Organic compounds in produced waters from the Bakken Formation and Three Forks Formation in the Williston Basin, North Dakota

Heliyon
By: , and 

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Abstract

The organic composition of produced waters (flowback and formation waters) from the middle member of the Bakken Formation and the Three Forks Formation in the Williston Basin, North Dakota were examined to aid in the remediation of surface contamination and help develop treatment methods for produced-water recycling. Twelve produced water samples were collected from the Bakken and Three Forks Formations and analyzed for non-purgeable dissolved organic carbon (NPDOC), acetate, and extractable hydrocarbons. NPDOC and acetate concentrations from sampled wells from ranged from 33-190 milligrams per liter (mg/L) and 16-40 mg/L, respectively. Concentrations of individual extractable hydrocarbon compounds ranged from less than 1 to greater than 400 micrograms per liter (µg/L), and included polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), phenolic compounds, glycol ethers, and cyclic ketones. While the limited number of samples, varying well production age, and lack of knowledge of on-going well treatments complicate conclusions, this report aids adds to the limited knowledge of organics in produced waters from the Bakken and Three Forks Formations.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Organic compounds in produced waters from the Bakken Formation and Three Forks Formation in the Williston Basin, North Dakota
Series title Heliyon
DOI 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e03590
Volume 6
Issue 3
Year Published 2020
Language English
Publisher Elsevier
Contributing office(s) Eastern Energy Resources Science Center
Description e03590, 8 p.
Country United States
State North Dakota
Other Geospatial Williston Basin
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