Creation Covenant Alliance

Examining the Complexities of Oil and Gas Waste Management

Injection wells are vital for oil and gas waste disposal, but concerns about environmental and health risks persist, as detailed in journalist Justin Nobel’s book "Petroleum-238: Big Oil’s Dangerous Secret and the Grassroots Fight to Stop It."
An injection well pumps oilfield wastewater into the ground in Coyle, Oklahoma. Credit: J Pat Carter/Getty Images

In 1971, scientists convened at a symposium to discuss the disposal of oil and gas wastewater through injection wells, which involve injecting liquid byproducts into deep underground rock formations. Today, these wells are extensively used to dispose of drilling byproducts, which can include salts, metals, and radioactive elements. Experts at the time speculated about the long-term impacts on both the earth and human health.

“Where will the waste reside 100 years from now?” asked one petroleum geologist. “We may just be opening up a Pandora’s box. Like ripples in a pond, the great question is how does man stop the process he has begun?”

This moment is highlighted in Justin Nobel’s new book, “Petroleum-238: Big Oil’s Dangerous Secret and the Grassroots Fight to Stop It,” which explores the environmental and public health challenges of oil and gas waste disposal in the United States. The geologist’s question is central to Nobel’s investigation.

The disposal of toxic and radioactive waste from drilling is a significant issue, with one of Nobel’s sources calling it “the secret of the century.” The American Petroleum Institute estimates that the industry produces 18 billion barrels of waste fluids annually, yet the issue has largely escaped public scrutiny.

Because oil and gas waste is exempt from hazardous waste regulations under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, it has also evaded regulatory scrutiny. Nobel describes the situation in Pennsylvania as “the wild west” due to the lack of oversight.

Injection wells now account for 96% of the industry’s wastewater disposal. Nobel stated, “If you kept out all the injection wells, you would actually shut this industry down because they couldn’t operate without them.”

Nobel discussed his experiences interviewing various stakeholders about oil and gas waste, historical and current disposal methods, and industry changes.

Can you talk about injection wells and the problems with them?

Injection wells are crucial to the oil and gas industry. In the 1960s, environmental problems led to significant laws like the Clean Water Act and the Clean Air Act. The Clean Water Act stopped direct dumping into oceans and rivers, resulting in a rise in injection wells for underground waste disposal. However, there’s no scientific basis for injecting endless truckloads of waste underground.

There are about 181,000 oil and gas wastewater injection wells across the U.S., approximately 11 for every Starbucks. The Environmental Protection Agency knew early on that injection wells should be a short-term solution, yet they are now heavily relied upon.

Is this a practice that has accelerated with the 21st-century fracking boom?

Oilfield brine has always been a problem, but fracking introduced a new waste stream called flowback, containing chemicals used in the fracking process. This waste is also sent to injection wells, posing additional risks due to its toxic components.

Workers handling flowback deal with a chaotic process and often mix various chemicals, which are then injected into the earth. This creates a substantial and concerning waste problem.

What are some specific impacts of injection wells?

At a 1971 conference, experts expressed concerns about injection wells causing earthquakes and waste leakage. The U.S. Geological Survey has since documented these issues, yet injection wells persist. Waste inevitably leaks from these wells, contaminating the environment.

In Ohio, fracking wastewater from injection wells has traveled miles underground and surfaced at gas wells, contaminating them. This phenomenon illustrates the ongoing risks of injection wells.

Where else does oil and gas waste end up?

The industry is shifting towards treating oilfield waste, but treatment is complex and often fails. Facilities attempting to treat waste have left behind contaminated sites, as seen at the Fairmont brine processing site in West Virginia.

Former workers at such facilities have reported health issues, including cancer, linked to their exposure to contaminated waste.

Could you talk about the reuse of oil and gas waste, like road spreading?

Oilfield brine has been spread on roads for dust suppression and ice control, despite containing hazardous materials like benzene and radium. This practice has become ingrained in some communities, making it hard to combat.

In Oklahoma, spreading drilling waste on farmland is common, with residents believing it benefits crops. However, this introduces contaminants into the environment.

What are the greatest dangers that oil and gas waste poses to the public and workers?

Oil and gas drilling brings up harmful substances like benzene, lead, arsenic, and radium. Radium, in particular, poses significant risks due to its radioactive properties and decay products.

Waste treatment concentrates these elements, exposing workers to harmful contaminants. Practices like spreading wastewater on roads increase public exposure to dangerous substances, elevating surface radioactivity levels.

Original Story at insideclimatenews.org

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