UNS: Collaborative Research: Fate and Control of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM) Produced by Unconventional Gas Industry

1510764(VIDIC)/1509086(FLORA)最近在定向井钻井、水力压裂和油藏刺激方面的突破使低渗透页岩层能够经济地生产石油和天然气。再加上有利的石油和天然气价格，这些技术发展鼓励了美国对能源独立的积极追求。预计未来15年天然气开采量将增长100%以上。关键的环境问题之一是废水再利用过程中自然产生的放射性物质积累，一旦废水再利用不再可行，就缺乏解决这一问题的最终解决办法。这项研究旨在全面了解产出水在储存和回收过程中从深部地质地层带到地表的天然放射性物质的去向。这项研究的重点是基础实验和模拟研究，以促进对深部地质构造中自然存在的放射性物质命运的理解，同时保持其与控制自然存在的放射性物质的变革性工程解决方案的相关性，从而成功地实施石油和天然气行业的水管理战略。这项研究将发展对岩石-水相互作用的基本了解，这将有助于制定技术解决方案，以便能够控制采出水中自然产生的放射性物质。该研究小组的综合实验和建模专业知识将确保深入了解在使用化学沉淀的水处理过程中控制天然放射性物质命运的关键因素，并将通过促进以科学为基础的解决方案来解决在世界许多地区引起公众强烈反对的关键环境问题，从而对石油和天然气行业产生深远影响。拟议的研究将从根本上科学地了解除石油和天然气以外的其他行业(例如采矿、核能)的现象，并确保这些行业采取更可持续的水管理战略。这项研究中开发的水管理解决方案还将推动在面临放射性元素控制挑战的其他行业开发新的解决方案。教育影响将通过在丰富的、多学科的环境中培训学生来实现，以发展可移植到任何领域的解决问题的技能。这个项目将在地区高中展示，通过激动人心的互动动手体验，激发人们对科学、技术、经济和经济管理学科进步的兴趣。这项研究的结果对世界能源供应有影响，同时对基本工艺的更好理解将促进水处理新技术的发展。

1510764(Vidic)/1509086(Flora)Recent breakthroughs in directional well drilling, hydraulic fracturing, and reservoir stimulation have enabled economical production of oil and natural gas from low-permeability shale formations. Combined with favorable oil and gas prices, these technological developments encouraged a vigorous pursuit of energy independence by the US. It is expected that the extraction of natural gas will increase by more than 100% in the next 15 years. One of the key environmental concerns is the accumulation of naturally occurring radioactive material during wastewater reuse and the lack of ultimate solutions that would address this problem once the wastewater reuse is no longer feasible. This study is designed to provide comprehensive understanding of the fate of naturally occurring radioactive material brought to the surface from deep geologic formations during storage and recycling of produced water.This study focuses on fundamental experimental and modeling research necessary to advance understanding of the fate of naturally occurring radioactive material in deep geologic formations while maintaining its relevance to transformative engineering solutions in the control of naturally occurring radioactive material for successful water management strategy in oil and gas industry. Fundamental understanding of rock-water interaction that will be developed in this study will facilitate development of technical solutions to enable control of naturally occurring radioactive material in produced water. The combined experimental and modeling expertise of this research group will ensure deep understanding of key factors governing the fate of naturally occurring radioactive material in water treatment processes that use chemical precipitation and will have far-reaching consequences for oil and gas industry by facilitating science based solutions to address key environmental concerns that have led to significant public opposition in many parts of the world. The proposed study will attain fundamental scientific understanding of the phenomena that are relevant to other industries besides oil and gas (e.g., mining, nuclear) and will ensure more sustainable water management strategies by those industries. Water management solutions developed in this study will also provide impetus for the development of new solutions in other industries that are facing challenges with the control of radioactive elements. Educational impact will be accomplished through training students in rich, multidisciplinary environment to develop problem-solving skills that are transferable to any field. This project will be showcased at regional high schools though exciting and interactive hand-on experience that sparks interest in advancements in S.T.E.M. disciplines. Findings of this study have implications for world energy supply, while better understanding of fundamental processes will spur development of new technologies for water treatment.