Reconnaissance evaluation of contamination in the alluvial aquifer in the East Poplar oil field, Roosevelt County, Montana

Technical Report · Sat Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1984

OSTI ID:5205472

Levings, G W

The alluvial aquifer in the East Poplar oil field was studied to determine the occurrence, movement, and chemical quality of ground water and to evaluate contamination in the alluvial aquifer. In the oil field area, shallow water occurs in alluvium beneath the Poplar River valley floor. Four distinct types of ground water were identified in the study area. Type 1 is sodium bicarbonate water with a range of dissolved-solids concentration of about 490 to 770 milligrams per liter. Type 2 is sodium chloride water with varying quantities of calcium and magnesium and dissolved-solids concentration ranging from about 1600 to 7200 milligrams per liter. Type 3 water contains sodium and chloride in significantly larger concentrations than Type 2 water, and dissolved-solids concentrations range from 13,800 to 114,000 milligrams per liter. Type 3 water is from test wells drilled near a brine-disposal well and is similar to Type 4 water, which is the brine being injected. The dissolved-solids concentrations of the brine being injected are 97,900 and 161,000 milligrams per liter. Contamination of the alluvial aquifer by brine is indicated by a brine/fresh-water interface in the alluvium, and a downstream increase in chloride concentration (20 to 880 milligrams per liter) and change in water type (from sodium bicarbonate to sodium chloride) of the Poplar River. Contamination also may be indicated by the distribution of iron and manganese concentrations in water from wells near a brine-disposal well. Possible sources of sodium chloride contamination in the alluvium are brine-disposal wells, pipelines, and storage or evaporation pits. The contamination can occur from leaks in the casing of brine-disposal wells or in pipelines caused by the corrosive nature of the brine or from storage or evaporation pits that have been improperly sealed or have sustained tears in the sealing material. 12 refs., 10 figs., 4 tabs.

• Research Organization: Geological Survey, Helena, MT (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5205472
• Report Number(s): USGS/WRI-84-4174; ON: TI86900063
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020900* -- Petroleum-- Environmental Aspects
520200 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ALLUVIAL DEPOSITS
AQUIFERS
BRINES
CONTAMINATION
DATA
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FEDERAL REGION VIII
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
INTRUSION
MINERAL RESOURCES
MONTANA
NORTH AMERICA
NUMERICAL DATA
OIL FIELDS
OIL WELLS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
POLLUTION
RESOURCES
SURFACE WATERS
USA
WATER
WATER POLLUTION
WATER QUALITY
WELLS