Geological disposal of energy-related waste

Yeboah, N. N. N.; Burns, Susan E.

doi:10.1007/s12205-011-0010-x

Cited by 14 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…An alternative method of disposal of saline produced water by deep well injection could provide a local and permanent disposal solution for produced water or brine concentrates (National Research Council 2010). Commonly practiced in some parts of the US, deep well injection targets naturally saline formations that are hydraulically disconnected from fresh water aquifers (Yeboah and Burns 2011). …”

Section: Aquifer Salinization Related To Extractive Resource Industriesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil and Aquifer Salinization: Toward an Integrated Approach for Salinity Management of Groundwater

Greene

Timms²,

Rengasamy

et al. 2016

Integrated Groundwater Management

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Degradation of the quality of groundwater due to salinization processes is one of the key issues limiting the global dependence on groundwater in aquifers. As the salinization of shallow aquifers is closely related to root-zone salinization, the two must be considered together. This chapter initially describes the physical and chemical processes causing salinization of the root-zone and shallow aquifers, highlighting the dynamics of these processes and how they can be influenced by irrigation and drainage practices, thus illustrating the connectivity between soil and groundwater salinization. The processes leading to aquifer salinization in both inland and coastal areas are discussed. The roles of extractive resource industries, such as mining and coal bed methane operations, in causing aquifer salinization are also outlined. Hydrogeochemical changes occurring during salinization of aquifers are examined with the aid of Piper and Mixing Diagrams. The chapter then illustrates the extent of the problem of groundwater salinization as influenced by management and policy using two case studies. The first is representative of a developing country and explores management of salt-affected soils in the Indus Valley, Pakistan, while the second looks at a developed country, and illustrates how through monitoring we can deduce

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Section: Aquifer Salinization Related To Extractive Resource Industriesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil and Aquifer Salinization: Toward an Integrated Approach for Salinity Management of Groundwater

Greene

Timms²,

Rengasamy

et al. 2016

Integrated Groundwater Management

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“…This type of disposal generally relies on engineered control barriers, that is, barriers constructed from a combination of earthen and polymeric liners, designed to slow the rate of contaminant releases to the surrounding environment (Yeboah, 2011). In particular, these engineered designs minimize liquid flow through the solid waste and the potential mobilization of leached material into local groundwater.…”

Section: Surficial Landfillsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Newer landfills generally rely on engineered control barriers, that is, barriers constructed from a combination of earthen and polymeric liners, designed to slow the rate of contaminant released to the environment (Yeboah, 2011). Newer landfills are regulated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), or by the state environmental agency where they operate.…”

Section: List Of Tablesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…waste dumps were frequently placed in naturally occurring, low lying surface depressions, and typically were not lined (Yeboah, 2011). Furthermore, additional volume for waste disposal is often added during landfill operation through the construction of dikes around the surface impoundment (Yeboah, 2011).…”

Section: Surficial Landfillsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Furthermore, additional volume for waste disposal is often added during landfill operation through the construction of dikes around the surface impoundment (Yeboah, 2011). Legacy landfills had little or no controls installed when constructed, therefore these landfills are much more likely to contaminate groundwater.…”

Section: Surficial Landfillsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Contaminated Groundwater Flow Control Across an Inverted Groundwater Divide With Three Groundwater Control Systems

Hortert¹

2016

Geological Society of America Abstracts With Programs

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The potential impacts from legacy, unlined landfills to surrounding hydrological systems are substantial challenges in the management of waste and water quality. Because these landfills do not have passive controls (i.e. liners), groundwater controls (pumping wells, trenches, etc.) can be necessary to minimize impacts. However, the function and interaction of multiple groundwater control devices in combination with complicated hydrogeologic settings are poorly characterized.Most research on groundwater control device interactions relies on simulation experiments and either measures the effectiveness of a system using a limited set of groundwater control devices or focuses on a single aquifer. This thesis examines three groundwater control devices (a slurry wall, a pumping trench, and a pumping well) installed near an active legacy landfill to evaluate changes in the flow of contaminated groundwater off site. This system of control devices was evaluated using monthly water quality data from a spring where changes in water quality were observed prior to installation of the groundwater control system. The water geochemical results indicate that the contaminated groundwater flows primarily through the fractured rock in the ridge (contrary to expectations), and therefore the collection trench is more effective in contaminant flux reductions.The groundwater pumping well, designed to capture contaminated groundwater flow through the coal seams and sandstone, is less effective, likely due to limited transport through the coal aquifers.Although the groundwater control system reduces the amount of contaminated groundwater flow off site, these controls must operate until the landfill is closed and a permanent control (i.e. installation of a clay cap which will reduce infiltration and should result in reduced groundwater elevations) can be installed which may take decades. The results provide fundamental information Landfills with no liner system cause water to pool and the water levels in the landfill can impact groundwater quality, recharge area, geomorphic changes, and storage of an aquifer. The primary effect of water pooling in landfills is on flow direction and groundwater levels. For example, changes in groundwater flow direction were observed following the construction of Lake Diefenbaker on the Saskatchewan River (Schmid, 2003). Prior to construction of the dam, groundwater flow direction was toward the river valley in a generally flat topography. After the reservoir was filled, the flow direction reversed and generally flowed away from the river valley 2 up to 5 kilometers upstream of the dam. Additionally, the water levels in the dam caused groundwater levels in the bedrock aquifer through both increased infiltration and the rise in hydraulic base level (Wildi, 2010). In general, this rise in groundwater levels causes the changes in groundwater flow direction. Increased water elevations in the groundwater aquifer were observed in the Riverhurst section of the Lake Diefenbaker dam. When water levels in the lake ...

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Energy geotechnology

Santamarina

Cho

2011

KSCE J Civ Eng

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Energy consumption is closely correlated with quality of life. A 1% annual increase in power production is required to sustain current trends, and a 2% annual increase will be needed to satisfy anticipated growth in the developing world. On average, 85% of all primary energy comes from fossil fuels; this carbon-based economy faces limitations in reserves and climate-change implications. Energy Geotechnology must play a central role in the development of a sustainable energy strategy. Geotechnology is intimately involved in all energy resources, including fossil fuels (petroleum gas and coal), nuclear energy, and renewable sources (wind, solar, hydroelectric, geothermal, biofuels, and tidal energy). While wind and solar energy are surface processes that require limited geotechnical engineering, subsurface geo-storage is a viable alternative to bridge the time-gap between production and demand peaks. Geotechnical engineering is required to manage energy-related waste, ranging from fly ash to CO 2 emissions and nuclear waste. Furthermore, geotechnical engineering can contribute to geo-environmental remediation, the design of new facilities in view of life-cycle needs and decommissioning, and geotechnical construction methods that reduce the embodied energy in infrastructure projects. Education programs must be restructured to prepare the next generation of geotechnical engineers to address the needs in the energy sector.

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Geological disposal of energy-related waste

Cited by 14 publications

References 36 publications

Soil and Aquifer Salinization: Toward an Integrated Approach for Salinity Management of Groundwater

Soil and Aquifer Salinization: Toward an Integrated Approach for Salinity Management of Groundwater

Contaminated Groundwater Flow Control Across an Inverted Groundwater Divide With Three Groundwater Control Systems

Energy geotechnology

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