The Utica and Marcellus Shale Plays in the Appalachian Basin are the fourth and first largest natural gas producing plays in the United States, respectively. Hydrocarbon production generates large volumes of brine (“produced water”) that must be disposed of, treated, or reused. Though Marcellus brines have been studied extensively, there are few studies from the Utica Shale Play. This study presents new brine chemical analyses from 16 Utica Shale Play wells in Ohio and Pennsylvania. Results from Na–Cl–Br systematics and stable and radiogenic isotopes suggest that the Utica Shale Play brines are likely residual pore water concentrated beyond halite saturation during the formation of the Ordovician Beekmantown evaporative sequence. The narrow range of chemistry for the Utica Shale Play produced waters (e.g., total dissolved solids = 214–283 g/L) over both time and space implies a consistent composition for disposal and reuse planning. The amount of salt produced annually from the Utica Shale Play is equivalent to 3.4% of the annual U.S. halite production. Utica Shale Play brines have radium activities 580 times the EPA maximum contaminant level and are supersaturated with respect to barite, indicating the potential for surface and aqueous radium hazards if not properly disposed of.
Citation Information
| Publication Year | 2020 |
|---|---|
| Title | Utica shale play oil and gas brines: Geochemistry and factors influencing wastewater management |
| DOI | 10.1021/acs.est.0c02461 |
| Authors | Madalyn S. Blondes, Jenna L. Shelton, Mark A Engle, Jason Trembly, Colin A. Doolan, Aaron M. Jubb, Jessica Chenault, Elisabeth L. Rowan, Ralph Haefner, Brian E. Mailot |
| Publication Type | Article |
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Series Title | Environmental Science & Technology |
| Index ID | 70215394 |
| Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
| USGS Organization | Eastern Energy Resources Science Center; Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Water Science Center; Upper Midwest Water Science Center |
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Madalyn S. Blondes, Ph.D.
Research Geologist
Jenna L Shelton, Ph.D.
Associate Program Coordinator, U.S. GeoFramework Initiative & STATEMAP
Mark A Engle (Former Employee)
Supervisory Research Geologist
Colin Doolan
Research Geologist
Jessica M. Chenault
Laboratory Manager
Elisabeth L. Rowan
Scientist Emeritus
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Madalyn S. Blondes, Ph.D.
Research GeologistEmailPhoneJenna L Shelton, Ph.D.
Associate Program Coordinator, U.S. GeoFramework Initiative & STATEMAPEmailPhoneMark A Engle (Former Employee)
Supervisory Research GeologistColin Doolan
Research GeologistEmailPhoneJessica M. Chenault
Laboratory ManagerEmailPhoneElisabeth L. Rowan
Scientist EmeritusEmailPhone