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

最近在定向井钻井、水力压裂和储层增产方面的突破，使低渗透页岩地层的石油和天然气得以经济开采。再加上有利的石油和天然气价格，这些技术的发展鼓励了美国大力追求能源独立。预计未来15年天然气开采量将增长100%以上。一个关键的环境问题是废水回用过程中自然产生的放射性物质的积累，一旦废水回用不再可行，缺乏解决这一问题的最终解决方案。本研究旨在全面了解在采出水的储存和回收过程中，自然发生的放射性物质从深层地质构造带到地表的命运。本研究的重点是基础实验和建模研究，以促进对深层地质地层中天然存在的放射性物质命运的理解，同时保持其与石油和天然气工业中成功的水管理战略中自然存在的放射性物质控制的变革性工程解决方案的相关性。在本研究中将发展的对岩石-水相互作用的基本理解将促进技术解决方案的发展，从而能够控制采出水中自然存在的放射性物质。该研究小组的实验和建模专业知识相结合，将确保深入了解在使用化学沉淀的水处理过程中控制自然发生的放射性物质命运的关键因素，并通过促进基于科学的解决方案来解决导致世界许多地区公众强烈反对的关键环境问题，将对石油和天然气行业产生深远的影响。拟议的研究将对与石油和天然气以外的其他工业（例如采矿、核）有关的现象取得基本的科学理解，并将确保这些工业采取更可持续的水管理战略。本研究开发的水管理解决方案也将为其他面临放射性元素控制挑战的行业开发新的解决方案提供动力。教育影响将通过在丰富的多学科环境中培养学生发展可转移到任何领域的解决问题的技能来实现。该项目将在地区高中进行展示，通过令人兴奋的互动实践体验，激发人们对S.T.E.M.学科进步的兴趣。这项研究的结果对世界能源供应有影响，而更好地了解基本过程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.