Journal
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Volume 50, Issue 10, Pages 5389-5397Publisher
AMER CHEMICAL SOC
DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5b06349
Keywords
-
Categories
Funding
- National Science Foundation [EAR-1441497]
- Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
- Division Of Earth Sciences
- Directorate For Geosciences [1441497] Funding Source: National Science Foundation
Ask authors/readers for more resources
The rapid rise of unconventional oil production during the past decade in the Bakken region of North Dakota raises concerns related to water contamination associated with the accidental release of oil and gas wastewater to the environment. Here, we characterize the major and trace element chemistry and isotopic ratios (Sr-87/Sr-86, delta O-18, delta H-2) of surface waters (n = 29) in areas impacted by oil and gas wastewater spills in the Bakken region of North Dakota. We establish geochemical and isotopic tracers that can identify Bakken brine spills in the environment. In addition to elevated concentrations of dissolved salts (Na, Cl, Br), spill waters also consisted of elevated concentrations of other contaminants (Se, V, Pb, NH4) compared to background waters, and soil and sediment in spill sites had elevated total radium activities (Ra-228 + Ra-226) relative to background, indicating accumulation of Ra in impacted soil and sediment. We observed that inorganic contamination associated with brine spills in North Dakota is remarkably persistent, with elevated levels of contaminants observed in spills sites up to 4 years following the spill events.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available