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Show , j , iu llt.UH.13. Sludge, Waste Disposal : Under Close Scrutiny By MARK D. MICKELSEN SALE LAKE CITY - Representatives from the Utah Department of Environmental Environmen-tal Health are keeping a close watch on the disposal of sludge and waste water at oil and gas production sites throughout the state, a department spokesman said last week. EVIDENCE OF new oil and gas reserves re-serves along Utah's Uintah Basin and the "Overthurst Belt" northeast of Coalville has spawned some concern by the state Water Pollution Control Committee. The result is a new set of guidelines governing disposal procedures for brine water, drilling drill-ing mud and oil produced during statewide drilling operations. Crews drilling into the ground in search of oil and gas reserves often find a fairly high concentration of brine water, according accord-ing to Jerry Riding, a geohydrologist for the Utah Bureau of Water Pollution Control. AS DRILLING continues, brine water and other waste deposits are stored in disposal dis-posal ponds not far from the exploration site. One of the major problems, said Mr. Riding, is that many of the storage ponds are unlined and waste water is able to seep into underground water tables. The result is the possible contamination of potential drinking supplies. In February, in an effort to clean up unsightly un-sightly wastewater ponds, the state and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) joined together and adopted a series of regulations reg-ulations restricting surface disposal of so-called so-called "produced" waters. THE ORDINANCE states that "drilling muds and other liquids associated with the drilling of oil and gas wells shall be contained con-tained completely within reserve pits constructed con-structed such that no surface discharge or significant migration to the subsurface (underground water supplies) will result." In addition, the ordinance says waste water produced by drilling must be removed re-moved and transported to an "approved" storage site after the well project is completed. com-pleted. Ponds used during the drilling process pro-cess must be allowed to dry, then be refilled with earth, graded and contoured. "At no time shall the impounded liquids be allowed to escape over adjacent lands or into streams, or be allowed to pollute...," the ordinance continues. "AT NO time shall the impounded liquids li-quids be allowed to escape over adjacent lands or into streams, or be allowed to pollute...," pol-lute...," the ordinance continues. Mr. Riding, who surveys disposal ponds on a regular basis, noted that if an underground under-ground aquifer if contaminated, or polluted, pol-luted, it may take years for the problem to be resolved. He pointed to an equally disturbing dis-turbing exploration process - known as the injection well - which, if done incorrectly, can cause serious underground pollution problems. HE EXPLAINED that after oil and gas is produced for a while, the source begins to decrease. In an effort to get more out of the well, exploration teams inject brine water back into the geological structure where the oil and gas is located. The pressure, said Mr. Riding, forces more gas and oil into the well and the crews begins "secondary" "secon-dary" production. "If the injection well is adequately- designed, de-signed, we don't have a problem." said Mr. Riding, "but if there is a problem in construction con-struction and the brine leaks, we have a problem because the brine can get into sources of (underground) drinking water." ANOTHER SET of restrictions, governing gov-erning the construction and operation of injection wells was approved bv the State Water Pollution Control Committee in January. Final approval by the EPA is expected ex-pected later this year, according to Mr. Riding. In the meantime, the Department of Water Wa-ter Pollution Control is trying to "get the word out" to people in the oil and "gas industry, in-dustry, as well as state, county and local governments. "THE MAJORITY of water that we derive de-rive in Salt Lake County comes from larger reservoirs." Mr. Riding said. "One of my concerns is what if that water becomes polluted?" pol-luted?" Although there is not a lot of drilling for oil and gas in Salt Lake and Davis Counties, Coun-ties, the possibility exists for future expansion expan-sion -- especially if more reserves are discovered disco-vered along the Overthrust Belt. MR. RIDING said his department has been able to curb some serious infractions of the law involving open pits, but noted some other dangers incorporated into the wastewater process. "Any pit that is open and has drilling mud in it is a potential problem for wildlife." wild-life." He said he came across a small drilling drill-ing pond recently where a couple of sheep had gone down to get a drink of water. Once they entered the pond. Mr. Riding -said they became bogged down in the mud and couldn't escape. UNDER THE new ordinance, surface disposal ponds must be "fenced and maintained" main-tained" to prevent animals from entering the area. Flags or nets must be installed to protect waterfowl from chemicals on the ponds. Asked about the probability of pollution in underground aquifers, Mr. Riding explained ex-plained that pollutants take a long time to enter into the actual water supply. But. he added, once the elements are there it takes quite a while for water users to recognize that the source has been contaminated. IN ONE CASE, he said, officials estimated esti-mated that it would take 104 years for the water to be drinkable again. There are instances, inst-ances, he said, when the contamination is obvious. Other times, however, it is not so obvious. The slow movement of ground water impedes im-pedes the contaminants. And, according to Mr. Riding, the only way to determine if there is a problem is to take a sample into a laboratory and have it checked. THE BIGGEST problem right now. he said, "is public awareness." He said public water supplies are checked check-ed regularly for contamination. But. in the case of a private well, the problem is less visible. "IF THE WATER tastes funny," he said, take a sample in for investigation. |
