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Spent Potassium Silicate Drilling Fluid Affects Soil and Leachate Properties

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Abstract

Potassium silicate drilling fluid (PSDF) is a relatively new type of drilling waste generated by the oil and gas industry. PSDF effects on soil, vegetation, and ground water must be determined before its land disposal and use in reclamation can be regulated. A laboratory column leachate study was conducted to quantify the response of select soil and leachate properties to PSDF at various depths in soil column profiles. A spent PSDF was applied to two soils (sand and loam textures) at four rates (20, 40, 60, 120 m3 ha−1) with two application methods (incorporated, sprayed). Changes to soil and leachate properties were at values that would not be detrimental to most plant species when PSDF was applied at ≤60 m3 ha−1. Applying PSDF at 120 m3 ha−1 had significant effects on soil properties and leachate quality. Hydraulic conductivity and field capacity were significantly reduced, and soil available potassium and sulfate concentrations, pH, and salinity increased with PSDF. Incorporated PSDF in the upper 10 cm of soil accelerated PSDF element transport through soil columns to leachate and increased organic carbon and salinity in leachate. PSDF application rate significantly reduced soil field capacity, available nitrogen, and increased salinity at the highest rates in loam soil, suggesting a threshold beyond which conditions will not be suitable for land spraying PSDF. This research demonstrates that PSDF has potential to improve soil short term water availability, macronutrient potassium and sulfur for disposal on cultivated and uncultivated lands. This potential should be field tested.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Room 751 General Services Building, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

    Linjun Yao, M. Anne Naeth & David S. Chanasyk

  2. School of Land Science and Technology, University of Geosciences, Beijing, China

    Linjun Yao

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  1. Linjun Yao
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  2. M. Anne Naeth
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  3. David S. Chanasyk
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Correspondence to Linjun Yao.

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Yao, L., Naeth, M.A. & Chanasyk, D.S. Spent Potassium Silicate Drilling Fluid Affects Soil and Leachate Properties. Water Air Soil Pollut 225, 2156 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-014-2156-x

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