Long-term biomonitoring of a produced water discharge from the Cedar Cove degasification field, Alabama. January 1991
Development of coalbed methane has become a major industry for the state of Alabama. In excess of 1,300 wells were producing methane by the end of July 1990. A byproduct of methane production is produced water containing elevated concentrations of chloride, sodium, iron and bicarbonate. These waters are currently permitted for discharge into streams or as a land application. The purpose of the study was to examine the long-term impacts of produced waters to streams relative to water-quality changes and aquatic biological effects. Distinct water-quality changes in the receiving stream were documented and consisted primarily of increased dissolved solids, changes in the pH regime and changes in the carbonate buffering system. In contrast, no significant or consistent detrimental change in the structure or function of the stream biological community could be detected. Subtle changes in biological community structure and composition were noted and most likely due to effects associated with algal productivity in settling lagoons. These changes, however, were within the boundaries of variation typically observed for the communities. Based on the results of this and earlier studies, it was concluded that the national water-quality criterion for chloride was protective of stream life as examined in the study.
- Research Organization:
- Alabama Geological Survey, University, AL (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 5537772
- Report Number(s):
- PB-91-184986/XAB; CNN: GRI-5084-253-1019
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Coal-bed methane development in Alabama. Biomonitoring of a produced water discharge from the Cedar Cove degasification field, Alabama. Final report, June 1986-December 1988
Coalbed methane development in Alabama: biotoxicity of produced water originating from coalbed-degasification wells in the Cedar Cove field, a proposed study plan. Topical report, June 1986-June 1987
Related Subjects
010900 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Environmental Aspects
016000 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Health & Safety
03 NATURAL GAS
030500* -- Natural Gas-- Health & Safety
030800 -- Natural Gas-- Environmental Aspects
ACID NEUTRALIZING CAPACITY
ALABAMA
ALGAE
ALKALI METALS
ALKANES
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGY
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBONATES
CHEMISTRY
CHLORIDES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
COAL DEPOSITS
COAL SEAMS
DEGASSING
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
FEDERAL REGION IV
FISHES
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GROUND DISPOSAL
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
IRON
LIQUID WASTES
MANAGEMENT
MARINE DISPOSAL
METALS
METHANE
MINERAL RESOURCES
NATURAL GAS
NATURAL GAS WELLS
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PH VALUE
PLANTS
POLLUTION
RESOURCES
SAMPLING
SODIUM
SOLIDS
STREAMS
SURFACE WATERS
TAXONOMY
TOXICITY
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
USA
VARIATIONS
VERTEBRATES
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE WATER
WASTES
WATER
WATER CHEMISTRY
WATER POLLUTION
WATER QUALITY
WELLS