Science Team about Energy and Plains and Potholes Environments (STEPPE)
Pothole pond landscape with oil well
Wetland complex
Dried wetland bed
Medicine Lake entrance
Brine Contamination to Plains and Potholes Environments from Energy Development in the Williston Basin
In the United States, the Williston Basin occupies 143,000 square miles and includes portions of Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Superimposed over this landscape is the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) which includes critical wetland and grassland habitats of importance to breeding, nesting, and migrating waterfowl, and wetland and grassland birds. A potential impact of oil field activities on these important habitats is brine contamination from co-produced waters (Investigations of Waters Injected or Produced for Energy Development Project) that leach from oil well reserve pits, injection wells, and transport lines. Previous studies have identified contamination of wetlands and groundwater resources, including drinking water aquifers, located on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), tribal, and public lands, and numerous groups have expressed concern over the potential risk of contamination. Currently, the extent of such contamination across the Williston Basin is unknown, and there is a need for scientific-based information to assess this threat.
Recently Completed and Ongoing USGS Investigations in the Williston Basin
USGS Co-Principal Investigators and Affiliations - see contact info on right side of page
Other Co-PIs and Affiliations:
Mike Borgreen - USFWS Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Joel Galloway - USGS North Dakota Water Science Center
Kevin Johnson - USFWS Region 6, Ecological Services
Karen Nelson - USFWS Region 6, Ecological Services
Jon Reiten - Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology
David Rouse - USFWS Region 6, Ecological Services
Non-USGS References
For USGS-authored references, please visit the Publications tab. Below is a list of non-USGS authored references.
Frost, C.D., and Toner, R.N. Strontium isotopic identification of water–rock interaction and ground water mixing. Ground water, 42 (3) (2004), pp. 418-432 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6584.2004.tb02689.x
Iampen, H.T. and Rsotron, B.J. Hydrogeochemistry of pre-Mississippian brines, Williston Basin, Canada–USA Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 69–70 (2000), pp. 29-35 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0375-6742(00)00007-8
Naftz, D.L., Peterman, Z.E., and Springer, L.E. Using δ87 Sr values to identify sources of salinity to a freshwater aquifer, Greater Aneth Oil Field, Utah, USA. Chemical Geology, 141 (3–4) (1997), pp. 195-209 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0009-2541(97)00063-6
Quattrocchi F. et al. Strontium Isotope (87sr/86sr) Chemistry in Produced Oil Field Waters: The IEA C02 Monitoring and Storage Project. In: Lombardi S., Altunina L., Beaubien S. (eds) Advances in the Geological Storage of Carbon Dioxide. Nato Science Series: IV: Earth and Environmental Sciences, 65 (2006) Springer, Dordrecht https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-4471-2_20
Rittenhouse, G., Fulton III, R.B., Grabowski, R.J. and Bernard, J.L. (1969) Minor Elements in Oil-Field Waters Chemical Geology, 4 (1–2), pp. 189-209 https://doi.org/10.1016/0009-2541(69)90045-X
Rostron, B.J. and Holmden, C. Fingerprinting formation-waters using stable isotopes, Midale Area, Williston Basin, Canada Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 69–70 (2000), pp. 219-223 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0375-6742(00)00024-8
Shand, P., D.P.F. Darbyshire, A.J. Love, and W.M. Edmunds Sr isotopes in natural waters: Applications to source characterisation and water–rock interaction in contrasting landscapes, 24 (4) (2009), pp. 574-586 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2008.12.011
Wilson, T.P. and Long, D.T. Geochemistry and isotope chemistry of Michigan Basin brines: Devonian formations, 8 (1) (1993), pp. 81-100 https://doi.org/10.1016/0883-2927(93)90058-O
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Below are data or web applications associated with this project.
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.
Below are publications associated with this project.
Chemical and isotopic changes in Williston Basin brines during long-term oil production: An example from the Poplar dome, Montana
Effects of energy development on wetland plants and macroinvertebrate communities in Prairie Pothole Region wetlands
Land cover changes associated with recent energy development in the Williston Basin; Northern Great Plains, USA
Estimating national water use associated with unconventional oil and gas development
Presence and abundance of non-native plant species associated with recent energy development in the Williston Basin
Risk assessment of brine contamination to aquatic resources from energy development in glacial drift deposits: Williston Basin, USA
Monitoring and modeling wetland chloride concentrations in relationship to oil and gas development
Hydrogeologic framework of the uppermost principal aquifer systems in the Williston and Powder River structural basins, United States and Canada
Conceptual model of the uppermost principal aquifer systems in the Williston and Powder River structural basins, United States and Canada
Brine contamination to aquatic resources from oil and gas development in the Williston Basin, United States
Delineation of brine contamination in and near the East Poplar oil field, Fort Peck Indian Reservation, northeastern Montana, 2004-09
A framework for assessing water and proppant use and flowback water extraction associated with development of continuous petroleum resources
Brine Contamination to Plains and Potholes Environments from Energy Development in the Williston Basin
In the United States, the Williston Basin occupies 143,000 square miles and includes portions of Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Superimposed over this landscape is the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) which includes critical wetland and grassland habitats of importance to breeding, nesting, and migrating waterfowl, and wetland and grassland birds. A potential impact of oil field activities on these important habitats is brine contamination from co-produced waters (Investigations of Waters Injected or Produced for Energy Development Project) that leach from oil well reserve pits, injection wells, and transport lines. Previous studies have identified contamination of wetlands and groundwater resources, including drinking water aquifers, located on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), tribal, and public lands, and numerous groups have expressed concern over the potential risk of contamination. Currently, the extent of such contamination across the Williston Basin is unknown, and there is a need for scientific-based information to assess this threat.
Recently Completed and Ongoing USGS Investigations in the Williston Basin
USGS Co-Principal Investigators and Affiliations - see contact info on right side of page
Other Co-PIs and Affiliations:
Mike Borgreen - USFWS Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Joel Galloway - USGS North Dakota Water Science Center
Kevin Johnson - USFWS Region 6, Ecological Services
Karen Nelson - USFWS Region 6, Ecological Services
Jon Reiten - Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology
David Rouse - USFWS Region 6, Ecological Services
Non-USGS References
For USGS-authored references, please visit the Publications tab. Below is a list of non-USGS authored references.
Frost, C.D., and Toner, R.N. Strontium isotopic identification of water–rock interaction and ground water mixing. Ground water, 42 (3) (2004), pp. 418-432 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6584.2004.tb02689.x
Iampen, H.T. and Rsotron, B.J. Hydrogeochemistry of pre-Mississippian brines, Williston Basin, Canada–USA Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 69–70 (2000), pp. 29-35 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0375-6742(00)00007-8
Naftz, D.L., Peterman, Z.E., and Springer, L.E. Using δ87 Sr values to identify sources of salinity to a freshwater aquifer, Greater Aneth Oil Field, Utah, USA. Chemical Geology, 141 (3–4) (1997), pp. 195-209 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0009-2541(97)00063-6
Quattrocchi F. et al. Strontium Isotope (87sr/86sr) Chemistry in Produced Oil Field Waters: The IEA C02 Monitoring and Storage Project. In: Lombardi S., Altunina L., Beaubien S. (eds) Advances in the Geological Storage of Carbon Dioxide. Nato Science Series: IV: Earth and Environmental Sciences, 65 (2006) Springer, Dordrecht https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-4471-2_20
Rittenhouse, G., Fulton III, R.B., Grabowski, R.J. and Bernard, J.L. (1969) Minor Elements in Oil-Field Waters Chemical Geology, 4 (1–2), pp. 189-209 https://doi.org/10.1016/0009-2541(69)90045-X
Rostron, B.J. and Holmden, C. Fingerprinting formation-waters using stable isotopes, Midale Area, Williston Basin, Canada Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 69–70 (2000), pp. 219-223 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0375-6742(00)00024-8
Shand, P., D.P.F. Darbyshire, A.J. Love, and W.M. Edmunds Sr isotopes in natural waters: Applications to source characterisation and water–rock interaction in contrasting landscapes, 24 (4) (2009), pp. 574-586 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2008.12.011
Wilson, T.P. and Long, D.T. Geochemistry and isotope chemistry of Michigan Basin brines: Devonian formations, 8 (1) (1993), pp. 81-100 https://doi.org/10.1016/0883-2927(93)90058-O
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Below are data or web applications associated with this project.
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.
Below are publications associated with this project.