Evaluation of Oil Field Soil Brine Remediation Products
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ABSTRACT This study evaluated the effectiveness of three proprietary remediation products and non-proprietary gypsum to remediate brine contaminated soil. Soil was provided by Talon LPE and was collected from an oilfield with brine contaminated soil that was considered typical by Talon remediation experts. The objective of the study was to determine if additives could increase plant cover germination in soils without costly prior soil washing or dilution by clean soil addition. This research was conducted in three distinct studies: an ex-situ product application study was conducted at the Talon LPE equipment yard located in Amarillo, Texas, a controlled environment germination study conducted at the West Texas A&M University Kilgore Laboratory, and an ex-situ germination phase conducted at the Talon LPE yard. In the product application study, the soil was shredded using the Talon Soil Shredder equipped with a spray bar to apply the individual treatments of Desalt Plus, Soiltech, Chlor-rid, Calcium Sulfate (Gypsum), and Control. Treatments were placed in 40-mm high-density polyethylene cells, small drainage systems were installed in week 4 to allow removal of excess water. An initial 10-point soil composite was taken from bulk untreated soils at a depth of > 2.5cm. Five point composite soil samples were collected using randomly generated numbers within each cell’s individual grid pattern. Samples were taken at a depth just below any panned sodic soil generally > 2.5 cm. Samples were collected from 2 October 2015 – 4 December 2015 and analyzed for: sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), total soluble salts (TSS), cation exchange capacity (CEC), sodium, calcium, magnesium, potassium, chlorides, and pH. The controlled environment germination study was conducted in the Kilgore laboratory at West Texas A&M University of Dr. Jim Rogers, in coordination with the West Texas A&M Graduate School in a chamber with controlled temperature, light and watering. Contaminated soil was brought in from the ex-situ product application phase and was delineated, at a 1:1 ratio, before seeding. The onsite growth study was conducted at the Talon LPE yard in Amarillo. The soil previously treated was seeded with a warm season grass seed mix approved by Texas Department of Transportation for disturbed roadbed seeding. The cells were then covered with 3-mil transparent Visqueen for weeks 1-3 of the research and uncovered after week three. Observations on grass seed germination and survival were recorded at weekly intervals. The study results indicated that while germination was observed in some treatments no long term plant survival was observed for any of the treatments or in the controls. Soil analysis indicated some product related improvements in soil structure and bioavailability of salts but some prior treatment such as soil washing or dilution using clean soil will be needed to revegetation.