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Preliminary results from exploratory sampling of wells for the California oil, gas, and groundwater program, 2014–15

Open-File Report 2016-1100
Prepared in cooperation with the California State Water Resources Control Board
By: , , , , , , , and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20161100

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Introduction

In 2014 and 2015, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) sampled water wells in the Los Angeles Basin and southern San Joaquin Valley, California, and oil wells in the San Joaquin Valley for analysis of multiple chemical, isotopic, and groundwater-age tracers. The purpose of this reconnaissance sampling was to evaluate the utility of tracers for assessing the effects of oil and gas production activities on groundwater quality in California. The study was done in cooperation with the California State Water Resources Control Board. Results of the study are intended to help design a regional groundwater-monitoring program to be implemented as part of California Senate Bill 4 (SB 4 statutes of 2013). The regional monitoring program plans to assess the effects of oil and gas production activities on groundwater quality and to provide a regional context for local monitoring of the groundwater-quality effects from well-stimulation treatments, which are techniques used to improve oil and gas production by increasing their rate of flow to the well. California SB 4 mandates that this local monitoring is to be done by oil-well operators in accordance with monitoring criteria established by the State Water Board.

This report evaluates the utility of the chemical, isotopic, and groundwater-age tracers for assessing sources of salinity, methane, and petroleum hydrocarbons in groundwater overlying or near several California oil fields. Tracers of dissolved organic carbon in
oil-field-formation water are also discussed. Tracer data for samples collected from 51 water wells and 4 oil wells are examined.

Suggested Citation

McMahon, P.B., Kulongoski, J.T., Wright, M.T., Land, M.T., Landon, M.K., Cozzarelli, I.M., Vengosh, Avner, and Aiken, G.R., 2017, Preliminary results from exploratory sampling of wells for the California oil, gas, and groundwater program, 2014–15 (ver 1.1, January 2017): U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2016–1100, 8 p., http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/ofr20161100.

ISSN: 2331-1258 (online)

Study Area

Table of Contents

  • Introduction
  • Sample Collection and Analysis
  • Tracers of Salinity in Groundwater
  • Tracers of Methane in Groundwater
  • Tracers of Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Groundwater
  • Tracers of Dissolved Organic Carbon in Oil-Field-Formation Water
  • Conclusion
  • Acknowledgements
  • References Cited
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Preliminary results from exploratory sampling of wells for the California oil, gas, and groundwater program, 2014–15
Series title Open-File Report
Series number 2016-1100
DOI 10.3133/ofr20161100
Edition Version 1.0: Originally posted August 3, 2016; Version 1.1: January 31, 2017
Year Published 2016
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) California Water Science Center
Description 8 p.
Country United States
State California
Other Geospatial Los Angeles Basin, San Joaquin Valley
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details