Increasing Efficiency During the Life Cycle of Energy Development: Key Strategies for Improving the Utilization of Our Nation's Energy Resources
Energy development is critical to American energy independence and provides economic benefits to local communities. Scientific information is needed to aid in the sustainable development of energy resources. Sustainable energy development can include strategies for protecting environmental health and ecological services that benefit local communities. The USGS Environmental Health Program, Energy Resources Lifecycle Integrated Science Team works to inform best practices for energy development in a manner that supports development while minimizing risks to humans and other organisms. Scientific data are provided to expand understanding of the environmental transport, fate, exposure pathways, and potential biological effects of prioritized contaminants associated with energy development.
Integrated Science to Support Sustainable Energy Development
Development of energy resources has increased to meet the demands of our Nation. The lifecycle of energy development includes extracting resources, converting them to energy, using that energy, and then managing the resulting byproducts and emissions. The USGS Energy Resources Lifecycle Integrated Science Team (IST), a part of the Environmental Health Program, provides scientific data, tools, and predictive models to understand the potential environmental health effects of energy-associated materials on people and wildlife. We deliver fundamental and applied science that can be used to reduce human and wildlife exposures, enhance energy production, and identify resources for critical mineral recovery.
Science Priorities
USGS Energy Resources Lifecycle IST researchers provide science to support the utilization and protection of our Nation’s resources. The team includes experts in fields such as geochemistry, microbiology, ecology, toxicology, geophysics, hydrology, chemistry, and modeling. Our work aims to:
- Characterize the geochemistry and potential toxicity of energy-related materials.
- Trace potential pathways of contaminants to/in the environment.
- Evaluate the resilience of the environment and organisms to recover from energy-related activities.
- Investigate the reuse potential of oil and gas byproducts.
Characterize Energy-Related Materials
We study materials generated during energy development including the resources, by-products, and emissions. We conduct experiments to understand the potential toxicity and effects of these materials on living organisms. By learning about their composition and potential health risks, both actual and perceived, we can help inform best practices for developing our Nation's energy resources sustainably, helping to avoid unexpected costs and supporting our goals of responsible stewardship and energy independence.
Pathways to and Movement through the Environment
The Energy Resources Lifecycle IST, uses field investigations where energy-related releases such as leaks from broken pipelines, intentional dumps, and product spills are reported to understand physical, chemical, and biological processes that control contaminant movement. Our research identifies potential pathways to/in the environment of energy-associated materials due to releases. We prioritize studying sites on public lands in order to safeguard those lands for the American people.
Effects and Resilience/Restoration of the Environment
We assess the potential for actual or perceived long-term risks from energy development on the environment, including effects on receptor organisms, ecosystems, and the quality of drinking water resources. We integrate the study of resilience in the environment with natural attenuation, remediation, and restoration efforts to support responsible energy development.
Reuse of Oil and Gas Byproducts
Our team supports the development of strategies for the reuse of wastes from oil and gas production (e.g., produced waters, solids, drilling fluids, and sludges) in collaboration with energy-industry stakeholders. Research is focused on identifying best practices for oil and gas waste reuse to enhance energy production and agriculture while minimizing potential effects on organisms and ecological processes. We also study oil and gas wastes to identify sources of critical minerals.
How our Research is Being Used
Our team conducts scientific research in support of the Department of the Interior's priorities to unleash America’s energy resources and achieve energy independence. We work hand-in-hand with stakeholders, including federal, state, and local resource managers, public health experts, the public, and industry representatives. Our research supports stakeholders in developing new technologies, such as produced water treatment systems that facilitate reuse outside of the oil field, as well as monitoring and treatment technologies deployed after petroleum spills. Stakeholders also utilize our findings to protect water resources, fish and wildlife, and to prioritize the clean-up and restoration of contaminated sites. Our research contributes to boosting America’s economy by providing data and tools that stakeholders use to implement cost-effective strategies for energy development that reduce regulatory burdens while safeguarding natural resources.
Future Directions
The USGS Environmental Health Program collaborates with the Energy and Mineral Resources Mission Area to enhance the understanding of energy development and life cycle of energy products and byproducts. This partnership integrates scientific research, innovation, and technology with effective energy management practices.
- Analyze energy resources and associated wastes for emerging contaminants such as PFAS and microplastics.
- Characterize chemicals in groundwater affected by energy resources to understand how these chemicals may move through and degrade water resources.
- Understand the effects of energy-wastewater reuse on agriculture, the health of organisms, and the environment.
- Develop cost-effective methods for mapping and modeling spills and contaminant plumes to minimize actual vs. perceived risks to humans, fish, and wildlife.
- Investigate ecosystem recovery following energy resource or waste releases.
- Collaborate with stakeholders to develop technologies to help resource managers monitor and mitigate actual vs perceived risks from energy development to sensitive ecosystems.
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Understanding Pathways of Unconventional Oil and Gas Produced Water Spills in the Environment
Using biological responses to monitor freshwater post-spill conditions over 3 years in Blacktail Creek, North Dakota, USA
Predicting attenuation of salinized surface- and groundwater-resources from legacy energy development in the Prairie Pothole Region
Amphibians Exposed to Oil and Gas Co-Produced Wastewaters: Differentiating the Actual and the Perceived Inorganic Contaminant Hazards — Prairie Pothole Region
Framework for Examining Stream Ecosystem Health in Areas of Shale Gas Development—A Multi-Parameter Watershed-Based Case Study in Pennsylvania
Illegal Oil and Gas Wastewater Dumps Disrupt Foundations of Fragile Desert Ecosystem
Ammonia and aquatic ecosystems – A review of global sources, biogeochemical cycling, and effects on fish
The sensitivity of a unionid mussel (Lampsilis siliquoidea) to a permitted effluent and elevated potassium in the effluent
Trace elements and consequent ecological risks in mining- influenced streams of Appalachia
Follow the Energy Resources Life Cycle Integrated Science Team
Energy development is critical to American energy independence and provides economic benefits to local communities. Scientific information is needed to aid in the sustainable development of energy resources. Sustainable energy development can include strategies for protecting environmental health and ecological services that benefit local communities. The USGS Environmental Health Program, Energy Resources Lifecycle Integrated Science Team works to inform best practices for energy development in a manner that supports development while minimizing risks to humans and other organisms. Scientific data are provided to expand understanding of the environmental transport, fate, exposure pathways, and potential biological effects of prioritized contaminants associated with energy development.
Integrated Science to Support Sustainable Energy Development
Development of energy resources has increased to meet the demands of our Nation. The lifecycle of energy development includes extracting resources, converting them to energy, using that energy, and then managing the resulting byproducts and emissions. The USGS Energy Resources Lifecycle Integrated Science Team (IST), a part of the Environmental Health Program, provides scientific data, tools, and predictive models to understand the potential environmental health effects of energy-associated materials on people and wildlife. We deliver fundamental and applied science that can be used to reduce human and wildlife exposures, enhance energy production, and identify resources for critical mineral recovery.
Science Priorities
USGS Energy Resources Lifecycle IST researchers provide science to support the utilization and protection of our Nation’s resources. The team includes experts in fields such as geochemistry, microbiology, ecology, toxicology, geophysics, hydrology, chemistry, and modeling. Our work aims to:
- Characterize the geochemistry and potential toxicity of energy-related materials.
- Trace potential pathways of contaminants to/in the environment.
- Evaluate the resilience of the environment and organisms to recover from energy-related activities.
- Investigate the reuse potential of oil and gas byproducts.
Characterize Energy-Related Materials
We study materials generated during energy development including the resources, by-products, and emissions. We conduct experiments to understand the potential toxicity and effects of these materials on living organisms. By learning about their composition and potential health risks, both actual and perceived, we can help inform best practices for developing our Nation's energy resources sustainably, helping to avoid unexpected costs and supporting our goals of responsible stewardship and energy independence.
Pathways to and Movement through the Environment
The Energy Resources Lifecycle IST, uses field investigations where energy-related releases such as leaks from broken pipelines, intentional dumps, and product spills are reported to understand physical, chemical, and biological processes that control contaminant movement. Our research identifies potential pathways to/in the environment of energy-associated materials due to releases. We prioritize studying sites on public lands in order to safeguard those lands for the American people.
Effects and Resilience/Restoration of the Environment
We assess the potential for actual or perceived long-term risks from energy development on the environment, including effects on receptor organisms, ecosystems, and the quality of drinking water resources. We integrate the study of resilience in the environment with natural attenuation, remediation, and restoration efforts to support responsible energy development.
Reuse of Oil and Gas Byproducts
Our team supports the development of strategies for the reuse of wastes from oil and gas production (e.g., produced waters, solids, drilling fluids, and sludges) in collaboration with energy-industry stakeholders. Research is focused on identifying best practices for oil and gas waste reuse to enhance energy production and agriculture while minimizing potential effects on organisms and ecological processes. We also study oil and gas wastes to identify sources of critical minerals.
How our Research is Being Used
Our team conducts scientific research in support of the Department of the Interior's priorities to unleash America’s energy resources and achieve energy independence. We work hand-in-hand with stakeholders, including federal, state, and local resource managers, public health experts, the public, and industry representatives. Our research supports stakeholders in developing new technologies, such as produced water treatment systems that facilitate reuse outside of the oil field, as well as monitoring and treatment technologies deployed after petroleum spills. Stakeholders also utilize our findings to protect water resources, fish and wildlife, and to prioritize the clean-up and restoration of contaminated sites. Our research contributes to boosting America’s economy by providing data and tools that stakeholders use to implement cost-effective strategies for energy development that reduce regulatory burdens while safeguarding natural resources.
Future Directions
The USGS Environmental Health Program collaborates with the Energy and Mineral Resources Mission Area to enhance the understanding of energy development and life cycle of energy products and byproducts. This partnership integrates scientific research, innovation, and technology with effective energy management practices.
- Analyze energy resources and associated wastes for emerging contaminants such as PFAS and microplastics.
- Characterize chemicals in groundwater affected by energy resources to understand how these chemicals may move through and degrade water resources.
- Understand the effects of energy-wastewater reuse on agriculture, the health of organisms, and the environment.
- Develop cost-effective methods for mapping and modeling spills and contaminant plumes to minimize actual vs. perceived risks to humans, fish, and wildlife.
- Investigate ecosystem recovery following energy resource or waste releases.
- Collaborate with stakeholders to develop technologies to help resource managers monitor and mitigate actual vs perceived risks from energy development to sensitive ecosystems.