Abstract
Disposal of produced waters, pumped to the surface as part of coalbed methane (CBM) development, is a significant environmental issue in the Wyoming portion of the Powder River Basin, USA. High sodium adsorption ratios (SAR) of the waters could degrade agricultural land, especially if directly applied to the soil surface. One method of disposing of CBM water, while deriving beneficial use, is subsurface drip irrigation (SDI), where acidified CBM waters are applied to alfalfa fields year-round via tubing buried 0.92 m deep. Effects of the method were studied on an alluvial terrace with a relatively shallow depth to water table (∼3 m). Excess irrigation water caused the water table to rise, even temporarily reaching the depth of drip tubing. The rise corresponded to increased salinity in some monitoring wells. Three factors appeared to drive increased groundwater salinity: (1) CBM solutes, concentrated by evapotranspiration; (2) gypsum dissolution, apparently enhanced by cation exchange; and (3) dissolution of native Na–Mg–SO4 salts more soluble than gypsum. Irrigation with high SAR (∼24) water has increased soil saturated paste SAR up to 15 near the drip tubing. Importantly though, little change in SAR has occurred at the surface.
Résumé
L’élimination des eaux produites et pompées jusqu’à la surface lors de l’extraction de méthane de charbon (CBM) constitue un enjeu environnemental important dans la partie du bassin de la rivière Powder appartenant au Wyoming, USA. Les forts Rapports d’Adsorption du Sodium (SAR) des eaux pourraient dégrader les terres agricoles, particulièrement si les eaux sont directement appliquées à la surface du sol. Une méthode d’élimination de l’eau de CBM, tout en en tirant un usage bénéfique, est l’irrigation souterraine au goutte à goutte (SDI), où les eaux de CBM acidifiées sont appliquées à longueur d’année à des champs de luzerne au moyen de tubes enterrés à 0.92 m de profondeur. Les effets de cette méthode ont été étudiés sur une terrasse alluviale avec un niveau piézométrique relativement peu profond (∼3 m). L’excédent d’irrigation entraîne une montée du niveau piézométrique, qui atteint même temporairement la profondeur des tubes de goutte à goutte. Cette montée coïncide avec à une augmentation de la salinité dans certains puits. Trois facteurs paraissent piloter l’augmentation de la salinité des eaux souterraines : (1) les solutés des CBM, concentrés par évapotranspiration; (2) la dissolution du gypse, apparemment augmentée par échange de cation; et (3) la dissolution de sels natifs de Na–Mg–SO4 plus solubles que le gypse. L’irrigation avec de l’eau à SAR élevé (∼24) a augmenté jusqu’à 15 le SAR du sol situé près des tubages de goutte à goutte (mesure sur échantillon de sol porté à saturation en eau et mixé). Pourtant, ce qui est important, le SAR a peu changé à la surface.
Abstract
La eliminación de aguas producidas, bombeada a la superficie como parte de la explotación de gas metano de mantos de carbón (CBM), es un tema ambiental significativo en la porción de Wyoming de la cuenca del Río Powder, EEUU. Las altas relaciones de absorción sodio (SAR) de la aguas podrían degradar las tierras agrícolas, especialmente si es aplicado directamente a la superficie del suelo. Un método para eliminar el agua de CBM, mientras que se aprovechan al mismo tiempo sus beneficios, es el riego supsuperficial por goteo (SDI), donde las aguas acidificadas CBM son aplicadas a campos de alfalfa durante todo el año a través de tubos enterrados a 0.92 m de profundidad. Los efectos del método fueron estudiados en una terraza aluvial con una profundidad relativamente somera del nivel freático (∼3 m). Los excesos del agua de riego causaron la elevación del nivel freático, incluso alcanzando temporariamente la profundidad de los tubos de goteo. El ascenso se correspondió con un incremento de la salinidad en algunos pozos. Tres factores aparecieron como forzantes para impulsar el aumento en la salinidad de las aguas subterráneas: (1) solutos CBM, concentrados por evaporación; (2) disolución de yeso, aparentemente enriquecido por intercambio catiónico; y (3) disolución de sales nativas Na–Mg–SO4 más soluble que el yeso. La irrigación con agua de altos valores de SAR (∼24) ha incrementado el SAR de la pasta saturada del suelo hasta 15 veces cerca de los tubos de goteo. Sin embargo, es importante destacar que ha ocurrido poco cambio del SAR en la superficie.
摘要
产出水的处理、作为煤层甲烷开采的一部分抽到地表是美国Powder河流域Wyoming州境内部分一个重要的环境问题。水的高钠吸收率可以使农业土地退化,特别是在直接应用于地表的情况下。处理煤层甲烷水的一个方法就是采用地下滴灌,酸化的煤层甲烷水通过埋深0.92 m 的 管滴灌常年种植苜蓿的 土地。研究了该方法对水位相对浅(∼3 m )的冲积阶地的影响。过度的灌溉水引起水位上升,甚至临时可 达到滴灌埋管的深度。水位上升与有些井中的增加的盐度相一致。三个因素似乎增加了地下水中的盐度:(1)蒸腾蒸发后的煤层甲烷溶质;(2)石膏溶解,阳离子明显增加石膏溶解;(3)比石膏更容易溶解的本地Na–Mg–SO4盐分的溶解。用高钠吸收率 (∼24) 水灌溉可以 使土壤饱和泥状基质高钠吸收率在滴灌埋管附近增加 到15。尽管钠吸收率变化非常大,但在地表几乎没有变化。
Resumo
O uso de águas produzidas e bombeadas para a superfície como parte da exploração de camadas de carvão e metano (CBM) é uma questão ambiental significativa na porção de Wyoming da Bacia do Rio Powder, nos EUA. A elevada relação de adsorção de sódio (SAR) das águas poderia degradar o solo agrícola, especialmente se a aplicação fosse feita à superfície do solo. Uma metodologia para utilização das águas CBM, enquanto são aproveitadas para fins úteis, é a rega gota a gota subsuperficial (SDI), onde águas acidificadas CBM são aplicadas em campos de alfafa durante todo o ano através de tubos enterrados a 0.92 m de profundidade. Foram estudados os efeitos da metodologia num terraço aluvial com a água subterrânea a uma profundidade baixa (∼3 m). O excesso de água de rega causou a elevação do nível freático, tendo mesmo temporariamente atingido a profundidade da tubagem gota a gota. Esta subida do nível da água subterrânea correspondeu a um incremento da salinidade nalguns poços. Três fatores parecem incrementar a salinidade das águas subterrâneas: (1) solutos CBM, concentrados por evapotranspiração, (2) dissolução de gesso, aparentemente potenciada por troca catónica; e (3) dissolução de sais nativos Na–Mg–SO4, mais solúveis que o gesso. A rega com água com SAR elevada (∼24) incrementou a SAR na pasta saturada do solo até 15 próximo do tubo de rega gota a gota. Importante contudo é que apenas pequenas alterações ocorreram no SAR à superfície.
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We thank Kenneth Knudson for access to the site. The assistance of numerous employees of BeneTerra, LLC is gratefully acknowledged. Funding for this research is provided by the US Geological Survey Energy Resources Program. We thank George Breit for assistance with mineralogy. Rick Healy, K.J. Reddy, John Wheaton and an anonymous reviewer provided helpful comments on earlier versions of this paper.
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Bern, C.R., Boehlke, A.R., Engle, M.A. et al. Shallow groundwater and soil chemistry response to 3 years of subsurface drip irrigation using coalbed-methane-produced water. Hydrogeol J 21, 1803–1820 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-013-1058-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-013-1058-0