Groundwater-quality data associated with abandoned underground coal mine aquifers in West Virginia, 1973-2016: Compilation of existing data from multiple sources

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Abandoned underground coal mine aquifers cover a large part of West Virginia and could supply substantial quantities of water for agricultural, industrial, residential, and public use. Several Federal, State, and academic institutions have studied the availability and quality of water stored in abandoned underground coal mine aquifers for a variety of applications, such as economic development, geothermal energy, aquaculture, and wastewater disposal. However, the spatial and stratigraphic controls on water quality produced from abandoned underground coal mine aquifers are still poorly constrained on a state-wide basis. In response to these knowledge gaps, the U.S. Geological Survey initiated a study, in cooperation with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, to understand the applicability of using existing secondary source data for understanding water quality in abandoned underground coal mine aquifers across the State.Results from the calculation of net alkalinity indicated that Upper Pennsylvanian coal beds primarily produce net acidic waters and Lower Pennsylvanian coal beds primarily produce net alkaline waters. Multivariate statistical analysis of elemental data supports the conclusion that abandoned underground coal mine aquifers in the northern part of the State generally produce poor water quality and abandoned underground coal mine aquifers in southern West Virginia primarily produce good water quality. These results substantiate the potential benefits of leveraging abandoned underground coal mine aquifers as a multifaceted resource in West Virginia and can be used as a reconnaissance tool for water managers to characterize abandoned underground coal mine aquifers on a local scale.

Section: Methods Of Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Groundwater quality in abandoned underground coal mine aquifers across West Virginia

McAdoo,

Connock,

Kozar

2023

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“…The abundance and sources of dissolved volatile hydrocarbons have long been a topic of study in West Virginia as the state's abundant coal beds contribute to the presence of hydrocarbons in the state's groundwater (Mathes and White, 2006;White and Mathes, 2006;Kozar and others, 2012;Chambers and others, 2015;Harkness and others, 2017;McAdoo and Kozar, 2017;Kozar and others, 2020). Natural gas development from the shale resources in the state have renewed interest in the origins of these compounds.…”

Section: Methane and Dissolved Hydrocarbon Composition And Originmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Dissolved methane commonly occurs in groundwater and can originate from microbial activity in the aquifer system or from transport of thermogenic hydrocarbons. The presence of methane in West Virginia's groundwater is well documented and generally associated with methane from coal beds (Mathes and White, 2006;White and Mathes, 2006;Kozar and others, 2012;Chambers and others, 2015;Harkness and others, 2017;McAdoo and Kozar, 2017;Kozar and others, 2020). As methane is a major component of natural gas recovered from thermally mature shales like the Marcellus Shale in West Virginia and the Utica Shale in Ohio, there is utility in assessing methane concentrations in groundwater before and during well development to establish the baseline conditions, extant sources of methane, and to help understand the relations that changes in water quality might have to surface activity associated with drilling and extraction.…”

Section: Methane and Dissolved Hydrocarbon Composition And Originmentioning

confidence: 99%

Groundwater quality and geochemistry of the western wet gas part of the Marcellus Shale Oil and Gas Play in West Virginia

Kozar¹,

McAdoo²,

Haase³

2022

“…Dissolved methane is ubiquitous in groundwater and has been extensively studied by the USGS and others in West Virginia (Mathes and White, 2006;White and Mathes, 2006;Kozar and others, 2012;Chambers and others, 2015;Harkness and others, 2017;McAdoo and Kozar, 2017). The primary concern regarding the presence of methane in groundwater is the potential for the accumulation of flammable concentrations in enclosed spaces (homes, outbuildings, well casings), with secondary concerns arising from the qualitative characteristics of water (ebullition and clarity) and for its potential for co-occurrence with other contaminants that can negatively impact the safety and utility of the water.…”

Section: Methanementioning

confidence: 99%

Groundwater quality and geochemistry of West Virginia’s southern coal fields

Kozar¹,

McAdoo²,

Haase³

2020

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