Occurrence and Sources of Radium in Groundwater Associated with Oil Fields in the Southern San Joaquin Valley, California

Environmental Science & Technology
Peter B McMahonChris J Ballentine

Abstract

Geochemical data from 40 water wells were used to examine the occurrence and sources of radium (Ra) in groundwater associated with three oil fields in California (Fruitvale, Lost Hills, South Belridge). 226Ra+228Ra activities (range = 0.010-0.51 Bq/L) exceeded the 0.185 Bq/L drinking-water standard in 18% of the wells (not drinking-water wells). Radium activities were correlated with TDS concentrations (p < 0.001, ρ = 0.90, range = 145-15,900 mg/L), Mn + Fe concentrations (p < 0.001, ρ = 0.82, range = <0.005-18.5 mg/L), and pH (p < 0.001, ρ = -0.67, range = 6.2-9.2), indicating Ra in groundwater was influenced by salinity, redox, and pH. Ra-rich groundwater was mixed with up to 45% oil-field water at some locations, primarily infiltrating through unlined disposal ponds, based on Cl, Li, noble-gas, and other data. Yet 228Ra/226Ra ratios in pond-impacted groundwater (median = 3.1) differed from those in oil-field water (median = 0.51). PHREEQC mixing calculations and spatial geochemical variations suggest that the Ra in the oil-field water was removed by coprecipitation with secondary barite and adsorption on Mn-Fe precipitates in the near-pond environment. The saline, organic-rich oil-field water subsequently mobilized Ra from d...Continue Reading

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Apr 28, 2016·Environmental Science & Technology·Nancy E LauerAvner Vengosh
May 10, 2016·Environmental Science & Technology·Denise M AkobIsabelle M Cozzarelli
Mar 6, 2018·Environmental Science & Technology·Michael A Chen, Benjamin D Kocar

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Citations

Dec 19, 2020·Risk Analysis : an Official Publication of the Society for Risk Analysis·Jennifer Hoponick RedmonAvner Vengosh
May 24, 2020·The Science of the Total Environment·Andrew J KondashAvner Vengosh
Mar 20, 2021·The Science of the Total Environment·Celia Z RosecransTracy A Davis
Mar 3, 2021·Environmental Geochemistry and Health·Reza Khalidy, Rafael M Santos

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