Abstract
The impacts of brine discharged from oil and gas recovery operations on groundwater and surface water quality are described for two small watersheds in eastern Kentucky. The brine led to significantly higher concentrations of several minerals in surface water, especially in the first- and second-order streams. Concentrations as high as 50,000 mg/l for sodium and 64,000 mg/l for chloride were measured in streams. Chemical decay coefficients for Na and Cl were developed as a function of watershed area for possible application to similar watersheds. Evidence indicated the brine discharge was impacting the Licking River, the major stream draining the eastern portion of Kentucky.