Appraisal of groundwater contamination from surface spills of fluids associated with hydraulic fracturing operations

Contaminated groundwater is a priority issue on the environmental agendas of developed countries. Therefore, there is an obvious need to develop instruments and decision-making mechanisms that allow the estimation of the risk to human health due to the presence of contaminants in soils and groundwater, in a fast and reliable manner. Thus, this study aims to assess whether the spilling of hydraulic fracturing fluids prior to injection has a potential risk to groundwater quality in the Kern County Sub-basin, California, by identifying the hydrological factors and solute transport characteristics that control these risks while taking into consideration the temperature rises due to climate change. The approach uses the concept of the groundwater pollution risk based on comparing the concentration of pollutants within the water table by using a predetermined permissible level. The current average annual temperature and that by the end of the 21st century was used to estimate the diffusion of benzene through three types of soil by using HYDRUS-1D software. The software was used to predict the contaminant concentration profile of benzene in the water table with special reference to the impact of surface temperatures. The results showed that an expected rise of the surface temperature by 4.3 °C led to an increase in the concentration of benzene by 2.3 μg/l in sandy loam soil, 6.8 μg/l in silt loam soil, and finally, 2.6 μg/l in loam soil. The results show that climate change can substantially affect soil properties and their chemical constituents, which then play a major role in absorbing pollutants. [Display omitted] •The risk of groundwater contamination due to the oil surface spills was assessed.•The diffusion of benzene through soil was predicted using HYDRUS-1D software.•A rise of the surface temperature by 4.3 °C may led to an increase in the concentration of benzene by 6.8 μg/l in silt loam soil.•Climate change can substantially affect soil properties and their chemical constituents.