Effects of brine injection wells, dry holes, and plugged oil/gas wells on chloride, bromide, and barium concentrations in the Gulf Coast Aquifer, southeast Texas, USA.
Data from 1,122 brine injection wells, 24,515 dry holes, 20,877 plugged oil/gas wells, and 256 water wells were mapped with a geographic information system (GIS) and statistically analyzed. There were 9, 107, and 58 water wells within 750 m of a brine injection well, dry hole, or plugged oil/gas well, respectively. Computed median concentrations were 157 mg/l for chloride, 0.8 mg/l for bromide, and 169 microg/l for barium. The maximum chloride concentration was 2,384 mg/l, close to 10 times the secondary drinking water standard. Shallow water wells and water wells near plugged oil/gas wells had significantly higher chloride and bromide levels.
Hudak
P F
PF
Department of Geography, University of North Texas, Denton 76203-5279, USA. hudak@unt.edu
Wachal
D J
DJ
D001464:Barium / Q000032:analysis*; D001965:Bromides / Q000032:analysis*; D002712:Chlorides / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005843:Geography; D007221:Industry; D010578:Petroleum; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D013781:Texas; D014872:Water Movements; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D014881:Water Supply
D001965:Bromides; D002712:Chlorides; D010578:Petroleum; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D014873:Water Pollutants; D001464:Barium