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IPEC UNIVERSITY OF TULSA (TU)
Impact/Purpose:
Historic oil brine scars (sites that repeatedly received produced water) are extremely difficult to remediate because these sites possess degraded, highly saline soils, erosion damage, little or no plant cover and an altered microbial community. Ecosystem function is diminished as a result of these impacts.
We are evaluating the contribution of fiber rolls to restoration of a historic oil brine scar in south Arkansas. Four treatments (natural attenuation, standard soil reclamation techniques, fiber rolls, and soil reclamation with fiber rolls) have been applied to plots within the site. Fiber rolls are tubes formed with a geotextile material and filled with organic fiber, mycorrhizal fungal inoculum, bacterial inoculum (soil) and salt-tolerant plants. Consequently, fiber rolls may serve a variety of ecological functions including primary productivity, filtering of sediments and moisture and nutrient retention. Rolls also serve as a source vegetative growth, seeds, microbial spores, organic matter and nutrients.
Our primary objective is to examine the utility of fiber rolls as an effective, inexpensive, and easy-to-use remediation tool at oil brine spill sites. Established fiber rolls and adjacent brine affected plots will be examined to determine the:
1) Structural integrity and ability of fiber rolls to withstand periodic flooding/water flow,
2) Amount of sediment accretion behind fiber rolls,
3) Survival, extent and type of vegetative growth in fiber rolls, and
4) Type and extent of vegetation expansion from fiber rolls onto adjacent soils.
Soil reclamation as a result of treatments will also be assessed through measurements of electrical conductivity, sodium adsorption ratio, and cation exchange capacity.
Description:
Center Focus - Funded Technology Development Projects:
Technology development projects funded under Grant #X83242801 have included:
“Nematodes as Ecological Indicators of Soil Ecosystem Restoration at E&P Sites” – University of Tulsa
The objective of this project was to generate a data set that could be used by the scientific community, the petroleum industry, and regulators to determine the efficacy of using nematode community analysis as an ecological indicator in E&P settings. Specifically, it investigated nematode population dynamics at a number of E&P sites in various stages of remediation and restoration in various climates to develop a robust dataset.
“Developing a Low-Cost Approach to Remediation of Historic Brine Scars” – University of Tulsa
The objective of this project was to apply and test results from mining reclamation research in the remediation and restoration of historic brine scars. Specifically, it sought to determine whether patch planting of vegetation (switchgrass and legumes) accelerated revegetation and the soil building process in these sites following adequate removal of brine components. Observations of significant subsurface lateral movement of brine from the scar made the original remediation methodology somewhat risky. Therefore, the remediation protocol was changed to include re-contouring and installing drainage ponds. Significant natural revegetation was obtained. The land owner (The Nature Conservancy) continues to monitor this site with our assistance. Switchgrass and legumes will be planted as soon as brine concentrations are low enough.
“Assessing Biodegradation Potential Using in Situ Microcosms and 13C-labeled Hydrocarbons” – University of Tulsa
This project sought to further prove the efficacy of employing Bio-Sep® bio-traps pre-loaded with 13Chydrocarbons in BTEX-contaminated aquifers to provide absolute proof of in situ biodegradation potential and obtain regulatory approval for the use of the technique in Oklahoma, Colorado, Texas, and California. Biotraps are now a commercial product and have been used with regulatory approval throughout the United States and Europe.
“Analysis of MTBE and TBA Biodegradation and Remediation of MTBE-and TBA-Contaminated Aquifers Using a New Generation of Bio-Sep® Beads” – University of Tulsa
The principle goal of this project was the development and field testing of bio-traps capable of being pre-loaded with 13C-labeled MTBE of TBA without significant leaching of the organics under aquifer conditions over a 30-day incubation period. This project was successful, leading to commercial application.
“Using Plants to Remediate Petroleum-Contaminated Soil: Project Continuation” – University of Arkansas
Crude oil contamination of soil often occurs adjacent to wellheads and storage facilities. Phytoremediation is a promising tool that can be used to remediate such sites and uses plants and agronomic techniques to enhance biodegradation of hydrocarbons. This project conducted a field study to evaluate the effects of fertilizer and vegetation establishment on phytoremediation of crude-oil contaminated soil.
“Effective Stormwater and Sediment Control During Pipeline Construction Using a New Filter Fence Concept” – Oklahoma State University
Sediment has recently become an emphasis in the EPA NPDES storm water rules because of its impact on habitat and the macro-invertebrates in stream channels. This is particularly critical for pipelines and will become even more important under Phase II of the Clean Water Act. Current sediment control BMP technology for linear construction and brine reclamation projects is primarily limited to silt fence since it does not cause significant additional disruptions to the landscape during installation and removal. Since silt fence has been found to be practically ineffective in a recent national study, this project addressed modifications of current technology to make silt fence effective.
“Paraffin Control in Oil Wells Using Anaerobic Microorganisms” – University of Oklahoma
Paraffins that form waxy deposits upon removal from reservoirs have been implicated in numerous oil field problems leading to reductions in oil recovery. The concept of microbial paraffin control measures has much to recommend it in offering substantial cost and safety advantages over more traditional practices such as hot oiling. The objective of this project was to determine the feasibility of using anaerobic microbial inocula to effectively treat paraffin deposition in reservoirs and on oil production equipment.
“Fiber Rolls as a Tool for Re-vegetation of Oil-Brine Contaminated Watersheds” – University of Arkansas
In situ bioremediation provides an economical, minimally intrusive method to restore produced water spill sites. The success of in situ bioremediation, however, is varied depending upon spill and site characteristics. One promising technique that remained to be tested involves the use of fiber rolls. Fiber rolls are formed from a geotextile tube filled with organic fiber, mycorrhizal fungal inoculum, soil (to provide inoculum for natural soil microbes) and salt-tolerant plants. Fiber rolls may serve a variety of ecological functions including primary productivity, filtering sediments, moisture and nutrient retention, and a source of on-site mature plants for vegetative growth or propagules. This project evaluated the contribution of fiber rolls to restoration of a historic oil brine scar in South Arkansas.
“Utilization of the Carbon and Hydrogen Isotopic Composition of Individual Compounds in Refined Hydrocarbon Products to Monitor Their Fate in the Environment” – University of Oklahoma (Year 2 of 2-year Project)
The goal of this work was to develop a method utilizing compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA), which could be successfully applied to contaminated sites to demonstrate the onset of natural attenuation of contaminants and monitor the extent and progress of this attenuation.
“Toward Improved Monitoring and Control of Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion (MIC)” – University of Oklahoma
Biofilm bacterial communities from a bench-scale flow loop designed to provide a model system for the examination of pitting corrosion in pipelines were assayed using PLFA and DNA-based molecular methods to determine which bacteria might be key members in corrosion-producing biofilms. A variety of samples from the field were examined in order to test whether the proposed bacteria were broadly indicative of bacterial communities that produced pitting corrosion.
“Microbial Enhanced Energy Recovery Via the Production of Methane from Residual Hydrocarbons in Oklahoma Reservoirs” – University of Oklahoma
This project was designed to evaluate the utility of using an anaerobic bacterial consortium capable of converting oil in petroliferous reservoirs to methane and carbon dioxide. The objective of this project was to determine the rate and efficiency of conversion of petroleum hydrocarbons entrained in a marginally producing reservoir as a source of natural gas production.
Available quarterly and final reports may be accessed on the center website at http://ipec.utulsa.edu.
Technology Transfer:
IPEC’s technology transfer program was directed toward providing useful tools for environmental compliance and cost reduction to independent producers. The first objective of this program was to raise the level of technical training of the field inspectors of the oil and gas regulatory bodies of Oklahoma and Arkansas, including the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission, and the Osage Agency of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, with regard to first response to spills, pollution prevention, and remediation of oil and brine spills. The second objective of this program was the development of checklists and tools for independent producers to assist them in environmental audits (“staying out of trouble checklists”), remediation of oil and brine spills, and first response to spills. Oklahoma and Arkansas regulatory field agents were used to deliver these tools to the independent producers. The technology transfer program also produced an IPEC website (http://ipec.utulsa.edu) with basic information about the consortium, as well as results of ongoing research. IPEC also co-sponsored the annual International Petroleum Environmental Conference, which showcased national and international environmental research concerning the oil and gas industry.
The overall structure of the IPEC Technology Transfer program encompassed the following items:
- Establishing and maintaining a world wide web page to showcase results of funded technology development projects, proceedings of the yearly conference, facilitate the distribution of tools for independent producers and disseminate news items, announcements, etc. (http://ipec.utulsa.edu);
- Developing workshops for independent producers on remediation and first response to spills of produced fluids;
- Developing workshops for independent producers on regulatory compliance;
- Establishing scholarships for regulatory technical personnel for participation in the International Petroleum Environmental Conference;
- Developing and distributing self-assessment kits, site checklists, soil and water analysis kits, remediation guidelines for oil and brine spills, and instructional videos and DVDs to aid independent producers and regulators in the field.
- Establishing a position of Technology Transfer Outreach Manager in order to continue to expand and improve the consortium technology transfer program; and
- Co-sponsoring the yearly International Petroleum Environmental Conference designed to explore issues and solutions in exploration, production and refining.
Record Details:
Record Type:PROJECT( ABSTRACT )
Start Date:10/12/2005
Completion Date:10/11/2006
Record ID:
201089