Ground%20water%20contamination%20at%20Bemidji,%20MN

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Ground water contamination at Bemidji, MN

• Part 1 Younis Altobi

http//www.epa.gov/oilspill/photo.htm
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Outline Younis Altobi

• Introduction
• Significance
• Description of site
• Study objectives
• Data
• Methodology
• Data analysis
• Data interpretation
• Results
• Limitations
• Future Work

http//www.epa.gov/oilspill/photo.htm
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Introduction

• Most oil pipelines leak at least once during
  their life span.
• 14,000 spills a year are reported in the U.S.
• Spills pose hazards to
• marine and human life
• natural and man-made resources
• Each spills environmental impact depends on its
  spreading rate.

http//www.epa.gov/oilspill/photo.htm
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Significance

• Problem
• Treatment and remediation challenges
• Time consumption
• Costs in training and equipment
• Inaccurate site assessments
• Possible solution
• Apply GIS techniques to monitor and model
• Contaminant distribution with time.
• Contaminant migration with time.
• Contaminant concentration with time.

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Description of Site

• NW Bemidji, MN
• In 1979, a pipeline burst, spilling 11,000
  barrels of crude oil.
• Contaminated subsurface sediment and ground water.

http//mn.water.usgs.gov/bemidji/gif/locatn-1.jpg
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Study Site
http//mn.water.usgs.gov/bemidji/gif/fig4.jpg
http//mn.water.usgs.gov/bemidji/
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Study Objectives

• Using GIS techniques and utilizing Arc Hydro
  Groundwater Data Models devised by Gil Strassberg
  and Suzanne Pierce (CRWR)
• 2-Dimentional surface-ground water interaction
  data model using aquifer, stream networks,
  aquifer recharge and contaminant transport.
• 3D geological framework of the aquifer using
  wells, coring and test data.
• Model groundwater movement through out the
  aquifer.
• Model hydrocarbon migration since the 1979 oil
  spill through out the aquifer.
• Model the aquifer hydrologic unit to determine
  the effects of lithology and porosity on water
  and hydrocarbon movements.
• Produce a 3D distribution profile of the
  hydrocarbon plume across the site.

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Objectives accomplished

• 3D geological framework of the aquifer using
  water wells and coring.
• Model hydrocarbon migration since the 1979 oil
  spill through out the aquifer.
• Produce a 3D distribution profile of the
  hydrocarbon plume across the site.
• 3D surface topography of the site.
• Ground water level changes through time.
• Oil level, thickness, and concentration through
  time.

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Data

• Wells (over 200 total wells)
• Water level
• Oil level
• Oil thickness
• Oil concentration (Benzene and Toluene)
• Core
• Elevation

Data source http//mn.water.usgs.gov/bemidji/dat
a.html
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Data Analysis

• Select wells from area of interest (north pool).
• Create a surface elevation.
• Produce a 3D projection of core lithologies.
• Using well attributes, we distributed
• Water level
• Oil level
• Oil thickness
• Oil concentrations
• Time Frame (3 periods)

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Data Analysis Surface elevation

• Surface interpolated from selected surface
  elevation points distributed across the study
  site.

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Data Analysis Cores
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Data Analysis Attribute Tables
WellID NewLat NewLong Water Level Elevation
303 47.57398 -95.09040 7.10 430.640
306 47.57391 -95.09020 7.8 430.610
315 47.57381 -95.09016 7.7 430.593
319 47.57385 -95.09008 8.2 430.872
411 47.57389 -95.09024 8.1 430.792
423 47.57390 -95.08988 9.8 432.759
506 47.57438 -95.08934 9.35 432.791
507 47.57426 -95.08956 9.65 433.050
512 47.57402 -95.08909 9.45 432.833
WellID NewLat NewLong Oil Level Oil Thickness Elevation
306 47.57391 -95.09020 6.8 1.1 430.610
315 47.57381 -95.09016 6.8 1 430.593
319 47.57385 -95.09008 7 1.1 430.872
411 47.57389 -95.09024 6.95 1.1 430.792
Period 1 83-88
Period 2 89-94
Period 3 94-99
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Acknowledgments

• Gil Strassberg (CRWR)
• Dr. David Maidment
• Suzanne Pierce (UTDoGS)
• Geoff Delin and Todd Anderson
• http//mn.water.usgs.gov/bemidji/