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

Journal Article · Thu May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1986 · Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es00147a011· OSTI ID:5532902

Eiceman, G A; Davani, B; Ingram, J

Soil samples were obtained at four depths from 0 to 121 cm below unlined earthen waste pits associated with production, processing, and distribution of natural gas in the San Juan basin of northwest New Mexico. Sample extracts were analyzed by using capillary gas chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) to characterize potential for contamination of shallow groundwater. All soils contained complex mixtures of over 60-100 resolved hydrocarbons with carbons numbering from 10 to 45. Extracts were prefractionated for PAH quantification, due to complexity and concentration of interfering hydrocarbons. Over 30 PAH and alkylated PAH at total concentrations of 30-683 mg/kg were detected in soil samples. While concentration profiles for two-ring PAH showed a 20-fold decrease with depth at the produced water pit, less striking reductions were seen with the same compounds at the dehydrator and pipeline drip pits. Moreover, three- and four-ring PAH showed no appreciable variation with depth in any pit. Contamination of shallow groundwater at depths of 1-2 m in flood plains of river valleys in New Mexico from wastes in unlined earthen pits is possible and likely. 16 references, 6 figures, 1 table.

• Research Organization: New Mexico State Univ., Las Cruces
• OSTI ID: 5532902
• Journal Information: Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States) Vol. 20:5; ISSN ESTHA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
030800 -- Natural Gas-- Environmental Aspects
510200* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AROMATICS
CHROMATOGRAPHY
CONTAMINATION
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FEDERAL REGION VI
GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY
GROUND WATER
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
MANAGEMENT
MASS TRANSFER
NATURAL GAS PROCESSING PLANTS
NEW MEXICO
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
RISK ASSESSMENT
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOILS
USA
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WATER