--> Natural Gas, Uranium, Helium, Radon, Arsenic and Groundwater Quality of the Ogallala Aquifer, by J. F. Drake; #90903 (2001)

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Natural Gas, Uranium, Helium, Radon, Arsenic and Groundwater Quality of the Ogallala Aquifer

J. F. Drake
Vista Environmental Services Co. L.L.C., Canyon, TX

Indoor air quality and groundwater in the Texas Panhandle have been impacted by naturally occurring radioactive materials originating in the subsurface. A wide range of radioactive sources for the elevated radon gas have been proposed. These sources range from radioactive minerals such as uraninite to radioactive asphaltite present in the West Panhandle field. The Panhandle gas field originally contained the largest commercial helium reserves in the United States. It also contains anomalous concentrations of radon. The reservoir rocks themselves contain 2–4 ppm Uranium. The distribution of uraniferous asphaltite is thought to be the source of the abnormally high radon concentrations.

Overlying the Panhandle gas field the High Plains (Ogallala) Aquifer provides water from deep wells to both rural and municipal water users. At several locations in the Panhandle drinking water standards for public drinking water supplies have been exceeded by both radium and arsenic. Relatively high concentrations of radium and associated radon gas are most likely to occur in water from deep aquifers. Elevated levels of arsenic in the groundwater have been found to be associated with natural uranium mineralization in the High Plains.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90903©2001 AAPG Mid-Continent Meeting, Amarillo, Texas