N.D. Dept. of Health calls number of recent leaks ‘a concern’.
By BRYCE MARTIN
Pioneer Editor | [email protected]
Remediation plans are currently underway for a spill of almost 168,000 gallons, or 4,000 barrels, of source water in Bowman County.
The spill, reported on Tuesday to the North Dakota Department of Health, is the largest source water spill to occur in the last two years within the region.
The spill occurred from a leaking pipeline owned by Denbury Onshore LLC, located about nine miles southwest of Rhame.
Despite the large amount of water released, Bill Suess of the Spill Investigation Program with the Department of Health told The Pioneer on Wednesday that there is no cause for alarm since the released fluids entered a dry creek bed.
Suess explained that the water released, which is water higher in chloride, has been producing readings of around 400 parts per million in the contaminated soil, which is far less than its typical readings of 700 to 1,000 parts per million.
“The slightly elevated chloride levels are above that ground, but we’re not talking produced water levels,” Suess said. “It’s elevated, but it’s not really bad.”
Alternatively, produced water has chloride levels from 10,000 to 130,000 parts per million.
“Produced water is salty enough that if you drank it, it could potentially kill you,” he said. “This stuff won’t.”
A similar spill of source water occurred late last year at a different Denbury line in the area. That spill was the second largest spill in the last two years to occur at a site, owned by Denbury Onshore LLC, located about six miles south of Marmarth in Bowman County.
Despite the large amount of water released from that incident, Suess said at the time that only a small amount of the water escaped off the well’s pad.
Of the nearly 213 barrels, only 33 barrels leaked offsite and the water did not reach any nearby water sources.
Suess indicated there is some concern, however, with the amount of leaks from Denbury’s lines in Bowman County.
They are older, steel lines, according to Suess. “Anytime you’re running anything with chlorides in it through steel lines, you’re looking at the potential for corrosion,” he said. “There’s some concern there because we’re starting to see a number of leaks from it.”
It would likely be brought up for discussion for Denbury to replace the aging lines, but, as Suess indicated, he is unsure right now of what their plans entail.
Source water differs from fresh groundwater in that its sodium content is slightly higher. Source water is also far less full of contaminants than produced water, which contains chemicals from oil wells and can greatly affect nearby stock ponds, naturally occurring water sources or land.
