Nuclear Waste Disposal: A Cautionary Tale for Shale Gas Development

Alley, William M.; Cherry, John A.; Parker, Beth L.; Ryan, M. Cathryn

doi:10.1002/2014eo290005

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…The extent and controls on deep groundwater circulation are poorly understood, creating challenges for groundwater resource assessment (Gleeson et al, 2016;Richey et al, 2015), waste isolation (Cherry et al, 2014;, integration of groundwater into catchment hydrology (Condon et al, 2020;Frisbee et al, 2017), and Critical Zone science (Küsel et al, 2016), and the distribution and evolution of life in the subsurface (Lollar et al, 2019;Warr et al, 2018). Permeability exerts an important control on the rate of groundwater circulation (and groundwater age) and there have been a number of attempts to assess the variations in permeability with depth (Achtziger-Zupančič et al, 2017;Ingebritsen & Manning, 1999;Stober & Bucher, 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Deep Meteoric Water Circulation in Earth's Crust

McIntosh

Ferguson

2021

Geophysical Research Letters

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Deep meteoric waters comprise a key component of the hydrologic cycle, transferring water, energy, and life between the Earth's surface and deeper crustal environments, yet little is known about the nature and extent of meteoric water circulation. Using water stable isotopes, we show that maximum circulation depths of meteoric waters across North America vary considerably from <1 to 5 km, with the deepest circulation in Western North America in areas of greater topographic relief. Shallower circulation occurs in sedimentary and shield‐type environments with subdued topography. The amount of topographic relief available to drive regional groundwater flow and flush saline fluids is an important control on the extent of meteoric water circulation, in addition to permeability. The presence of an active flow system in the upper few kilometers of the Earth's crust and stagnant brines trapped by negative buoyancy offers a new framework for understanding deep groundwater systems.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Deep Meteoric Water Circulation in Earth's Crust

McIntosh

Ferguson

2021

Geophysical Research Letters

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“…, speciation and composition) of waste source terms, ongoing and legacy pollution from mixed sources (natural gas and coal extraction industries), and misinformation can complicate the interpretation of results from environmental studies of unconventional drilling wastes. 12,13 Due to the limitations of environmental studies, we decided to explore information about the chemical behavior of NORM in produced fluids through laboratory-based partitioning studies. Although such experiments may lack generalizability, they provide important clues about behavior of radioactive elements without the challenges of accounting for uncontrolled environmental inputs, radioactive decay, and decay product ingrowth.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Partitioning of naturally-occurring radionuclides (NORM) in Marcellus Shale produced fluids influenced by chemical matrix

Nelson

Johns

Eitrheim

et al. 2016

Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts

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Naturally-occurring radioactive materials (NORM) associated with unconventional drilling produced fluids from the Marcellus Shale have raised environmental concerns. However, few investigations into the fundamental chemistry of NORM in Marcellus Shale produced fluids have been performed. Thus, we performed radiochemical experiments with Marcellus Shale produced fluids to understand the partitioning behavior of major radioelements of environmental health concern (uranium (U), thorium (Th), radium (Ra), lead (Pb), and polonium (Po)). We applied a novel radiotracer, 203Pb, to understand the behavior of trace-levels of 210Pb in these fluids. Ultrafiltration experiments indicated U, Th, and Po are particle reactive in Marcellus Shale produced fluids and Ra and Pb are soluble. Sediment partitioning experiments revealed that >99% of Ra does not adsorb to sediments in the presence of Marcellus Shale produced fluids. Further experiments indicated that although Ra adsorption is related to ionic strength, the concentrations of heavier alkaline earth metals (Ba, Sr) are stronger predictors of Ra solubility.

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Nuclear Waste Disposal: A Cautionary Tale for Shale Gas Development

Abstract: Nuclear energy and shale gas development each began with the promise of cheap, abundant energy and prospects for national energy independence. Nuclear energy was touted as “too cheap to meter,” and shale gas promised jobs and other economic benefits during a recession.

Cited by 2 publications

References 6 publications

Deep Meteoric Water Circulation in Earth's Crust

Deep Meteoric Water Circulation in Earth's Crust

Partitioning of naturally-occurring radionuclides (NORM) in Marcellus Shale produced fluids influenced by chemical matrix

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