Depth profiles for hydrocarbons and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soil beneath waste disposal pits from natural gas production

Eiceman, Gary A.; Davani, B.; Ingram, Jani C.

doi:10.1021/es00147a011

Cited by 74 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…Water and drilling wastes have, however, not been associated with high atmospheric benzene concentrations in previous studies [ Bloomdahl et al ., ; Bunch et al ., ], although published atmospheric measurements of these waste pits are difficult to locate. Environmental impacts from these waste pits are more likely to be associated with poor water quality [ Eiceman et al ., ; Gross et al ., ]. Also, the transient nature of the benzene source is hard to explain by slow evaporative emissions from drilling flowback of waste mud and water.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Atmospheric benzene observations from oil and gas production in the Denver‐Julesburg Basin in July and August 2014

et al. 2016

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High time resolution measurements of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were collected using a proton‐transfer‐reaction quadrupole mass spectrometry (PTR‐QMS) instrument at the Platteville Atmospheric Observatory (PAO) in Colorado to investigate how oil and natural gas (O&NG) development impacts air quality within the Wattenburg Gas Field (WGF) in the Denver‐Julesburg Basin. The measurements were carried out in July and August 2014 as part of NASA's “Deriving Information on Surface Conditions from Column and Vertically Resolved Observations Relevant to Air Quality” (DISCOVER‐AQ) field campaign. The PTR‐QMS data were supported by pressurized whole air canister samples and airborne vertical and horizontal surveys of VOCs. Unexpectedly high benzene mixing ratios were observed at PAO at ground level (mean benzene = 0.53 ppbv, maximum benzene = 29.3 ppbv), primarily at night (mean nighttime benzene = 0.73 ppbv). These high benzene levels were associated with southwesterly winds. The airborne measurements indicate that benzene originated from within the WGF, and typical source signatures detected in the canister samples implicate emissions from O&NG activities rather than urban vehicular emissions as primary benzene source. This conclusion is backed by a regional toluene‐to‐benzene ratio analysis which associated southerly flow with vehicular emissions from the Denver area. Weak benzene‐to‐CO correlations confirmed that traffic emissions were not responsible for the observed high benzene levels. Previous measurements at the Boulder Atmospheric Observatory (BAO) and our data obtained at PAO allow us to locate the source of benzene enhancements between the two atmospheric observatories. Fugitive emissions of benzene from O&NG operations in the Platteville area are discussed as the most likely causes of enhanced benzene levels at PAO.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Atmospheric benzene observations from oil and gas production in the Denver‐Julesburg Basin in July and August 2014

et al. 2016

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“…Assuming an intermediate velocity of 30 cm per day, liquid introduced to an unlined pit would travel to the water table in 3.3 days if the initial water table is 1 m below land surface and soil is saturated. Actually, these calculations and experimental results were not surprising based on a prior study of core samples from a similar pit to depths of nearly 2 m. 16 In that study, evidence for extensive mobility for all compounds was found. Moreover, sandy soils have been found to have limited retardation for aromatic and halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons in laboratory study" and in an actual environmental aquifer.…”

Section: Environmental Assessment and Summarymentioning

confidence: 53%

“…Recently, hydrocarbons and PAH were found in soil below waste pits at depths of 1.8m in the San Juan Basin. 16 Since pits were about 1 to 1.5 meters deep, the total depth was up to 3.3 meters from ground level. Groundwater in flood plains of New Mexico valleys may be found at 2 meters in depth and contamination of groundwater by hydrocarbons from unlined earthen waste pits was thus predicted as likely, despite mechanisms for attentuation.…”

Section: Hydrocarbons and Aromatic Hydrocarbons In Groundwater Surroumentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although the presence of aromatic hydrocarbons in waste pit water should be unsurprising (3)(4)(5)16), the complexity and concentrations found in waste pit water, despite possible evaporation, were remarkable. In Figure 3, SIM plots for total purgable aromatic hydrocarbons (benzene and alkylated benzenes) are shown for produced water and waste pit water.…”

Section: Volatile Hydrocarbons In Waste and Test Pitsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Hydrocarbons and Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Groundwater Surrounding an Earthen Waste Disposal Pit for Produced Water in the Duncan Oil Field of New Mexico

Eiceman

McConnon

Zaman³

et al. 1986

International Journal of Environmental Analytical Chemistry

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Samples of groundwater and soil were collected from test pits placed 25 m intervals on five axes extending from an earthen waste disposal pit for produced water near the San Juan River of northwest New Mexico. Samples were obtained at depths of 1.2 to 1.5 m and were analyzed using GC and GC/MS techniques for purgable hydrocarbons, including benzenes, and for solvent extractable organic compounds. Water samples from test pits down-gradient from the disposal pit contained purgable and extractable hydrocarbons that were similar to contents of the waste disposal pit. In contrast, water samples obtained from test pits up-gradient from the waste pit were free of detectable organic components. Major purgable components in the waste pit and in surrounding groundwater included saturated/unsaturated hydrocarbons and aromatic/alkylated aromatic hydrocarbons. Samples collected 25 m from the waste pit contained concentrations of all compounds greater than in samples taken at 50 m in distance on the same exis. Total concentration of purgable aromatic hydrocarbons in groundwater from test plots ranged from a high of 200 ppb at 25 m, to a low of 12 ppb at 50 m on an axis through the plume center.

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“…Die Tiefenverlagerung polyzyklischer aromatischer Kohlenwasserstoffe (PAK) aus der ungesättigten Zone kontaminierter Standorte leistet einen wichtigen Beitrag zur Grundwasserbelastung (EICEMAN et al 1986). Transportzeiten und -distanzen werden durch PAK-Freisetzung und -Festlegung gesteuert.…”

Section: Introductionunclassified

Heterogenität der Bodeneigenschaften und der Schadstoffbelastung eines ehemaligen Gaswerkstandortes

Weigand¹,

Totsche

Kögel-Knabner³

et al. 1998

Grundwasser

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G G G G Gr r r r rund und und und undw w w w wasser asser asser asser asser -Zeitschrift der Fachsektion Hydrogeologie 4/98 Fachbeiträge Kurzfassung Die Berücksichtigung der räumlichen Heterogenität von Schadstoff-Quellen und -Senken ist eine wesentliche Voraussetzung für eine verläßliche Abschätzung der Sickerwasserfrachten von polyzyklischen aromatischen Kohlenwasserstoffen (PAK) in belasteten Böden. Ziel dieser Arbeit ist die Kennzeichnung der PAK-Belastung an einem ehemaligen Gaswerkstandort (Testfeld Süd) unter Berücksichtigung der standörtlichen Heterogenität. Im Rahmen einer Probenahme wurden tiefendifferenziert und räumlich aufgelöst die hydraulischen und physikochemischen Bodeneigenschaften sowie die PAK-Belastungssituation aufgenommen. Kennzeichnend für die Belastungssituation der ungesättigten Zone sind konzentrations-und tiefenunabhängige PAK-Muster, die sich deutlich vom Muster im Grundwasserleiter und von Bö-den unter Versiegelung unterscheiden. Die PAK-Summenkonzentrationen weisen -wie auch die Bodeneigenschaften -eine hohe Schwankungsbreite auf. Durch stochastische Simulation auf Basis der Theorie Markovscher Ketten erfolgte die Ableitung typischer Bodenprofile. Über die dadurch ermittelten Wahrscheinlichkeiten der Profilausprägungen ist eine Gewichtung lokaler PAKSickerwasserkonzentrationen hinsichtlich ihres Beitrags zum flächigen Austrag möglich. Abstract Risk assessment studies for PAH-mobility at contaminated sites need to take into account the spatial variability of PAH sources and sinks as they control the release and redistribution of PAH. This study focuses on the delineation of characteristic soil profiles and their expanse at a former manufactured gas production site (Testfeld Süd) based on a screening of solid phase PAH-concentrations and soil physical and chemical properties. The contamination of the unsaturated zone is governed by medium molecular weight PAH. This strongly contrasts the findings for the aquifer and soils under sealed surfaces.For the unsaturated zone, PAH-patterns are constant, regardless of vertical position or solid phase concentration. However, total PAH-concentrations and soil properties vary over a wide range. This was successfully modelled by stochastic simulations on the basis of Markov Chain theory. For each individual soil profile the corresponding probabilities are given. Thereby, the contribution of PAH released from individual soil profiles to the overall output may be estimated by the use of one-dimensional physically-based transport models.

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Depth profiles for hydrocarbons and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soil beneath waste disposal pits from natural gas production

Cited by 74 publications

References 6 publications

Atmospheric benzene observations from oil and gas production in the Denver‐Julesburg Basin in July and August 2014

Atmospheric benzene observations from oil and gas production in the Denver‐Julesburg Basin in July and August 2014

Hydrocarbons and Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Groundwater Surrounding an Earthen Waste Disposal Pit for Produced Water in the Duncan Oil Field of New Mexico

Heterogenität der Bodeneigenschaften und der Schadstoffbelastung eines ehemaligen Gaswerkstandortes

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