Efficacy of oil and gas produced water as a dust suppressant

The effectiveness of oil and gas produced water (OGPW) applied to unpaved roads to reduce particulate matter (PM10) generation has not been well-characterized. Here we quantify the efficacy of OGPW compared to commercial and alternative byproducts as dust suppressants applied to unpaved roads and es...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Science of the total environment 2021-12, Vol.799, p.149347-149347, Article 149347
Main Authors: Stallworth, Audrey M., Chase, Eric H., McDevitt, Bonnie, Marak, Katherine K., Freedman, Miriam Arak, Wilson, Robin Taylor, Burgos, William D., Warner, Nathaniel R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Air Pollutants - analysis
Brine
Dust - analysis
Environmental Monitoring
Gravel
Particulate Matter - analysis
Roads
Water
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Summary:The effectiveness of oil and gas produced water (OGPW) applied to unpaved roads to reduce particulate matter (PM10) generation has not been well-characterized. Here we quantify the efficacy of OGPW compared to commercial and alternative byproducts as dust suppressants applied to unpaved roads and estimate efficacy of a dust suppressant extrapolated from both lab experiments and published data for OGPW across U.S. states. Both treated and untreated OGPW, simulated brines, and commercial dust suppressants were characterized by major and trace element composition and then applied to road aggregate in the laboratory. PM10 generation after treatment was quantified, both before and after simulated rain events to assess the need for multiple applications. We found the dust suppression efficacy of all OGPW to be less than commercial products and alternative byproducts such as waste soybean oil. In addition, OGPW lost efficacy following simulated rain events, which would require repeated applications of OGPW to maintain dust suppression. The dust suppression efficacy of OGPW can be estimated based on two chemical measurements, the sodium absorption ratio (SAR) and the total dissolved solids (TDS). OGPW with the lowest SAR and highest TDS performed best as dust suppressants while high SAR and lower TDS led to greater dust generation. [Display omitted] •Dust suppression efficacy of all OGPW was less than commercial products.•Sodium absorption ratio (SAR) and total dissolved solids (TDS) predict efficacy.•OGPW with low SAR and high TDS performed best as dust suppressants.•OGPW treated roadways lost dust-suppression efficacy following rain events.
ISSN:0048-9697
1879-1026
DOI:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149347