Vegetation Response to a One-Time Spent Drilling Mud Application to Semiarid, Mixed-Grass Prairie

Abstract

Landspraying while drilling (LWD) is an approved disposal method for water-based drilling mud (WBM) systems in western Canada. The mud is applied either on cultivated land, where it is incorporated by cultivation, or on vegetated land where it is not incorporated. This study examined the effects of summer WBM application (0, 15, 20, 40, and 80 m 3 ? ha 21) on native vegetation properties. Our results indicated that LWD increased bare ground but decreased lichen cover at the 80 m 3 ? ha 21 rate relative to the untreated control. Nitrogen (N), sulfur (S), and magnesium (Mg) concentrations in aboveground plant tissue increased with increasing LWD rate in samples taken 45 d after WBM application, but these differences disappeared 1 yr after treatment. Increase in tissue concentration of phosphorus (P) with LWD rate, however, was only detected 3 yr after LWD. Nonetheless, these changes in tissue chemistry were not associated with significant changes in biomass yield or species composition. Overall, our results suggest that single WBM applications at rates (# 20 m 3 ? ha 21) commonly used in western Canada, if properly managed, are unlikely to adversely affect native prairie vegetation. Resumen El rociado del terreno durante la perforación (LWD) es un sistema aprobado de eliminación de lodo en sistemas de perforación basados en el uso de agua (WBM) en el oeste de Canadá. El lodo puede aplicarse a tierras arables, donde es incorporado al suelo mediante la labranza, o a tierras con cobertura de vegetación donde no es incorporada al suelo. Este estudio examinó el efecto de la aplicación de WBM durante el verano (0, 15, 20, 40, y 80 m 3 ? ha 21) sobre las propiedades de la vegetación nativa de la pradera. Nuestros resultados indicaron que el LWD incrementó el suelo desnudo pero provocó una disminución en la cobertura de líquenes comparado con el testigo cuando la aplicación fue de 80 m 3 ? ha 21. La concentración de nitrógeno (N), azufre (S), y magnesio (Mg) en los tejidos vegetales ae´reos aumentó con incrementos en la dosis de LWD en muestras tomadas 45 días luego de la aplicación del WBM, pero estas diferencias desaparecieron un añ o después del tratamiento. El aumento en la concentración de fósforo (P), sin embargo, sólo se detectó tres añ os despue´s del LWD. No obstante, estos cambios en la composición química de los tejidos no estuvieron asociados a cambios significativos en la producción de biomasa o en la composición de especies. Nuestros resultados sugieren que en general, una única aplicación de WBM en dosis (# 20 m 3 ? ha 21) comúnmente usadas en el oeste de Canadá, no tendría un efecto negativo sobre la vegetación de la pradera si la misma es manejada correctamente.

Effects of Soil-Like Materials Mix from Drill Cuttings, Sewage Sludge And Sawdust on the Growth of Trifolium pratense L. and Transfer of Heavy Metals

“…The content of heavy metals accumulated in clover was investigated, because it has a major influence on the possibility of assessing the feasibility of utilizing the produced soil-like materials for agricultural purposes. There are works in which a significant increase of metal content was observed in the plants cultivated on compost [Belyaeva et al, 2009, Zmora-Nahum et al 2007 or drill cuttings with the addition of soil [Gonet 2006, Zvomuya 2011 The reference values of metals in plants equal: 0.05 mgCd•kg -1 , 1.5 mgCr•kg -1 , 10 mgCu•kg -1 , 1.5 mgNi•kg -1 , 1 mgPb•kg -1 , 50 mgZn•kg -1 , respectively [Market 1992]. The concentrations of all the considered metals in the plants cultivated on soil-like materials are higher than the reference values.…”

“…Drilling wastes could be introduced to degraded soils. There are studies [Zha et al, Zvomuya et al 2011, Chaineau 1996 indicating that the addition of drilling wastes improves the sorption properties of soil and the composition of soil complex. However, the Polish legal system, in contrast to the American, prohibits the direct introduction of drilling wastes to soil Creation of a soil-like material from drill cuttings, compost and sawdust was proposed in the paper.…”

Effect of drill cuttings addition on physicochemical and chemical properties of soil and red clover (Trifolium pretense L.) growth

“…According to Bauder et al (2005) no negative influence on the growth of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) [16] was observed for spent bentonic drilling muds spread at the dose below 94 Mg�ha -1 (which corresponds to 2.2% of weight when the cuttings were used). According Zvomuya et al (2011) the safe dose for spent water-based drilling wastes used in the landspraying method was lower than 20 m 3 �ha -1 (which corresponds to 0.5% of weight when the cuttings were used) [22]. The negative impact of drilling wastes, applied even in low doses was shown by Gonet et al (2006).…”

“…An increase in the value of pH and EC in the soils following the drilling wastes addition was noted by numerous scholars [14][15][16][17][18]. However, McFarland et al [1994]; Miller et al [1980]; Zvomuya et al [2009Zvomuya et al [ , 2008 observed a negative impact of spent water-based drilling muds on the soil processes and plant growth, attributing these effects to the high concentration of soluble salts or heavy metals [19][20][21][22]. Identifying the potential influence of wastes addition on the plant growth is important not only in terms of determining the susceptibility of plants to drill cuttings, but also determining the pollutants contained in their biomass [23].…”

Characterization of drilling waste from shale gas exploration in Central and Eastern Poland

“…Few studies have addressed the impact of disposal of spent drilling fluids on soil-plant-water systems. Some researchers found that high soluble salts, heavy metals, and petroleum residue contents in drilling fluids were detrimental to soil quality and plant growth (McFarland et al 1994 ; Wojtanowicz 2008 ; Zvomuya et al 2011 ). Others found positive or no impact from drilling fluid applied at low rates in coarse-textured soils in arid regions due to pH value increases, potential micronutrient addition, and improved soil properties (Lesky et al 1989 ; Bauder et al 2005 ; Yao and Naeth 2014 , 2015 ).…”