In the course of a routine surface release investigation using terrain conductivity, an area of anomalously high terrain conductivity was observed that appeared to be unrelated to the leak being investigated. Expansion of the terrain conductivity survey to better understand this area of anomalously elevated terrain conductivity revealed an undiscovered breech in a 4-month old in ground 12-in plastic pipeline used to transmit frac- and flowback water. Subsequent core sampling confirmed that the conductivity anomaly was due to soil contamination by saline flowback water.

Primary Author / Conference Presenter:
Dr. Bert Fisher
Managing Principal
Lithochimeia, LLC
Tulsa, OK, USA
www.lithochim.com

Co-Author:
Blake Redden, Lithochimeia, LLC, Tulsa, OK