A method for screening groundwater vulnerability from subsurface hydrocarbon extraction practices

Loveless, S.E.; Lewis, M.A.; Bloomfield, J.P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5730-1723; Davey, I.; Ward, R.S.; Hart, A.; Stuart, M.E.. 2019 A method for screening groundwater vulnerability from subsurface hydrocarbon extraction practices. Journal of Environmental Management, 249, 109349. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.109349

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.109349

Abstract/Summary

This paper describes a new screening method for assessing groundwater vulnerability to pollution from hydrocarbon exploitation in the subsurface. The method can be used for various hydrocarbon energy sources, including conventional oil and gas, shale gas and oil, coal bed methane and underground coal gasification. Intrinsic vulnerability of potential receptors is assessed at any particular location by identifying possible geological pathways for contaminant transport. This is followed by an assessment of specific vulnerability which takes into account the nature of the subsurface hydrocarbon activity and driving heads. A confidence rating is attached to each parameter in the assessment to provide an indication of the confidence in the screening. Risk categories and associated confidence ratings are designed to aid in environmental decision making, regulation and management, highlighting where additional information is required. The method is demonstrated for conventional gas and proposed shale gas operations in northern England but can be adapted for use in any geological or hydrogeological setting and for other subsurface activities.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.109349
ISSN:	03014797
Additional Keywords:	GroundwaterBGS, Groundwater, Groundwater protection, Groundwater and methane, Methane and shale gas
Date made live:	22 Aug 2019 10:22 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/524834

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.109349

ISSN:

03014797

Additional Keywords:

GroundwaterBGS, Groundwater, Groundwater protection, Groundwater and methane, Methane and shale gas

Date made live:

22 Aug 2019 10:22 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/524834