Remediation of Salt-Impacted Soil and Waste

Abstract Salt impacted soil and waste remediation imposes one of the most difficult challenges to oil and gas operators, because of the expense and extended treatment time. Additionally, salt impacted land constitutes a fertile litigation target regardless of capability and practical land use. Expensive judgments in Oklahoma and Louisiana are becoming common. It is only a matter of time before similar court actions are brought in other oil and gas provinces. Proper remediation or corrective action avoids or mitigates these judgments. This paper offers practical methods for reducing remediation/re-remediation time and expense associated with produced water releases, production pit closures and spent saline drilling fluid/cuttings remediation. The paper provides field-tested guidelines for mitigation; treatment, and post closure reconstitution of salt impacted soil and solid wastes. Currently, the technical literature offers little guidance in how to locate, mitigate, treat and reconstitute new or previously treated impacted soil/waste. Based on our research, we conclude most salt-impacted areas can be treated to regain pre-impact land use capability status. The elapsed remediation time ranges up to 7 years. In severe cases, the operator may elect a long-term (30+ year) passive treatment appoach by planting salt tolerant species (halophytes). The remediation methods presented in the paper are proven practical by long-term use and observed reconstitution of salt damaged land.