Effects of oil field brine wastewater on saturated hydraulic conductivity of smectitic loam soils

Abstract

Spills of brine wastewater produced during oil well drilling are occurring more frequently in the Great Plains, resulting in crop production loss on affected soil. Remediation requires removal of salt from the topsoil, which might be accomplished by leaching to subsurface horizons or subsurface drains. A laboratory study determined the effects of brine on saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) of four nonimpacted surface soils from western North Dakota, USA. Repacked soil cores were subjected to saturated water flow, followed by one pore volume of brine. Subsequent saturated water flow leached brine from the soil and reduced Ks as much as 97% (0.086–0.003 cm h−1) within 24 h. Effluent total dissolved solids (TDS) approached 250 000 mg L−1 then declined (5 mg L−1) with continued leaching, but Ks did not increase. Removal of soluble salts during leaching increased the relative sodium concentrations (ESP > 55), causing clay swelling/dispersion and reduced Ks. Postbrine gypsum application (11.2 Mg ha−1) to replace exchangeable sodium with calcium did not improve Ks. This evidence suggests that if subsurface drainage is used for reclaiming brine-impacted soils that special attention be given to where dispersion/swelling is occurring, leaching water quality, and closely positioning calcium amendments within the high sodium zones.