Occurrence of water and thermogenic gas from oil-bearing formations in groundwater near the Orcutt Oil Field, California, USA

Abstract

Study region: Santa Barbara County, California, USA. Study focus: To analyze a wide array of newly collected chemical, isotopic, dissolved gas, and age dating tracers in conjunction with historical data from groundwater and oil wells to determine if water and/or thermogenic gas from oil-bearing formations have mixed with groundwater in the Orcutt Oil Field and surrounding area. New hydrological insights for the region: Three of 15 groundwater samples had compositions indicating potential mixing with water and/or thermogenic gas from oil-bearing formations. Relevant indicators included salinity tracers (TDS, Cl, Br), NH3, DOC, enriched δ13C-DIC, δ2H-CH4, δ13C-CH4, and δ13C-C2H6 values, and trace amounts of C3-C5 gas. The potential sources/pathways for oil-bearing formation water and/or thermogenic gas in groundwater overlying and adjacent to the Orcutt Oil Field include: (1) upward movement from formations developed for oil production due to: (a) natural migration; or (b) anthropogenic activity such as injection and/or movement along wellbores; and (2) oil and gas shows in overlying non-producing oil-bearing formations. Groundwater age tracers, elevated 4He concentrations, and isotopic compositions of noble gases indicated legacy produced water ponds were not a source. This phase of the study relied on samples and data from existing infrastructure. Additional data on potential end-member compositions from new and existing wells and assessments of potential vertical head gradients and pathways between oil and groundwater zones may yield additional insight.

Keywords

• Groundwater quality near oil fields
• Salinity tracers
• Thermogenic hydrocarbon gas
• Multiple lines of evidence