Date of Award
2016
Publisher
North Dakota State University
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Awarded
Master of Science (MS)
Program
Natural Resources Management
Department
Natural Resources Management
College
Agriculture, Food Systems and Natural Resources
Faculty Advisor
Hargiss, Christina
Description
A road dust abatement alternative that has been considered in the Bakken and Three Forks formations is oil-well produced waters. Three previously untreated gravel roads were selected and passive dust collectors were utilized. The objectives of this study were to: 1) simulate produced water’s potential impacts to gravel road materials; 2) compare dust loading at abated and control sites to determine effectiveness; and 3) identify the elemental differences in the dust at abated and control sites. Electrical conductivity has the greatest influence on dispersion probability and clay mineralogy of the road influences the probability of dispersion. Produced water failed to reduce dust on two of the three roads that were tested. Elements that were found to be significantly different included Mo, Mn, Fe, As, Au, and Hg. Results of this study are important to road managers who are contemplating the usage of produced waters to reduce dusts from gravel roads.
Recommended Citation
Graber, Kayla Marie, "Effectiveness and Simulated Impacts of Produced Water as a Dust Abatement in Western North Dakota" (2016). Natural Resources Management. 48.
https://digitalcommons.ndsu.edu/nrm/48
Rights
NDSU policy 190.6.2
Rights Link
https://www.ndsu.edu/fileadmin/policy/190.pdf
Handle Identifier
https://hdl.handle.net/10365/28217