Particulate matter (PM) generated from dirt and gravel roads is a concern for both human and environmental health. To help reduce the amount of PM generated, many states allow the use of water coproduced from oil and gas wells (i.e., brines) as road dust suppressants. However, few methods exist to quantify the effectiveness of dust suppressants. Therefore, we designed and tested a rapid bench-scale method to test the efficacy of dust suppressants on dirt and gravel road materials. Briefly, the Standard Proctor test was modified to create discs of road aggregate that could be treated with dust suppressant, dried, and then tumbled in a mechanical drum attached to an aerosol monitor that measured PM generated within the drum. First, a combination of nine simulated brines were tested to document the effect of brine total dissolved solids (TDS), and sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) on dust suppression. Higher TDS and lower SAR were found to be good predictors of dust suppression effectiveness with the degree of effectiveness partially dependent on the type of road aggregate. Second, a set of oil and gas produced waters (OGPW) from conventional oil and gas wells from several states (PA, OH, WY) were tested to quantify their efficacy as dust suppressants as compared to commercial products and alternative by products. Results with simulated brines and OGPW were examined together to demonstrate how efficacy can be readily and reasonably estimated from formations across the US based on the TDS and SAR of the OGPW. Finally, OGPW-treated road aggregates were examined to determine if specific contaminants of concern (e.g., Ra, Pb) preferentially partitioned to the clay-sized fraction of the road aggregates and could pose a contaminated-dust problem.

Efficacy of oil & gas produced waters as dust suppressants for dirt and gravel roads

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.