USGS PLANNING, RESEARCH AND MONITORING ACTIVITIES RELATED TO
ENERGY DEVELOPMENT BY USGS THAT MAY BE OF INTEREST TO THE PPP LCC
PARTNERSHIP
To better develop planning and increase chances for implementing a study fully
in FY 2014, we seek comments about priorities of emphasis from USGS partners
particularly the Plains and Prairie Potholes Landscape Conservation Cooperative
and the States affected by Williston basin energy development
Send your comments preferably before November 27, 2013 via e-mail or by
telephone to:
Jeff Stoner [stoner@usgs.gov]
763-783-3138
Max Post van der Burg [maxpostvanderburg@usgs.gov]
701-253-5574
September 2013
Planning:
LANDSCAPE CHANGE, ECOLOGICAL IMPACTS, AND DOI INFORMATION
NEEDS ASSOCIATED WITH ENERGY PRODUCTION IN THE WILLISTON BASIN,
NORTHERN GREAT PLAINS
Supported by the USGS Ecosystems DOI on the Landscapes Program and Midwest Regional science
funds
Why is this important to DOI partners?
The Williston Basin includes portions of Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota in the U.S.
and the provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan in Canada. Although the region has produced oil and
natural gas for about a century (fig. 1), recent advances in horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing
technologies have rapidly expanded deep drilling and production from the Bakken formation since 2008.
In fact, thousands of new wells are being drilled each year with one company alone planning to drill about
30,000 wells in the next 10 years, contributing to the stated goal of U.S. energy independence. The region
also is well known for its ecological resources and large U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) land holdings.
Domestic petroleum production has many economic benefits. The rapid increase in oil-field activity has
dramatically modified the landscape in less than a decade however, due to infrastructure construction
(roads, drilling pads, oil service facilities, water depots), oil transportation to refineries (truck and rail),
urban development, and water use to support oil production and community growth. There are
environmental concerns associated with energy production in the Williston Basin, particularly the
contamination of aquatic resources (surface water and shallow groundwater) by extremely saline water, or
brine, which is co-produced with oil and gas. Additionally, there are numerous landscape-level impacts
that have implications to natural resources and wildlife. Hydraulic fracturing requires considerable
amounts of water and sand, and increased traffic and infrastructure development have been associated
with disturbance and habitat fragmentation for various wildlife populations.
Background information from research team:
(http://steppe.cr.usgs.gov/)
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What are the DOI research and information needs?
The main goal of this planning effort is to flesh out further a comprehensive plan of study vetted with
some of our DOI Partners and coordinated with other USGS science programs working on non-wildlife
aspects of the energy development issues. The USGS received some year-end appropriated funds in FY
2013 to develop a plan by the second quarter of FY2014 with the hope to be able to implement it fully in
FY 2014. USGS Midwest Regional science funds were also made available to enhance the water
resources aspect of this activity in FY2013.
For FY13, we believe fundamental first steps would include enhancement understanding of baseline
conditions for landscape characteristics, water and wildlife. Draft research and information needs are
listed below:




Build upon previously synthesized spatial data (e.g., wells, wetlands, streams, changes in land use
and cover (critical habitats)) to facilitate scenario planning and analyses of habitat fragmentation
and other effects associated with roads, pipelines, infrastructure, and other petroleum-field
activities.
Conduct follow-up work on a FY2012 pilot study (funded by DOI on the Landscapes program)
where preliminary analyses indicated that produced water contamination index values were
associated with landscape factors, such as nearby well density and distance to nearest well.
Description of landscape changes occurring at this time (PPP LLC already supporting some of
this work)
Inventory of groundwater withdrawals needed for oil and gas development that have likely
influence on surface waters used by wildlife (wetlands, springs, and streams)
Past research in the Williston Basin has identified impacts and contamination to natural resources
and groundwater systems associated with petroleum production. However, with the rapid expansion of
current production activities there is great demand for science to provide information for land managers,
policy and decision makers, and regulators. Previous work, along with input from DOI partners, has led to
a variety of information needs pertaining production activities. Critical topics to be addressed include:
 Assessing regional effects and change to DOI and other lands from factors such as infrastructure and
road development, urban growth, transportation, natural gas flaring, and natural resource
requirements
 Assessing effects on ecosystems and wildlife
o Toxicity assessments
o Changes in community composition
o Habitat loss/fragmentation/alteration
o Evaluation of reclamation methods and best management practices
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
Assessing water supplies and quality
o Evaluate water supplies and needs by the energy industry
o Assess the extent and magnitude of contamination to surface-water and groundwater resources in
terms of impacts to human health and wildlife on DOI lands
Scope of this water-resources work would be a cooperative effort among USGS Water Science Centers in
the region. The Water Science Centers would seek partnership with DOI, other federal, State, provincial,
or private cooperators when applicable. The scope initially is defined under three tasks that would be
further developed/expanded as needed and funding becomes available:
Task 1. Work with appropriate DOI, federal, State and Provincial offices to update baseline water
resources conditions in the Williston Basin (point of contact: Gregg Wiche, USGS ND Water Science
Center). Specific components are:
a.
b.
c.
d.
Compile an interbasin data base of surface-water sources and water-quality available data
available for energy development and connecting infrastructures; and,
Determine / prepare the components of a surface-water monitoring plan to assess the current and
future needs of this source with respect to the on-going energy development, (e.g. the potential for
capture and storage of water on smaller surface-water features). Also, examine and identify key
relationships between the surface-water and groundwater sources.
Collect existing water-quality data from the region. Use the existing water-quality data to
determine / prepare the components of a water-quality monitoring plan to assess the effects of
energy development on the surface-water and groundwater resources; and,
Identify and compile historic and current water-use data for both surface and groundwater
withdrawals within the region of energy development.
Task 2. Prepare the components of a groundwater-monitoring plan for the Williston Basin area of active
unconventional oil development (point of contact: Mark Anderson, USGS SD Water Science Center). The
near surface groundwater aquifers, such as the glacial deposits, are connected to aquatic systems such as
springs, streams and wetlands, which could sufficiently change ecosystem function to disadvantage critical
flora and fauna. The groundwater-monitoring plan would consist potentially of the follow elements:
a.
b.
c.
Groundwater availability--this would be conducted by enhanced mapping of aquifers using
existing information and geophysical methods. Storage change monitoring using microgravity
will yield better estimates of specific yield and aquifer thickness,
Aquifer vulnerability mapping will help determine which aquifers and where they are sufficiently
connected to valued aquatic systems to be of concern to wildlife. Conduct time of travel studies
along with GW models to estimate contamination pathways,
A retrospective compilation of baseline water-quality conditions in target aquifers.
The work will begin in FY13 with several scoping efforts to include travel to the area, visits with DOI
cooperators and stakeholders and general orientation of the issues. In FY14, the plan will be compiled and
vetted within the agency and with key external partners with a strategy to fund the proposed work.
Task 3. Review extent and impact of possible oil spills within the region of energy development as related
to the landscape initiative for developing a conceptual risk assessment (point of contact: Bob Swanson,
USGS NE Water Science Center).
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Figure 1. Spatial distribution of drilled wells within the Williston Basin and Bakken Formation of United States.
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Monitoring and Regional Assessments:
GLACIAL AQUIFER SYSTEM GROUNDWATER AVAILABILITY STUDY
GROUNDWATER RESOURCES PROGRAM END-OF-YEAR REPORT
FY 2012
Supported by the DOI WaterSMART Initiative and the USGS Groundwater Resources Program
http://mi.water.usgs.gov/projects/WaterSmart/
The Glacial Aquifer System Groundwater Availability Study began in 2012 and will be completed in
2016. The study will assess groundwater availability for the expansive and diverse glacial aquifer system
of the United States. The glacial aquifer system is present in parts of 25 states and is subject to a range of
climatic conditions from humid to semi-arid. Groundwater availability in the system may be constrained
by climatic conditions (limited recharge), poor water quality from natural or man-made constituents,
hydrogeology (limited storage or low hydraulic conductivity), concerns of conflicts with current
groundwater users, or the desire to maintain or restore environmental streamflows. The glacial sand and
gravel principal aquifer is contained within the glacial aquifer system. This principal aquifer, as defined
by USGS (Miller, 1999), is present in parts of 22 states, glacial deposits in Idaho, Washington, and
Alaska are not included in the definition given by Miller (1999). Withdrawals from the principal aquifer
in 2000 were 5 percent of the total withdrawals from all aquifers (Maupin and Barber, 2005). The sand
and gravel principal aquifer is the largest source for public supply and self-supplied industrial for any
principal aquifer; and it also is an important source for irrigation supply.
The glacial aquifer system groundwater availability study is one of the USGS efforts in response to the
Department of Interior WaterSMART initiative. This study is designed to provide information and
analysis to stakeholders and decisionmakers for characterizing groundwater availability in regions within
the glacial aquifer system. This study complements other regional aquifer studies through the
Groundwater Resources Program designed to develop a national assessment of groundwater availability
in USGS Principal Aquifers as part of a national Water Census.
The study seeks to quantify:



the status of groundwater resources in the glacial aquifer system,
how these resources have changed over time, and
likely system response to future changes in anthropogenic and environmental conditions.
And to develop means to effectively deliver this information to stakeholders and decisionmakers.
The glacial aquifer system is present in parts of 25 states (including all states in the PPP except
Wyoming). The glacial aquifer system contains the glacial sand and gravel principal aquifer, which is the
largest water source for public supply and self-supplied industrial for any principal aquifer in the USA; it
also is an important source for irrigation supply.
This study will quantify current groundwater resources in the glacial aquifer system, evaluate how these
resources have changed over time, and provide tools to better understand system response to future
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anthropogenic demands and environmental condition. http://mi.water.usgs.gov/projects/WaterSmart/ and
will provide important information and analysis to stakeholders and decision makers in the study area.
WILLISTON/POWDER RIVER BASINS GROUNDWATER AVAILABILITY
Supported by the USGS Groundwater Resources Program
http://mt.water.usgs.gov/projects/WaPR/
The development of two nationally important energy-producing areas, the Williston structural basin
(containing the Bakken Formation) and Powder River structural basin (Northern Great Plains of Montana,
Wyoming, and Dakotas), provide a critical opportunity to study the water-energy nexus within a
groundwater context. Large volumes of water are needed for energy development in these basins. The
hydraulically connected aquifers in the regional glacial, lower Tertiary, and Upper Cretaceous aquifer
systems are the shallowest, most accessible, and in some cases, the only potable aquifers within the
Northern Great Plains.
The purpose this study is to quantify the current groundwater resource, as part of a USGS National
assessment. The overall objective of this study is to assess the groundwater resource, particularly as
energy resources are developed. This objective will advance tools, information, and conceptual
understanding of these areally extensive regional transboundary aquifer systems.
The scope includes:

Williston structural basin. Develop a hydrogeologic framework, estimate hydrologic budget
components, refine the conceptual model of groundwater flow, and numerically simulate the regional
groundwater flow for the glacial, lower Tertiary, and Upper Cretaceous aquifer systems.

Powder River structural basin. Develop a hydrogeologic framework, estimate hydrologic budget
components, and refine the conceptual model for the lower Tertiary and Upper Cretaceous aquifer
system.
Water in the regional lower Tertiary and Upper Cretaceous aquifer system occurs mostly under confined
conditions except along basin margins and in aquifers in the glacial and upper part of the lower Tertiaryage geologic units, which are characterized by local flow systems (Whitehead, 1996). Where aquifers in
the lower Tertiary and Upper Cretaceous aquifer system are covered by thin unconsolidated glacial or
alluvial deposits, water percolates downward through the deposits to the aquifers. Most of the recharge to
these aquifer systems is from precipitation that falls on outcrop areas or from snowmelt that runs into
ephemeral and perennial streams that cross aquifers or aquifer boundaries (Whitehead, 1996). Discharge
is primarily to large perennial streams that dissect the aquifer system and to withdrawals for irrigation,
public-supply, energy production, and self-supplied industrial uses. In 2000, the Northern Great Plains
aquifer system provided 101 million gallons per day (Mgal/day) of water to irrigation (66.6 Mgal/day),
public-supply (33 Mgal/day), and self-supplied industrial (1.62 Mgal/day) uses (table 1 from Maupin and
Barber, 2005). Most of this water is from the regional lower Tertiary and Upper Cretaceous aquifer
system (Wesolowski, 1991) because relatively thick Cretaceous-age shale that underlies these aquifers
hampers deeper drilling.
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BASELINE WATER CHEMISTRY OF GROUNDWATER IN THE WILLISTON BASIN
Supported by the USGS Groundwater Resources Program
Purpose and Scope
The primary purpose of this study is to characterize baseline water-quality conditions in the Upper Fort
Union aquifer within the Williston Basin located in Montana and North Dakota. Thirty domestic wells
selected using a spatially distributed randomized grid-based method will be sampled (Scott, J.C., 1990).
In addition to field parameters, samples from each well will be analyzed for inorganic and organic
compounds, dissolved gases, select isotopes, and age tracers. A secondary purpose is to complete a
retrospective analysis of groundwater and surface-water quality. The retrospective analyses will include a
compilation of bibliographies, compilation and summary of existing water-quality and produced water
data within the Basin, identification of key water-quality issues, data gaps, and (or) limitations. Although
secondary, preliminary retrospective analysis was needed to better plan the baseline water-quality
assessment. Samples will be collected during FY 2013. Retrospective data will be collected and
summarized during FY 2013. Interpretation and reporting of results are planned for FY 2014.
Approach
The approach includes two components: (1) retrospective analysis and (2) a field study. The field study
will characterize occurrence, distribution, and understanding of select water-quality constituents. Both of
these components will occur concurrently due to the timing of initiating this effort and the need to collect
samples during FY 2013.
Field Study
Recognizing there are several aquifers within the Williston Basin and financial constraints limit the total
number of samples that can be processed, initial efforts were focused on selecting one aquifer.
Prioritization was based primarily on water use, however, information on current or previous research
(described above) was considered to avoid potential duplication of efforts. Possible future research and
water use demands were also considered. In general, aquifers supplying relatively more water for
domestic and municipal uses were considered to be a higher priority than other aquifers.
Total groundwater withdrawals from wells located within the extent of the Bakken formation (a subcomponent within the Williston Basin) were evaluated and, with the exception of glacial aquifers, the Fort
Union aquifer had the greatest withdrawals from 1981-2005. This information was compiled primarily
from USGS county withdrawal information (Solley and others, 1988, 1993, 1998; Hutson and others,
2004; Kenny and others, 2009). In addition, state databases were used to distribute those withdrawals to
aquifers on a county by county basis (Montana State Information Technology Services Division, 2012;
North Dakota Information Technology Department, 2012; Wyoming Geographic Information Science
Center, 2013; South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources, 2011). However, the
actual type of water use information was not widely available. As such, water-use information was
summarized for wells located in North Dakota within the Williston Basin and screened in the Fort Union,
Fox Hills, Hell Creek, and Glacial aquifer systems. This information was obtained from the North
Dakota State Water Commission
(http://www.nd.gov/gis/apps/DataDownload/?clipping=Full&coord=ND83SF&format=SHAPE&layers=NDHUB.WATERDATASITES). This database was assumed to contain the
most complete water-use information in comparison to other data.
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Research:
(Sampling of research supported wholly by or leveraged with the PPP LCC Partnership)
Using inverse geochemical modeling and halogen ratios to identify and quantify salinity
sources, Prairie Pothole Region, Montana and North Dakota. David Naftz, USGS Montana
Water Science Center.
Recent and historic data collected by the USGS and other agencies at three detailed study sites in
the PPR of Montana and North Dakota include major-ion and halogen (bromide/iodide) data.
This recently released data set affords the opportunity to explore the use of inverse geochemical
modeling and halogen ratios as additional geochemical tools to further identify and quantify
brine and non-brine salinity sources at the three detailed study sites. The USGS PHREEQC
software contains extensive inverse geochemical modeling capabilities and will be used to
simultaneously model salinity contributed from brine, evaporation, mineral dissolution, and
observed isotopic evolution at selected wetland and groundwater sites. Inverse modeling and
calculated saturation indices will also be used to investigate the loss of salinity via mineral
precipitation driven by Na input and project future water chemistry under likely reaction path
scenarios. In addition to inverse modeling, halogen ratios (e.g. Br:Cl and I:Cl) will be used to
differentiate and quantify salinity sources. Both Br and I can be enriched in produced water
providing a potentially large geochemical contrast for use in binary mixing models and have
been used in previous studies to differentiate oil-field salinity sources.
Determining the toxicity of sodium chloride added to background waters of the
Williston/Bakken area. Aïda M. Farag and David D. Harper, USGS Columbia Environmental
Research Center, Jackson Field Research Station.
Salts are present in both large concentrations and volumes in produced and flowback waters,
which create challenges for both operators and resource managers. To advance the science of
predicting ecological effects of salts across the United States, EPA and USGS plan to study salt
mixtures in varying types of background waters, because the background ion mixture appears to
influence salt toxicity. This would have direct applications for operators and resource managers
in dealing with varied natural background mixtures in a specific oil play area. EPA is currently
conducting a study to redefine the 1997 Mount et al. model (predicts acute toxicity of salt ions)
with the two species (Daphnia magna and fathead minnow), used in that model. USGS – CERC
– Jackson Field Research Station will expand the applicability of the EPA study with additional
species and background waters that address the specific make-up of the Williston/Bakken, in
particular the Prairies Pothole Region. We will select an aquatic invertebrate species
representative of the area (e.g. amphipod or other defined by concerned parties) and an aquatic
plant species (e.g. duckweed, Lemna gibba or other defined by concerned parties). Acute assays
will be conducted with these species in multiple waters. We will select one of the background
waters being investigated by EPA, and either collect or simulate two background waters from
areas of critical importance in the Prairie Pothole Region (to be decided with input from STEPPE
and other concerned parties). This design will allow us to define the upper limit of toxicity to salt
tolerant species in unique areas with elevated salt content such as the Williston/Bakken area.
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Updating, gathering and serving datasets relevant to oil and gas development and fish and
wildlife management within the Williston Basin and Bakken Formation. Todd Preston and
Tara Chesley-Preston, USGS Northern Rocky Science Center.
Assembled databases can be used to better understand the risks posed to biological resources
from oil and gas development. These databases (including spatially referenced datasets) will
support tasks to be addressed by other USGS centers. From the start, the STEPPE project has
gathered spatial datasets relevant to oil and gas development within the Williston Basin and
Bakken Formation. Many of these datasets require continuous upkeep and maintenance. In
addition it has come to our attention that potential datasets exist that will require expanding
partnerships and database management abilities. We will continue to update current databases
(spatial and otherwise), including oil and gas wells, groundwater wells, water chemistry,
wetlands, streams/rivers, geology, and soils. In addition, we will work with federal, state,
provincial and NGO partners to collect additional datasets that other teams have created or
assembled (additional water chemistry, geomorphologic features, elevation). Once these datasets
have been gathered and QA/QC has been performed, they will be uploaded to the Landscape
Conservation Management and Analysis Portal (LC MAP); a collaborative virtual workspace
acting both as a secure data server as well as a collaborative workspace building upon the
capabilities of ArcGIS and customizable extensions. This will allow the team, our partners, and
the general public simple and direct access to the most up-to-date datasets as well as maps,
simple mapping capabilities, graphs and charts.
Evaluating recent and future land use changes related to energy development in the
Williston Basin and Bakken Formation. Todd Preston and Tara Chesley-Preston, USGS
Northern Rocky Science Center.
The recent and predicted energy production from the Bakken Formation has, and will continue to
have, a pronounced impact on land use through the loss of cropland and native landscape acreage
from the construction of well pads and site access roads. As of February 2011, over 46,000 wells
have been drilled in the Williston Basin/Bakken Formation since 2000. The average single well
pad is approximately 4-6 acres and pads with multiple wells average 5-7 acres. Additionally, full
capacity is not expected to be reached until as early as 2034 or as late as 2065 (Mason 2012).
Therefore, to better understand the land use changes related to energy development in the
Williston Basin and Bakken Formation, we propose to quantify the acreage of agricultural and
native landscapes developed for oil well pads, site access roads, and related energy infrastructure
since 2000. The acreage of recent energy development infrastructure will be quantified using the
Rapid Land Cover Mapping (RLCM) protocol developed by the USGS Earth Resources
Observation and Science (EROS) Center. The RLCM is a manual photo-interpretation GIS
protocol that uses a grid of points superimposed over satellite imagery; an analyst then identifies
the land cover type for each point using standard photo-interpretation skills (Cushing et al.
2007). Use the results from (1) to predict the effects of land use change from energy
development across a variety of likely development scenarios based on estimates of well
capacities and production targets. Full well capacity and production target data will be derived
from scientific literature, oil industry reports, and state and provincial oil and gas boards. The
data products from this task will include GIS data layers, a time-lapse animation of recent energy
development, technical presentations, and a peer-reviewed journal article. The GIS data layers
will include a spatial data layer delineating the total acreage of recent (2000-2013) energy
infrastructure and previous land use. Funds from FY13 will be used to develop the proper
protocols and conduct this analysis across North Dakota. Additional funds will be requested in
FY14 to expand this analysis to the entire Williston Basin.
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Assessing potential impacts to birds in relation to oil and gas development within the
Williston Basin. Max Post van der Burg, USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center.
While the physical impact of oil and gas development in the Williston Basin (e.g. loss of land
cover types) can be assessed using remote sensing and GIS tools, more subtle biological impacts
may be very difficult to assess. However, numerous long-term bird monitoring datasets exist
within the Prairie Pothole Region that might allow us to begin to assess whether oil and gas
development is having an impact on bird populations. Recent work by other USGS researchers
has shown that songbirds seem to avoid oil development sites within the region. Given the extent
of development within the region, we might expect to see avoidance and associated abundance
declines in ongoing datasets. We plan to compile existing bird monitoring datasets within the
Prairie Potholes region and use our existing oil gas development database to assess potential
impacts to bird populations. We plan to use analytical tools such as boosted regression trees and
Bayesian hierarchical models to begin to explore potential relationships between oil and gas
development and bird populations. We plan to assess whether relationships exist between bird
abundance or occupancy and oil well density in the surrounding landscape or whether temporal
patterns in abundance can be linked with patterns of oil development. We will use these results
to then generate hypotheses and what might be causing any observed patterns.
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