Are Spills Associated with Deep Well Injection of Wastewater from Oil and Gas Operations a Health Hazard? Active
Class II injection well wastewater disposal facility with storage tank
Our specialized teams of hydrologists, chemists, biologists, and geologists worked together in the New River Gorge National River watershed to answer this question.
Wastewater generated in association with oil and gas operations at this site is managed by injection in deep wells designed to safely dispose and contain contaminants in deep geologic formations.
Contaminants associated with oil and gas wastewater were found in a small headwater creek immediately downstream from the deep well injection site. However, these contaminants were not found elsewhere in the watershed, including downstream in the New River.
Thus, potential health hazards examined in this study appear to be limited to a small area in proximity to the injection site and not in downstream waters that are used for recreation and public drinking water supply.
Questions We're Working On:
- What are the potential health hazards in other locations where wastewater from oil and gas production may enter the environment from spills, pipeline breaks, and other mechanisms?
- Do energy production wastewaters pose toxicological or other health hazards for downstream aquatic organisms?
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Energy Integrated Science Team
- Overview
Our specialized teams of hydrologists, chemists, biologists, and geologists worked together in the New River Gorge National River watershed to answer this question.
Wastewater generated in association with oil and gas operations at this site is managed by injection in deep wells designed to safely dispose and contain contaminants in deep geologic formations.
Contaminants associated with oil and gas wastewater were found in a small headwater creek immediately downstream from the deep well injection site. However, these contaminants were not found elsewhere in the watershed, including downstream in the New River.
Thus, potential health hazards examined in this study appear to be limited to a small area in proximity to the injection site and not in downstream waters that are used for recreation and public drinking water supply.
Questions We're Working On:
- What are the potential health hazards in other locations where wastewater from oil and gas production may enter the environment from spills, pipeline breaks, and other mechanisms?
- Do energy production wastewaters pose toxicological or other health hazards for downstream aquatic organisms?
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media DetailsWolf Creek site map modified from Figure 1 of 'Organic geochemistry and toxicology of a stream impacted by unconventional oil and gas wastewater disposal operations, Orem and Others, 2017'. - Science
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Energy Integrated Science Team
The Energy Lifecycle Integrated Science Team focuses on the potential for contaminant exposures in the environment that might originate from energy resource activities including, extraction, production, transportation, storage, extraction, waste management and restoration. Perceived health risks to humans and other organisms will be distinguished from actual risks, if any. If actual risks are...