i

Hydrologic data for the East Poplar oil field, Fort Peck Indian Reservation, Northeastern Montana

This report presents selected hydrologic data for the East Poplar oil field, located in the south-central part of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in northeastern Montana. Data about the occurrence, quantity, and quality of ground and surface water are presented in tabular form. The tables contain records of privately owned wells (active and abandoned), monitoring wells installed by the U.S. Geolo

Below are news stories associated with this project.

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Low-flying Helicopter Surveying Groundwater and Geology in the Poplar River Valley Area, Montana

Citizens should not be alarmed if they see a low-flying helicopter towing a large wire-loop contraption hanging from a cable in the Poplar, Montana...

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East Poplar Brine-Contaminated Groundwater Plumes Continue to Move

A new report by the U.S. Geological Survey describes the extent and movement of contamination in the East Poplar oil field area in northeastern...

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Below are partners associated with this project.

Fort Peck Tribes