Flowback and produced water (FPW) spills are major risks to the environmental health during unconventional oil and gas development. However, little is known about the changes of the soil microbial communities under FPW stress. We conducted 16S amplicon, metagenomic, and respiration analyses on FPW-exposed luvisol and chernozem soils that are common in regions of hydraulic fracturing in Alberta, Canada to investigate the effects on soil microbial communities. The biodiversity and respiration activity after FPW exposure were decreased greater in the luvisol than the chernozem soil. In luvisol exposed to a solution containing &gt;50% FPW, <i>Marinobacter</i> spp. were significantly enriched and biodegradation genes (e.g., alcohol dehydrogenases and alkane 1-monooxygenase) were increased in the microbial communities; metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) contained genes related to carbon degradation, including hydrocarbons (e.g., beta-oxidation), and resistance to salt effects. These changes were not evident in the chernozem. While, antibiotic genes were enhanced in chernozem soil exposed to a solution containing 50% FPW. Our study provides evidence that FPW-induced stress can considerably change soil microbial community structure, functions, and biogeochemical cycling processes, and that these effects may be buffered in certain soil types. Our results highlight soil microbiome are effective indicators to assess environmental health and recovery processes under FPW-induced stress.

Impacts of hydraulic fracturing flowback and produced water on soil microbial communities

ACS Fall 2021

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