Potential Impacts of Future Geological Storage of CO2 on the Groundwater Reservoirs in California's Central Valley

California Energy Commission (CEC) | May 1st, 2013

This study assessed the history of oil production and pressure changes in the southern portion of the San Joaquin Basin in California’s Central Valley as a reverse anal

This study assessed the history of oil production and pressure changes in the southern portion of the San Joaquin Basin in California’s Central Valley as a reverse analog for understanding the pressure response to potential geologic carbon sequestration. Sequestration involves injecting carbon dioxide into permeable strata such as those that trap oil. This results in pressure increases in the existing fluid in the subsurface that can provide a motive force for brines at those depths to migrate into groundwater, affecting its quality. The pressure can also cause differential ground surface uplift that can affect surface water flow, particularly in engineered water conveyances such as canals. The strata underlying the Central Valley have been assessed as having considerable capacity to store carbon dioxide, but the area also contains urban areas and extensive agriculture that rely on engineered surface water delivery systems and groundwater supplies. The Stevens Sand, Temblor Formation and Vedder Formation were identified as having the largest cumulative net production from typical geologic carbon sequestration depths. Two oil pools were identified in each of these stratigraphic units for more detailed analysis, which included converting fluid level data to pressure at the pool scale. Data were collected that allowed an assessment of the hydraulic connectivity of each unit. The results indicated that the Vedder was hydraulically connected at the near basin scale, the Stevens was hydraulically connected at the pool scale and was disconnected between pools and the Temblor was disconnected within pools. Researchers used these results to analyze possible brine leakage driven by geologic carbon sequestration. They also reviewed over 200 articles on historic groundwater contamination. They concluded that no instance of contamination due to upward leakage of brine in the Central Valley was reported.

Potential Impacts of Future Geological Storage of CO2 on the Groundwater Resources in California’s Central Valley: Southern San Joaquin Basin Oil and Gas Production Analog for Geologic Carbon Storage

California Energy Commission (CEC) | May 1st, 2013

This study investigated the potential impacts of the injection and storage of large quantities of carbon dioxide on shallow water resources in California’s southern San

This study investigated the potential impacts of the injection and storage of large quantities of carbon dioxide on shallow water resources in California’s southern San Joaquin Basin, including the possibility that if such injection was properly planned it might help mitigate the land subsidence impacts related to over-pumping of groundwater. The project used simulation studies to investigate whether the basin-scale pressure changes and brine displacement caused by future carbon dioxide storage in the deep sediments could impact the groundwater-surface water systems in the area. Two simulation models were developed. The Deep Basin Reservoir Simulation Model was developed for accurately simulating the multiphase processes of carbon dioxide and brine flow occurring in deep sequestration reservoirs. The Shallow Water Resources Impact Simulation Model was developed for accurately predicting the impact of deep carbon dioxide sequestration on a stressed water system, including evaluation of carbon dioxide-related impacts in the context of the long-term groundwater and subsidence trends occurring in the area as a result of other water stresses such as pumping and irrigation. The Deep Basin Reservoir Simulation Model showed that the caprock and overlying geological units had sufficient barrier attributes to prevent pressure propagation from the injection layer to the shallow aquifers. The Shallow Water Resources Impact Simulation Model simulation results showed that deep carbon dioxide injection would create only minor head change and surface uplift in the shallow model layers. Overall the simulation results suggested that even large carbon dioxide storage projects should have minimal impact on shallow groundwater and surface water systems if thick layers of shales and sands separated the deep CO2 injection layers from shallow aquifers. Researchers believed this study justified devoting resources to evaluating the potential impact from localized pathways or from induced seismicity to more thoroughly investigate the feasibility of carbon dioxide storage in the southern San Joaquin Basin. 

Predicting Redox Conditions in Groundwater at a National Scale Using Random Forest Classification

American Chemistry Society (ACS) | March 7th, 2024

Preliminary Evaluation of Impacts of Potential Groundwater Sustainability Indicators on Future Groundwater Extraction Rates – Oxnard Plain and Pleasant Valley Groundwater Basins

United Water Conservation District (UWCD) | April 4th, 2017

This evaluation was performed to estimate the combined sustainable yield of the Oxnard Plain (including the Forebay) and Pleasant Valley groundwater basins (the study are

This evaluation was performed to estimate the combined sustainable yield of the Oxnard Plain (including the Forebay) and Pleasant Valley groundwater basins (the study area). The purpose is to provide supporting information to United Water Conservation District’s (United) management and Board of Directors in establishing groundwater management policies that are consistent with the mission of the agency. United recognizes that the compliance actions associated with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), the formation of a Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA), and the creation and implementation of Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSPs) have the potential to change how groundwater resources are managed in Ventura County. This report was prepared for the benefit of United’s Board of Directors and senior management, and is not intended to serve as a GSP, define how the sustainable yield should be determined by the GSA, or specify what value or range of values should be used as the sustainable yield. The analyses and results are meant to be used as a starting point in evaluating potential impacts to United’s operations as a result of sustainability planning already underway by the Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Agency (FCGMA) for the study area. Note: an addendum to this was published on November 7, 2017

Preliminary Evaluation of the Hydrogeologic System in Owens Valley, California

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) | January 8th, 1988

Owens Valley is a major source of water for southern California and presently (1986) provides more than 60 percent of the supply for Los Angeles. Since 1970, ground-water

Owens Valley is a major source of water for southern California and presently (1986) provides more than 60 percent of the supply for Los Angeles. Since 1970, ground-water withdrawal from Owens Valley has increased, and a decline in the health of vegetation has been reported. In 1982, a cooperative project to study the hydrogeology and plant ecology of Owens Valley was begun by Inyo County, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, and the U.S. Geological Survey. As part of this project, the available data and present hydrologic concepts of Owens Valley were evaluated by using a ground-waterflow model. Results of this preliminary evaluation are being used to guide data collection and the development of more sophisticated hydrologic models.

Preliminary hydrogeologic assessment near the boundary of the Antelope Valley and El Mirage Valley groundwater basins, California

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) | July 19th, 2017

Preliminary Results from Exploratory Sampling of Wells for the California Oil, Gas, and Groundwater Program, 2014–15

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) | January 26th, 2017

In 2014 and 2015, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) sampled water wells in the Los Angeles Basin and southern San Joaquin Valley, California, and oil wells in the San Joa

In 2014 and 2015, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) sampled water wells in the Los Angeles Basin and southern San Joaquin Valley, California, and oil wells in the San Joaquin Valley for analysis of multiple chemical, isotopic, and groundwater-age tracers (fig. 1). The purpose of this reconnaissance sampling was to evaluate the utility of tracers for assessing the effects of oil and gas production activities on groundwater quality in California. The study was done in cooperation with the California State Water Resources Control Board. Results of the study are intended to help design a regional groundwater monitoring program to be implemented as part of California Senate Bill 4 (SB 4 statutes of 2013). The regional monitoring program plans to assess the effects of oil and gas production activities on groundwater quality and to provide a regional context for local monitoring of the groundwater-quality effects from well-stimulation treatments, which are techniques used to improve oil and gas production by increasing their rate of flow to the well. California SB 4 mandates that this local monitoring is to be done by oil-well operators in accordance with monitoring criteria established by the State Water Board. This report evaluates the utility of the chemical, isotopic, and groundwater-age tracers for assessing sources of salinity, methane, and petroleum hydrocarbons in groundwater overlying or near several California oil fields. Tracers of dissolved organic carbon in oil-field-formation water are also discussed. Tracer data for samples collected from 51 water wells and 4 oil wells are examined.

Preliminary update of DWR evaluation of San Joaquin Valley - Kern County basin Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP)

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | December 9th, 2021

Preparation Checklist for Groundwater Sustainability Plan Submittal

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | December 22nd, 2016

Guidance Document for the Sustainable Management of Groundwater The objective of this Guidance Document is to provide Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) and ot

Guidance Document for the Sustainable Management of Groundwater The objective of this Guidance Document is to provide Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) and other interested stakeholders a checklist of Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) content requirements for the purpose of verifying a GSP is complete and is ready for submission to DWR. Please note that if multiple GSAs develop multiple GSPs for a basin, the coordinated submission of those GSPs shall not occur until the entire basin is covered by GSPs. The Preparation Checklist for GSP Submittal is only intended to provide a guide to GSAs and other stakeholders. This guidance is optional, since the content of this Guidance Document does not create any new requirements or obligations for the GSA or other stakeholders.

Prioritization of Oil and Gas Fields for Regional Groundwater Monitoring Based on a Preliminary Assessment of Petroleum Resource Development and Proximity to California’s Groundwater Resources

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) | July 20th, 2018

The California State Water Resources Control Board initiated a regional monitoring program in July 2015 to determine where and to what degree groundwater quality may be a

The California State Water Resources Control Board initiated a regional monitoring program in July 2015 to determine where and to what degree groundwater quality may be adversely impacted by oil and gas development activities. A key issue in the implementation of the regional groundwater monitoring program is that each year, detailed characterization work can be done in only a few of California’s 487 onshore oil and gas fields. The first step in monitoring groundwater near petroleum development is to prioritize oil and gas fields using consistent statewide analysis of available data that indicate potential risk of groundwater to oil and gas development. The U.S. Geological Survey compiled data for four factors that characterize the intensity of petroleum resource development and proximity to groundwater resources: petroleum-well density, volume of water injected in oil fields, vertical proximity of groundwater resources to oil and gas resource development, and water-well density. An overall priority ranking for each field was determined by computing summary metrics, analyzing statewide distributions of summary metrics for all oil and gas fields, using those distributions to define relative categories of potential risk for each factor, and combining relative risk rankings for different factors into an overall priority ranking. This preliminary assessment does not represent an evaluation of groundwater risk to oil and gas development, which needs to be based on detailed analysis and data related to development activities including well stimulation, well integrity issues, produced water ponds, and underground injection. Based on the prioritization analysis, 22 percent (107 fields) of the total number of oil and gas fields in California were ranked as high priority, 23 percent (114 fields) as moderate priority, and 55 percent (266 fields) as low priority. These results indicate that between 100 and 200 oil fields are principal candidates for the next steps in the regional monitoring program. The land area of fields that ranked high priority accounted for 41 percent of the total field area (3,392 square miles). More than half of the high priority fields were in the southern San Joaquin Valley and the Los Angeles Basin. Some of the larger fields tended to have higher rankings because of greater intensity of petroleum development, sometimes coupled with proximity to groundwater resources. The U.S. Geological Survey, in collaboration with the California State Water Resources Control Board and other agencies, has begun regional groundwater monitoring near oil and gas fields selected for study through the California Oil, Gas, and Groundwater cooperative program. Groundwater monitoring includes compiling, analyzing, and developing three-dimensional visualizations of existing data, including geological frameworks, salinity mapping, identification of surface features that could potentially affect groundwater quality, locations and depths of oil/gas and water wells, cataloging well-construction integrity issues, and evaluating the directions of groundwater flow. These analyses are required to determine where existing wells should be monitored and where new monitoring wells may need to be drilled.