Clark Fork near Galen

MONTANA PROJECTS

• Major Projects
  • Williston and Power River Basins GWA
  
  
  • Tongue River Monitoring
  • Clark Fork Monitoring
  • Diel Metal Cycling
  • East Poplar Oil Field
  • Smith River Investigations
  
  
  

USGS IN YOUR STATE

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Study area location: Roosevelt County, northeastern Montana
Period of project:  2003–present
Project Chief: Joanna N. Thamke (email)
Cooperator: Fort Peck Tribes, Office of Environmental Protection

Background:

Brine is a byproduct of crude oil production. Handling and disposal of brine during the last 50 years in the East Poplar oil field has resulted in contamination of not only the shallow Quaternary aquifers, but also the Poplar River. Previous investigations have documented and partially delineated the extent of brine contamination in the East Poplar oil field during the early 1990s. In the 10 years since the last USGS study ended, the extent of contamination has changed and may have grown larger. Brine-plume migration is toward the nearby City of Poplar, which, at present, relies on the shallow Quaternary aquifers as its sole source of water.

Objective:

The objective of this project is to more fully delineate brine contamination in shallow aquifers in and near the East Poplar oil field. The project area includes the entire East Poplar oil field, much of the Northwest Poplar oil field and the City of Poplar (figure 1)

Approach:

Phase 1

• Geophysical data were collected over the entire study area in 2004, using helicopter-borne electromagnetic (HEM) and magnetic equipment.
• Analytical results of water samples from more than 150 wells in the study area were compiled.
• A comprehensive map of historical and existing oil-production facilities also was compiled. 
• A map showing the approximate altitude and configuration of the top of the Upper Cretaceous Bearpaw Shale was compiled. 
• Using information described above, areas of high electromagnetic conductivity are being delineated.

Phase 2

• 10 monitoring wells were installed in 2006 to provide lithologic, hydrologic, and water-quality information in areas of high electromagnetic conductivity.
• Two aquifer tests were conducted during 2007 in parts of the study area lacking hydrologic data, to refine the range of aquifer characteristics specific to the study area.
• The lithologic and water-quality information will be used with the HEM and other geophysical data to delineate the lateral extent of brine contamination in and near the East Poplar oil field.

Publications:

Blandford, N., Kuchanur, M., 2008, Simulation of brine remediation–a case study from the East Poplar oil field, northeastern Montana, U.S.A. [abs.]: American Association of Petroleum Geologists, International Conference and Exhibition, Cape Town, South Africa, October 26-29, 2008.

Cohen, D.M., 2007, Helicopter survey aids remediation of produced water-contaminated aquifer:  World Oil Magazine, v. 228, no. 12.

Jacobs, Michael, Tyrrell, Christa, and Smith, Bruce, 2008, Case study of site characterization and remedial plans for removal of contamination from oilfield produced water, East Poplar oil field, Fort Peck Indian Reservation, Roosevelt County, Montana [abs.]: American Association of Petroleum Geologists, International Conference and Exhibition, Cape Town, South Africa, October 26-29, 2008.

Jacobs, Michael, Tyrrell, Christa, Smith, Bruce, and Thamke, Joanna, 2009, Multi-disciplinary approach to site characterization and remediation of contamination from oilfield produced waters, East Poplar Oil Field, Roosevelt County, Montana—Part 2 [abs.]: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Annual Conference, Denver, Colo., June 7-10, 2009.

Jacobs, Michael A., Smith, Bruce D., and Thamke, Joanna N., 2011, Glacial geologic framework of the Wolf Point Quadrangle, northeastern Montana, based on hydrogeologic and geophysical studies [abs.]: 2011 Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Minneapolis, Minn., October 9-12, 2011.

Peterman, Z.E., Thamke, J.N., Futa, Kiyoto, and Oliver, T.A., 2010, Strontium isotope detection of brine contamination in the East Poplar oil field, Montana: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2010-1326, 20 p.

Peterman, Zell E., Thamke, Joanna, Futa, Kiyoto, and Oliver, Thomas A., 2012, Strontium isotope evolution of produced water in the East Poplar oil field, Montana [abs.]: American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Annual Convention & Exhibition, Long Beach, Calif., April 22-25, 2012.

Smith, B.D., Thamke, J.N., and Paine, J.G., 2004, Electrical conductivity geophysical methods applied to subsurface mapping of produced water [abs.]: American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Annual Meeting, Dallas, Tex., April 19-21, 2004.

Smith, B.D., Thamke, J.N., and Tyrrell, C., 2006, Geophysical and hydrologic studies of shallow aquifer contamination, East Poplar oil field area, northeastern Montana: Symposium on the Application of Geophysics to Engineering and Environmental Problems, Annual Meeting, Seattle, Wash., April 2-6, 2006.

Smith, B.D., Thamke, J.N., Cain, M.J., Tyrrell, C., and Hill, P.L., 2006, Helicopter electromagnetic and magnetic survey maps and data, East Poplar oil field area, Fort Peck Indian Reservation, northeastern Montana, August 2004: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2006-1216, 19 p.

Smith, B.D., Billingsly, P., Sams, J.I., Jacobs, M.A., Paine, J.G., and Thamke, J.N., 2012, Airborne electrical conductivity mapping and monitoring in areas of energy production [abs.]: Symposium on the Application of Geophysics to Engineering and Environmental Problems, Annual Meeting, Tuscon, Ariz., March 25-29, 2012.

S.S. Papadopulos & Associates, Inc., 2008, Phase 2 report, Hydrogeologic assessment of chloride-migration potential in the vicinity of Poplar, Montana:  Boulder, Colo., prepared for Fort Peck Assiniboine & Sioux Tribes, [variously paged].

Thamke, J.N., and Craigg, S.D., 1997, Saline-water contamination in Quaternary deposits and the Poplar River, East Poplar oil field, northeastern Montana:  U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 97-4000, 37 p.
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Thamke, J.N., Craigg, S.D., and Mendes, T.M., 1996, Hydrologic data for the East Poplar oil field, Fort Peck Indian Reservation, northeastern Montana:  U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 95-749, 92 p.

Thamke, J.N., and Midtlyng, K.S., 2003, Groundwater quality for two areas in the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, northeastern Montana:  U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 03-4214, 54 p.

Thamke, J.N., Smith, B.D., and Tyrrell, C., 2005a, Electromagnetic methods to delineate areas of high conductivity in shallow aquifers, East Poplar oil field, northeastern Montana, 2004 [abs]: Geological Society of America, Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City, Utah, October 16-19, 2005.

Thamke, J.N., Smith, B.D., and Tyrrell, C., 2005b, Electromagnetic methods to delineate areas of high conductivity in shallow aquifers, East Poplar oil field, northeastern Montana, 2004 [abs]: American Water Resources Association, Montana Section Meeting, Bozeman, Mont., October 27-28, 2005.

Thamke, J.N., Smith, B.D., and Tyrrell, C., 2008, Integration of geophysics and hydrogeology to delineate brine contamination in the East Poplar Oil Field Area, Fort Peck Indian Reservation, Northeastern Montana [abs]: U.S. Geological Survey, National Groundwater Workshop, Denver, Colo., August 4-8, 2008.

Thamke, J.N., Smith, B.D., Tyrrell, C., Jacobs, M.A., Lewis, B., 2009, Geophysical studies of brine contamination in and near the East Poplar oil field, northeastern Montana, 2009 [abs.]:  American Water Resources Association, Montana Section Meeting, Missoula, Mont., September 30-October 2, 2009.

Thamke, J.N., Smith, B.D., Tyrrell, C., Jacobs, M.A., Lewis, B., 2009, Geophysical studies of brine contamination in and near the East Poplar oil field, northeastern Montana [abs.]: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Annual Convention, Denver, Colo., June 7-10, 2009.

Tyrrell, Christa, and Thamke, J.N., 2008, Delineation of brine contamination in and near the East Poplar oil field, Fort Peck Indian Reservation, northeastern Montana [abs]: National Tribal Conference on Environmental Management, Billings, Mont., June 24-26, 2008.

Other related links:

Fort Peck Office of Environmental Protection

Project recognition:

2008 Department of Interior Environmental Achievement Award

2007 Research Award to Joanna Thamke, USGS Hydrologist (Montana Water Science Center, Helena) from Department of Environmental Geosciences, American Association of Petroleum Geologists

2008 Research Award to Dr. Bruce D. Smith, USGS Geophysicist (Crustal Geochemistry and Geophysics Center, Denver) from Department of Environmental Geosciences, American Association of Petroleum Geologists