Assessment of Groundwater Contamination Risk in Oilfield Drilling Sites Based on Groundwater Vulnerability, Pollution Source Hazard, and Groundwater Value Function in Yitong County

Abstract

Oilfield drilling sites are the potential dispersive pollution source of groundwater, especially to shallow groundwater. The pollution risk assessment in these areas is an important reference for effective groundwater management and protection. The vulnerability assessment alone is not sufficient for groundwater contamination risk assessment. In this study, we developed a comprehensive groundwater pollution risk assessment method for oilfield drilling sites that combine groundwater vulnerability, pollution source hazard, and groundwater value function to produce a more comprehensive result. Consider the oilfield drilling area in Yitong County of Jilin Province, China, as an example. Thematic maps of the three aspects (groundwater vulnerability, pollution source hazard, and groundwater value function) were generated in ArcGIS environment to assess the contamination risk of groundwater in quaternary pore unconfined aquifer. The results show that 9.92% of the study area is characterized as being at high risk. These areas are mainly distributed around the center position of the oil drilling site, floodplains, and the reservoir. The moderate risk area accounts for 21.04% of the total area. It is distributed in the first-level terrace, mainly because of the high function value of groundwater. The remaining 69.04% of the study area is characterized as none and mild risk, mainly distributed in the valleys and terraces. This integrated groundwater contamination risk assessment method is suited for comparative assessment of multiple-point sources of contamination at a regional scale. Finally, the groundwater contamination risk grade distributed in this area provides a reference for effective protection and sustainable supply of groundwater in the oilfield drilling area.

An integrated modeling framework for groundwater contamination risk assessment in arid, data-scarce environments

“…Lithology and the associated geological formations in areas hosting groundwater systems play a key role for groundwater contamination. The Quaternary aquifer, flood plains and alluvial terraces have a high permeability coefficient and are, thus, more susceptible to groundwater contamination owing to nitrate fertilizers (Fang et al 2022).…”

Groundwater Vulnerability to Pollution Assessment

“…Fang et al [14] highlighted the importance of the pollution risk assessment in oilfield drilling sites, which are potential dispersive pollution sources of groundwater. Combining groundwater vulnerability, pollution source hazard, and groundwater value function, a comprehensive groundwater pollution risk assessment method was developed and applied in Yitong County, China.…”

Groundwater Vulnerability and Potentially Toxic Elements Associated with the Iron Mining District of Ouixane (Northeast of Morocco)

“…The uncontrolled exploitation has left behind abandoned open pits and underground deposits and millions of tons of waste rock and mining waste on the environment, which could affect water resources, in particular [11,12]. The area is characterized by a semi-arid Mediterranean climate with an annual rainfall of around 200 to 400 mm/year [13]. The Beni Bou Ifrour deposit is a skarn-type magnetite deposit.…”

“…The DRASTIC method has been used in different studies with different groundwater management, preservation, and sustainability conditions [13,21]. The acronym DRASTIC is derived from the seven parameters that are critical to the transport and attenuation process of contamination.…”