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3 ENVIRONMENTALBASETINE
An environmental baseline has been prepared based on a technical assessment of published documents held by
the:
o
Environment Agency
o
BritishGeologicalSurvey
o
GeologicalSociety
o
Peer reviewed
journals
and other publications
A full Bibliography of all reference materials is presented as Secton 12.
3.1 Location
The Ebberston Moor Gas Field covers 46km2 of land on the western edge of the North York Moort approximately
12km north of Third Energy's operations facility at KGS (Figure 1).
It is proposed to locate a produced water injection well at Third Energy's Ebberston - A wellsite (EB-A), which is
located towards the east of the P1077 licensed area at grid reference SE 89901 89679 (centre of site). The site
setting of EB-A is shown on Figure 2.
3.2 HydrologicalSetting
The main hydrologicalfeature in the area is the River Derwent, which is located approximately 4.5km to the east
of EB-A. The River Derwent is located at an elevation of approximately SSmAOD and, in the immediate area, flows
towards the southeast.
There are a number of small watercourses flowing close to the site. Grain Beck issues at an elevation of
approximately 210mAOD in Stain Dale; White Beck issues at an elevation of approximately 210mAOD in Deep
Dale; and an unnamed watercourse issues at an elevation of approximately 180mAOD in Rosekirk Dale. There are
numerous springs present in Rosekirk Dale to the south of EB-A, the majority of which issue at elevations of
between 155mAOD and 175mAOD.
3.3 GeologicalDescription
The geological setting of the area has been characterised using information from the British Geological Survey
(BGS); 50 000 scale sheets and supported by 2D seismic data and a 3D geological model data provided by Third
Energy.
3.3.1 Regionalgeolory
The focus of this report is on the bedrock geology of the North York Moors, which is illustrated on Figure 3 and
the Cross Sections on Figures 4 and 5.
Figure 3 shows the bedrock geology is dominated by Jurassic age strata. The Ravenscar Group is overlain by the
Oxford Clay and Osgodby Formations (referred to as Kellaways Formations in Figures and Third Energy's geology
and geophysical (G+G) data), which outcrop in a narrow band and in a number of valley features. The outcrop of
the overlying Corallian Group occupies a band stretching from Filey on the east coast westwards towards
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Helmsley and the Hambleton Hills, and then south-eastwards towards Norton. The Corallian Group is overlain by
the Kimmeridge Clay and Ampthill Clay Formations, which outcrop in the Vale of Pickering.
The Cretaceous age Chalk Group outcrops approximately 15km to the southeast of EB-A and occupies a large area
stretching southwards towards the River Humber. ln this area, the Chalk is underlain by the Speeton Clay
Formation, also of Cretaceous age.
The Triassic strata comprise the Sherwood Sandstone Group overlain by the Mercia Mudstone and Penarth
Groups. The strata have north-south trending outcrop areas stretching from Hartlepool through the Vale of York
and south to Doncaster and beyond. The closest Shenruood Sandstone outcrop is approximately 40km to the
southwest of EB-A, near York.
The Permian Zechstein Group outcrops approximately 60km to the west of EB-A. The strata has a north-south
trending outcrop area stretching from Sunderland southwards to Doncaster and beyond. The general regional
bedrock sequence is summarised in Table 1.
Table 1 Regional Geology
3.3.2 Localgeolory
The local geology beneath the EB-A site is described in Appendix C. Note that the Chalk is absent at EB-A and the
top of the geological sequence is characterised by the Corallian Group. Thicknesses of the geological strata are
based on Third Energy's G+G data.
3.3.3 Geologicalstructure
Mudstones, shales and interbedded sandstones
and
grits
Barren Beds
Stephanian /
Westphalian
Carboniferous
Red sandstone Rotliegendes Lower Permian
Permian
Dolostone and dolomitic limestone Cadeby Formation
Zechstein Group
Mudstone Kirkham Abbey Formation
Dolostone and dolomitic limestone Brotherton Formation
Mudstone Roxby Formation
Sandstone with occasional beds of mudstone
and siltstone
Sherwood Sandstone Group
Triassic
Mudstone with siltstone and evaporite Penarth and Mercia Mudstone Groups
Mudstone and limestone Lias Group
Jurassic
Sandstone, siltstone and mudstone Ravenscar Group and Dogger Formation
Mudstone, locally sandy Oxford Clay and Osgodby Formations
Limestone, sandstone, siltstone and mudstone Corallian Group
Mudstone and muddy limestone
Kimmeridge Clay, Ampthill Clay and Vy'est Walton
Formations
Mudstone Speeton Clay Formation
Cretaceous
Red chalk Hunstanton Formation
Chalk Group Clayey chalk Grey Chalk Subgroup
Chalk with flints White Chalk Subgroup
Description Group / Formation Age
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The Cleveland Basin is an inversion structure, the area having been a major basin of deposition in the Jurassic,
followed by uplift in the Cretaceous. The Cleveland Anticline centred on the North Yorks Moors is an east-west
trending broad arch with subsidiary domes, which extends eastwards into the Scarborough Dome and the Sole Pit
Trough in the North Sea. Towards the southern margin of the Basin lies the Howardian-Flamborough-Dowsing
Fault Belt; of which the Helmsley-Filey Fault to the north of the Vale of Pickering Syncline is the most northerly
manifestation. lt acts as a hydrogeological boundary throwing Kimmeridge Clay to the south against Corallian
limestones to the north (Allen, D. J., et al,L997l.
Regionally, the bedrock strata dip at a shallow angle (1-2') towards the east.
The Cleveland Dyke is present across the North York Moors. The dyke is an intrusive Tertiary dolerite dyke, which
stretches from Fylingdales Moor approximately 10km north of EB-A, towards the northwest to Middlesbrough
and beyond. The Cleveland Dyke willact as a barrierto groundwaterflow in this area.
3.4 HydrogeologicalDescription
The hydrogeology relating to the proposed disposal of produced water fundamentally comprises two systems: an
upper system containing relatively fresh, recently recharged groundwater with a resource value; and a deep
system containing extremely low quality formation water with no resource value. ln order to differentiate
between these two systems, the following descriptions have been applied:
Groundwater That water which occurs in the strota above the Triassic Mercia Mudstone ond
can be reasonably ottributed to relotively geologically recent recharge and
which would reosonably be considered to be wholesome (potable) unless it hs
been contaminated (altered) by anthropogenic activity
Aqur
Produced water
The strata that contains groundwater as defined above
The water (brine) produced
from
the gos production
formation
in association
with the extraction and seporotion of gas or the development of the well
Formatonwoter The water (brine) within the gas production or proposed disposal horizons
which con reasonably be considered os connate, or sourced
from
geologically
otd recharge
Water bearing
formoton
A geological unit (or
formation)
which contoins
formation
water
The terms "Groundwatef and "Aquifef can be taken to mean the same as that intended by the WFD and
GWDD. The terms "produced wate/', "formation wate'' and "water bearing formation" are terms commonly
used in the oil and gas development industry and are used in this context to differentiate from groundwater
systems.
Based on the UlffAG groundwater body definition given in Section 2.3, the description of aquifer and
groundwater used in this assessment is directly analogous to a groundwater body with a resource value. Similarly,
the depth and salinity of the water bearing formations defines them as having no resource value and are
therefore not groundwater bodies.
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The hydrogeological setting of the area has been characterised primarily using information from the Environment
Agency publications
-
the physical properties of major aquifers in England and Wales (Allen, D. J., et al, 1997) and
the physieal properties of minor aquifers in England and Wales (Jones, H. K., et al, 2000).
3.4,1. Regional aquifer potential
The definitions above have been used to characterise aquifer potential within the top
-300m
of geology at
Ebberston Moor, which is considered to contain groundwater bearing formations of some resource value.
Principol Aquifers
The Chalk Group is absent at Ebberston Moor but is present approximately 15km to the southeast of EB-A, in the
North Yorkshire Wolds. The Corallian Group is at outcrop at several locations at Ebberston Moor including the
EB-A wellsite, where it is expected to have a thin saturated thickness and is underlain by the low permeability
Oxford Clay Formation. Both the Chalk and Corallian are considered groundwater bodies with major resource
value.
At Ebberston Moor, the Sherwood Sandstone Group is located over lkm below ground level and the Brotherton
and Cadeby Formations (formerly the Upper and Lower Magnesian Limestone, respectively) are at depths in
excess of 1.5 and 2km respectively. These formations are not considered to be groundwater bodies and contain
highly saline formation water of no resource value.
Secondary Aquifers
The Osgodby and Cornbrash formations and formations of the Ravenscar Group are present at depths up to
-300m
bgl at Ebberston Moor and have the potential to form secondary aquifers, which may be important for
local domestic, agricultural and industrial water supplies. As such these formations are considered to be
groundwater bodies with potential resource value.
3,4.2 Localaquiferpotential
At the EB-A wellsite, the Corallian Group is expected to have a thin saturated thickness. The Oxford Clay
Formation is a low permeability formation and is classed as unproductive strata; effectively separating the
Corallian from deeper aquifers and water bearing formations.
The Osgodby Formation is a Secondary aquifer of particular importance for agricultural supplies in the Vale of
Pickering and around Ampleforth, however, t is likely to be unsaturated at EB-A.
The Cayton Clay Formation is a low permeability formation and is classed as Unproductive. The Cornbrash
Formation is considered a Secondary aquifer but is very thin and low yielding.
The sandstones and limestones of the Ravenscar Group have some potential as aquifers, although groundwater
flow is likely to be restricted by the numerous, interbedded, thin mudstone aquitards. All of the formations are
classed as Secondary aquifers. The top of the Ravenscar Group is approximately 140m below ground level at EB-A.
The shallowest formations; the Scalby and Scarborough Formations, are considered to be viable aquifers,
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however the deeper underlying formations are unlikely to provide any significant quantities of water due to their
depth.
Beneath the Ravenscar Group, the Secondary aquifers of the Dogger Formation and the Lias Group will act as
Unproductive strata at this location due to their depth. The base of the Lias Group is approximately 731m below
ground level. The Penarth Group is classed as Unproductive and the Mercia Mudstone Group Secondary aquifer
will again also act as Unproductive strata at this location due to its depth. The base of the Mercia Mudstone
Group is approximately 1065m bglat EB-A.
3.4,3 SherwoodSandstone
This focus of this report is on the Shenvood Sandstone geological formation, which is approximately 337m thick at
Ebberston Moor and is present beneath the Mercia Mudstone Group with a base elevation of approximately
L402m below ground level. The Sherwood Sandstone outcrop is approximately 40km to the southwest of EB-A at
its closest.
The Sherwood Sandstone is considered a Principal aquifer on a regional scale, where it is at or close to outcrop.
However, at Ebberston Moor the Sherwood
'sandstone
is present at depth and contains extremely saline
formation water. This means that it is not exploited for water or industrial supply (see Section 4). Recharge to the
sandstone at this depth is essentially non-existent, which is reflected in the quality of the formation water as
discussed below and in Section 5.5.
The
-750m
of overlying unproductive Mercia Mudstone and low permeability formations of the Lias, hydraulically
separate the poor quality Sherwood Sandstone formation water from the shallow water bearing formations
containing low salinity, useful groundwater.
3.4.3.1 Permeability
Third Energy has provided information on the expected permeability ranges of the Sherwood Sandstone
formation based on their experience of the Sherwood Sandstone formation, at depth offshore. The geology of the
Sherwood Sandstone formation is similar offshore and Third Energy's experience is that the formation has good
permeability and "deliverabilt!/', that is flows and injection rates do not cause a problem. The average
"equivalent sand" (the effective permeable thickness) in the Hewett Field (southern North Sea) is around 150m of
net sand with porosities of 2Lo/o and a permeability of 500 mD (5 x 10 m/s*), with permeabilities of l@mD
(1x 10'6m/s*) being regularly reported (*estimated assuming t: 3OC ;
p: I200kgma). Onshore, at the time of writing
Third Energy reported that th only relevant local Sherwood Sandstone test that they have data for is on
Wyckham -1 which recovered from a drawdown of 700m in 120 mins, back to original pressure, indicating a
"good permeability''.
The BGS has published an article on hypothetical injection of COz into the Sherwood Sandstone in East
Lincolnshire (Bricker, S. H., et al,20I2l, As part of the study, a model was constructed using an input value for the
hydraulic conductivity of the deep Shenrood Sandstone of 0.18m/day (2 x 10-6 m/s). The article states that, while
the proportion of lower permeability beds may be greater at depth, the presence of high permeability horizons in
the deep saline Shenvood Sandstone should be anticipated.
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It is therefore considered that the bulk permeability (hydraulic conductivity) of the Sherwood Sandstone is likely
to be in the order of 1- 5 x 10'6 m/s.
3.4.3.2 Formation water quality
The quality of water obtained from the Sherwood Sandstone depends on the distance from outcrop and the
depth. Groundwater in the deep part of formation is generally much older and has a more evolved chemistry
than that in the shallow aquifer. The water at depth has had longer to equilibrate with the formation material,
including the fine sediments and matrix cements. Down the stratal dip, cationic exchange processes operate and
the water quality eventually deteriorates to a "strong impotable sodium chloride type" (Allen, D. J., et al, L9971.
While there is a notable transition in hydraulic properties from outcrop to the deep saline formation, there is no
evidence to suggest the presence of a geological structure that physically separates the deep saline part of the
formation from groundwater resources close to outcrop (Bricker, S. H., et al,2Ot2).
The transition from fresh, good quality water to older water of increased salinity varies regionally in position from
south to north along the outcrop area. Salinities in the Sherwood Sandstone are lower in the south and increase
to the north.
ln the Nottingham area salinities remain low for over 10km beneath the confining Mercia Mudstone Group. A
borehole at Newton on Trent, 10km from the aquifer outcrop, yields good quality water but 20 to 30km east at
Lincoln, the water is old and saline. The chemical transition moves from 30km from outcrop in the
Nottinghamshire area to only a few kilometres from outcrop in North Yorkshire.
The Sherwood Sandstone beneath EB-A is approxmately 40km from outcrop and the formation water is
therefore expected to be unwholesome and saline, as discussed further in Section 5.5.
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4 PROTECTED RIGHTS
Details of licensed and deregulated abstractions within a 70km radius of EB-A have been obtained from the
Environment Agency; and private water supplies within a 10km radius of EB-A have been obtained from Ryedale
District Council and Scarborough Borough Council. Details of boreholes and wells within a 10km radius have also
been obtained from the BGS database.
4.1 LicensedAbstractions
Based on a search of the Environment Agency licensed abstraction database, there are 16 licensed abstraction
sources within a 10km radius. Of these, 3 are surface water abstractions and 13 are groundwater abstractions. All
of the nearby groundwater abstraction licences are for the abstraction of water from the superficial deposits or
the Jurassic Corallian and Ravenscar Groups. The closest licensed groundwater abstraction is approximately
1.9km to the south of EB-A.
Details of licensed abstractions have also been obtained up to a 70km radius from EB-4. This is so that the whole
of the outcrop area of the Sherwood Sandstone is included in the search. The licensed abstractions from the
Sherwood Sandstone are located on or very close to the outcrop; the closest abstraction being approximately
35km to the southeast of EB-A.
The locations of the licensed surface water and groundwater abstractions are provided on Figures 6 and 7
4.2 DeregulatedLicences
Based on a search of the Environnlent Agency deregulated licence database, there are 39 deregulated licences
within a 10km radius. There are no aquifer details provided, however based on the locations of the deregulated
licences, it is expected that they all target the Jurassic age strata; the Corallian Group, Kellaways Formation and
Ravenscar Group. The closest deregulated licence is approximately 1.9km to the northeast of EB-A.
The locations of the deregulated licences are presented on Figure 8.
4.3 Private Water Supplies (<2Oms/day)
A search of Ryedale District and Scarborough Borough Council's registers of private water supplies has been
undertaken and shows that there are 67 registered Private Water Supplies within a 10km radius of EB-A. Of these,
45 are surface water abstractions and 22 are groundwater abstractions.
Based on the locations of the groundwater abstractions, it is expected that they all abstract water from the
Jurassic age strata; the Corallian Group, Kellaways Formation and Ravenscar Group. The closest groundwater
abstraction is approximately 1.1km to the southwest of EB-A.
It is recognised that the registers of private water supplies may be incomplete and that unrecorded supplies may
exist at outlyng properties in the vicinity of EB-A. Any supplies would again be likely to target superficial deposits
or Jurassic age strata.
The locations of the identified surface water and groundwater abstractions are provided on Figure 9.
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4.4 BGS Boreholes and Wells Database
There are 72 boreholes on the BGS database located within a 10km radius. Some of these boreholes/wells
correspond with the abstractions identified above. Of the boreholes/wells within the 10km radius, 5 target the
superficial deposits, 34 target the Corallian Group, 2 target the Kellaways Formation and Oxford Clay Formation
and 8 target the Ravenscar Group.
There are 8 exploration boreholes within 10km of the centre of the site. There are !7 confidential records;
however 8 of these are described as springs. The closest confidential record is located approximately 2.2km from
the EB-A wellsite.
The locations of the BGS records are presented on Figure 10.
4.5 Source Protection Zones
Source Protection Zones (SPZs) are used as a general level of protection for all drinking water sourcet identifying
those areas close to drinking water sources where the risk associated with groundwater contamination is
greatest. SPZs are an important tool for identiing highly sensitive groundwater areas and for focusing control or
advice beyond the general groundwater protection measures applied to aquifers as a whole. Bespoke SPZs have
been developed around all major abstraction sources (boreholes and springs) used for human consumption or
food use, whether for public water supply or not. All sources intended for human consumption without a bespoke
SP( have at least a default SPZ1 (see
below) of a 50m radius.
SPZs have three subdivisions:
SPZ1 (lnner protection zone)
50-day travel time from any point below the water table to the abstraction source. This zone has a
minimum radius of 50 metres. SPZ1 represents the immediate area around a borehole where
remediation of pollution is unlikely to be achievable within available timescales, such as in less than 50
days.
SPZ2 (Outer protection zone)
400-day travel time from a point below the water table. This zone has a minimum radius of 250 or 500
metres around the abstraction source, depending on the size of the abstraction.
SPZ3 (Source catchment protection zone)
The area around an abstraction source within which all groundwater recharge is presumed to be
discharged at the abstraction source.
There are two SPZs within 10km of EB-A. The closest is the Scarborough SPZ; located
just
to the south of EB-A at
its nearest point (Figure 11 & 12). The SPZ has recently been redefined by the Environment Agency and is defined
for four licences abstracting from the Corallian Limestone Aquifer south of Scarborough. Three of these
abstractions are for public supply while the fourth supplies a McCains factory, a major employer in the area. All of
these abstractions are either located in or close to the confined section of the Corallian Limestone aquifer.
The drinking water supply for Scarborough is obtained solely from the Corallian, which has some of the highest
groundwater velocities of any aquifer in the Yorkshire Area. The Corallian has a high resource value and the
sensitivity of the aquifer and water supplies it supports is very high.
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The second SPZ is located near Pickering and is centred on abstractions located
just
within the confined section of
the Corallian Limestone aquifer (approximately 12km from EB-A).
There are numerous SPZs located within 70km of EB-A, associated with abstractions from the Chalk Group,
Corallian Group, Ravenscar Group, Sherwood Sandstone Group and Permian limestones. The closest'Shenryood
Sandstone SPZ is iocated approximately 50km from EB-{ along the outcrop area.
I
I
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5 WATER
QUATTTY
This section considers the quality of the produced water, the proposed injection water and formation water in the
Triassic Shenlood Sa ndstone.
5.1 PollutingSubstances
Under the GWD, polluting substances were determined as List I or List ll substances but are re-classified under the
GWDD as either 'hazardous' or 'non-hazardous'. Broadly speaking, this designation distinguishes between
substances on the basis of their toxicity, persistence, and bioaccumulation.
JAGDAG has developed on their original methodology for List I and List ll substance determination to fulfil the
requirements of the WFD and the GWDD, which was finalised following consultation. The resulting list of
substances determined as hazardous and non-hazardous are provided in Appendix D, which also shows the
pollutant family/group of each individual substance as defined in Annex Vlll of the WFD.
It is important to note that whether a substance is hazardous or non-hazardous, it only poses a risk when it is
present at or above a certan concentration. The concept of 'resource protection values' sets out threshold values
above which a substance would constitute a risk. There is not however an exhaustive list of threshold values and
those available originate from several standards including EC and UKdrinking water standards, the WHO Drinking
Water Quality Guidelines and US EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations. A list based on literature from
the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency is provided in Appendix E.
5.2 Associated (KA Water
Third Energy UK Gas is currently producing gas from wells targeting the KAF at Kirby Misperton in the Vale of
Pickering; approximately 15km southwest of EB-A. The water produced from the wells is considered
representative of the produced water that would be obtained from producing wells targeting the KAF at
Ebberston Moor.
It is not possible to obtain samples of the produced water from the production wells in the Vale of Pickering prior
to gas separation and addition of additives. However, a sample of the injection water was obtained on 21$ May
2013 from a location after the gas separator and prior to injection (see Section 5.4 below). The injection water
differs from the produced water only in it contains trace quantities of additives, as described in the sections
below.
5.3 Separation&IniectionAdditives
The gas separation and injection process introduces the following chemical additives:
o
Corrtreat, a corrosion inhibitor required to prevent corrosion of the transfer pipeline and the injection
wellcasing; and
o
Glycol, used to avoid hydrates forming in choke and flow lines.
Full COSHH sheets for the above additives are presented as Appendix F. Corrtreat contans up to 10% quaternary
ammonium chloride (CAS No. 68391-01-5),Llo/oDi-/Triamine ethoxylate and5% 2-Butoxy ethanol (CAS No.
Lll-76-2l.Glycol contains up to 1OO% Ethanediol (CAS No. tO7-zL-tl.
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None of these additives (or constituents) are classed as hazardous substances as defined by the EU but all are
harmful to the environment in sufficient quantities. However, only very low quantities (approximately 2litres/day)
of both additives need to be added to the produced water.
5,4 IniectionWater
The sample of injection water has been analysed in the RPS Mountainheath laboratory for a basic chemistry suite
and EU defined hazardous and non-hazardous substances. The results are provided in Appendix G, while Table 2
presents the principal components of the water.
Table 2 Major Cations, Anions and General Chemistry of Produced Water
The results are indicative of a deep formation water and confirm that the production water is highly saline and of
extremely low quality. Salt concentrations are greater than would be found in seawater (Hem 1985) and pH is
slightly acidic.
Table 3 gives a summary of the main hydrocarbon analyses and shows that the production water contains in the
region of 7.Amgfl of hydrocarbons, which is consistent with the fact that the production water is from a
hyd rocarbon reservoir.
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gt
t2l2 Density
mgll 349000 Total Dissolved Solids
pS/cm 208000 Conductivity
mgll 84000 Sodium
< 0.10 pgl Mercury
pgl 220 Manganese
mell 0.32 Iron
mell 6700 Calcium
mcll 620 Magnesium
mgll 5300 Potassium
pgll I1.0 Zinc
ttdl
<2.0 Copper
pdl 63.0 Aluminium
mc/l 1050 Sulphate
mdl < 100.0 Phosphate
ms/l < 1000.0 Nihate
mP/l < 1000.0 Nitrite
me/I
<
100.0 Fluoride
mgl 170000 Chloride
mgllNH3 46.9 Ammonia
pH units 5.6 pH
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Table 3 Diesel& Petrol Range Organics plus Mineral Oils
5.5 Sherwood Sandstone Formation Water
A literature review has been carried out to ascertain the likely quality
of the formation water within the Shenvood
Sandstone formation on a regional basis. The literature review has been supported by sampling and analysis of
the Sherwood Sandstone formation water locally during drilling operations at Ebberston-B wellsite (EB-B), which
is located approximately 4km east of EB-A.
As discussed in Section 3,4.3.2, the quality of formation water within the Shenruood Sandstone deteriorates with
distance from the outcrop. At EB-A, the formation water is likely to be extremely low quality and unwholesome,
as is the case at EB-B.
5.5.1 Salinity
The Environment Agency and BGS water quality baseline report on the Triassic Shenvood Sandstone in the Vale
of York (Shand, P., et al, 2002) states that the aquifer becomes progressively finer grained in a northerly direction
in comparison with the sandstone further south around Nottingham. The finer grained nature of the aquifer has
had a significant effect on its baseline chemistry producing groundwater with a higher salinity. This is most likely
due to reduced natural circulation and transmissivity related to the finer grain size of the aquifer sediments and
the preservation of grain cements which would have been lost in coarser grained sediments.
The Cleethorpes No.1 well is a geothermal
exploration well drilled in Cleethorpes (approximately 90km southeast
of EB-A and 50km from the closest outcrop). A report has been written by the BGS (Downing, R.A, et al, L985)
that includes the quality of the water in the deep Shenruood Sandstone. The report states that the water had a
temperature of 53"C and it was a brine with a salinity of 35-S09,/l (35,000
-
80,000 mg/l).
Chemical analysis of the deep Shenood Sandstone formation water is provided in the report and summarised in
Table 4 below.
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psll 7400 TPH alilaro
gl
3800 aromatic C5-C35
pgl 3600 aliphatic C5-C35:
gl
<
1.0 aromatic C2l-C35
pdl 5.9 aromatic Cl6-C2l
pgl 72 aromatic Cl2-Cl6
gl
120 aromatic Cl0-Cl2:
pdl 940 aromatic C8-Cl0:
gl
I 100 aromatic C7-C8
pgl 1600 aromatic C5-C7:
pgl IJ aliphatic C2l-C35
pgl 75 aliphatic Cl6-C2l
gl
550
aliphatic Cl2-Cl6
gl
820 aliphatic Cl0-Cl2:
pgl 610 aliphatic C8-Cl0:
pgl 1200 aliphatic C6-C8
pdl 280 aliphatic C5-C6
Units Result Determinand
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N/A 78,800 80,200 44,200 56,300 35,300 Total Dissolved Solids
I 0.95 0.18 Barium
N/A 7.7
Silicon
I 3.2
0.81 Boron
0.0s 0.43
Manganese
0.2 <0.3
Iron
N/A 0.s l
0.33 Iodine
N/A 54 34 Bromide
250 45,200 43,600 19,700 30,200 18,200 Chloride
250 3420 33 10 648 3940 3 180 Suphate
N/A 48 5l.3 1.27 43.2 3l Strontium
N/A 4.6 4.85 <0.2
3.8 2.2 Lithium
50 480 558 <0.6
467 326 Magnesium
2s0 2120 2080 1600 2170 ll70 Calcium
l2 375 2150 21300 670 123 Potassium
200 27,100 28,400 994 18,800 I 1,700 Sodium
EQS Gas Lift Test
Core3
1306.0m
Drilling Fluid
Core2
1204.4m
Core I
1ll2.8m
Parameter
Table 4 Cleethorpes No.1 Well ChemicalAnalysis (allvalues in mg/l)
Compared against the relevant EQS, the water in the Shenvood Sandstone formation at this location is
unwholesome and representative of a NaCl brine, with evidence of Gypsum dissolution resulting n elevated
CaSO+ concentrations.
A salini contour map (expressed as total dissolved solids) is provided in another BGS report (Gale, 1.N., et al,
1933). Based on the map, the salinity at EB-A is shown to be 150,000mg/1, which is an order of magnitude higher
than that provided for the Cleethorpes No.1" well in Table 4. The same reference provides information on the post
Carboniferous rocks of the East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire Basin. The report states that water deteriorates with
distance from the outcrop. Approximately 60km from outcrop in Lincolnshire, a total dissolved solids (TDS)value
of t2,SO}mgll has been measured and in Yorkshire approximately 50km from outcrop, a value of 176,500m9/l
was recorded. The Lincolnshire TDS value broadly corresponds with the TDS values provided in Table 4. EB-A is
approximately 40km from outcrop, therefore a similar value is expected to that of the Yorkshire TDS value.
The University of Leeds has published an article on the determination of the source of saline groundwater in the
unconfined Sherwood Sandstone in Selby (Bottrell, S.H., et al, 2006). While the quality of water in the unconfned
part of the aquifer is usually good, saline intrusion has occurred at Selby due to the rapid drawdown in water
levels since the 1980's. The study found that the isotopic compositions of seawater sulphate, Coal Measures brine
and Permian evaporite sources do not match that associated with salinity in the Selby wellfield. The source of
saline water was found to match the isotopic composition of Triassic evaporates in the overlying Mercia
Mudstone. The study suggests that a Triassic evaporate sulphate isotopic'fingerprint' could be present in evolved
saline groundwater in the deep confined formation, gained by long term interaction between water and
evaporate minerals in the sandstone sequence. This suggests that the sandstone formation water and associated
salinity is very old (geologically old) and is not associated with geologically recent interaction with the surface.
Bottrell, S.H., et a\,2O06, also state that deep brines derived by dissolution of underlying Permian evaporates do
occur in the Sherwood Sandstone further north in Cleveland, where hydraulic continuity is provided by fracturing
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of the intervening marl units. The location of the Ebberston Moor site close to Cleveland, may mean that the
underlying Permian evaporates have a greater influence at this site than further south around Selby. Again, this
confirms the likely geologically
old saline formation waters in the deep sandstone sequence.
5,5.2 Hydrocarbons
Three exploration wells in the Vale of Pickering (Fordon-l, Kirby Misperton-2 and Kirby Misperton-S) have all
recorded hydrocarbon shows at the top ofthe Shenryood Sandstone. A hydrocarbon show is the general term for
the measurement of hydrocarbons in a gaseous state (e.g. methane, ethane, propane, etc) or the observation of
hydrocarbons in a liquid state (oil and condensate)whilst a well is being drilled.
lnspection of rock chips under natural light may reveal oil or condensate to be seeping out of the rock chips. The
oil or condensate can also be forced to seep out of the rock chips by the application of a solvent (e.g.
CHCIg). To
enhance the observation of oil or condensate, ultra-violet light can be used because oil and condensate give a
fluorescent response under ultraviolet light, whch makes it easier to see the oil or gas.
The Forden-l well is located approximately 20km southeast of EB-A. The record states that there were traces of
oil in cuttings and traces of bitumen in core. Further description is also given: bil staining in sandy siltstones
apparently slight' and 'oil not obvious in solution of CHCI except under fluorescence,.
Kirby Misperton is located approximately 15km southwest of EB-A. The Kirby Misperton-2 well record states that
there is hydrocarbon staining at the top of the Sherwood Sandstone and there is 'LO-20% moderate bright yellow
fluorescence with slow strong milky white cut'. The Kirby Misperton-S well record states that there is occasional
pale yellow direct fluorescence close to the top of the Shenvood Sandstone.
5.5.3 Anais Results
Samples were collected from a Third Energy exploration well on 21 August 2013 at depths of 1131m and 1141m
bgl. Full results are provided in Appendix H and Table 5 provides a summary of the key determinands. These
results show the Shenruood Sandstone formation water is of extremely low quality, which is consistent with the
literature review and on that basis the results are considered representative.
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Table 5 Major cations, Anions and General hemistry of Shenrood Sandstone Formation Water
Table 6 gives a summary of the main hydrocarbon analyses and shows that the formation water in the Shenrvood
Sandstone contains in the region of 0.5
-
L.2mgll of naturally occurring hydrocarbons, which is consistent with
the fact that the Sherwood Sandstone is a hydrocarbon reservoir on a regional scale.
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I 100 l 100 Density
gt
mgl 180000 190000 Total Dissolved Solids
pS/cm 250000 260000 Conductiv
Sodium mdl 61000 65000
1.99 Mercury
pdl
.25
620 Manganese tLdl 600
8.9 Iron msll 17.0
2100 2100 Calcium mell
mgll 3t0 440 Magnesium
mell 6900 5700 Potassium
Zinc tLgl
350 340
Copper ttdl 390 220
79 Aluminium tLdl 200
12600 Sulphate msll I 1600
<100 <100
Phosphate mell
mg/l <100 <100
Nitrate
mg/l <3000 <3000
Nitrite
Fluoride mell <100 <100
108000 Chloride mg/l 101000
l3 l3 Ammonia me/lNH3
pH units 6.3 6.7
pH
@
frIE NtrltEiltEltt
MTI
[I
ru
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pgl 462.6 1220.4 TPH aliphatic/aromatic:
pgn 53.6 198.4 aromatic C8-C35:
pdl 409 1022 aliphatic C8-C35:
Itgl
30.0 79.0 aromatic C2l-C35
pgl 8.3 3s.0 aromatic Cl6-C2l
ttgl
14.0 77.0 aromatic Cl2-Cl6:
gl
1.3 7.4 aomatic Cl-Cl2;
ell
<0.1 <0.1 aromatic C8-Cl0
pgl ll0 200 aliphatic C2l-C35
pdr 110 200 aliphatic Cl6-C2l:
ps[ 160 550 aliphatic Cl2-Cl6:
pgl 29.0 72.0 aliphatic Cl0-C12:
ttgl
<0.1 <0.1 aliphatic C8-Cl0:
Table 6 Diesel & Petrol Range Organics plus Mineral Oils in the Shenrood Sandstone
5.6 SeaWaterQuality
In order to provide
a contelt of the salinity of the produced
water from the Sherwood Sandstone formation, a
comparson has been made to the salinity of the North Sea.
The Royal Beian lnstitute of Natural Sciences provides
monitorng data on the salinity of the North Sea. Data
collected from their website (www.naturalsciences.be)
shows that the salinity (total dissolved solids) is in order of
34000 to 35,000 mg/|. This is consistent with data provided from the Environment Agency at Fixed Offshore
Monitoring Point No.2, at Scarborough.
5,7 ComparisonofWaterles
Table 7 gives a summary of the main constituents of the two different waters with a comparison of the North Sea
salinity. The results show that the KAF water is approximately two times more saline than the Shenrood
Sandstone formation water, owing to a hher concentration of sodium chloride. However, this is within the
context of both waters having total dissolved solids concentration (TDS) in excess of 18Q000mg/1. Both waters
show snificant amounts of naturally occurring hydrocarbons, with the produced
water showing more, as would
be expected. The produced
water and Sherwood Sandstone formation water are 10 and 5 times more saline than
the North Sea, respectively.
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Table 7 Comparison of Produced, Formation and Sea Waterc
psll
841 7400 TPH alilaro:
3800 aromatic C8-C35:
Itgll
t26
pgll 715 3600 aliphatic C8-C35:
sll
6.3 5.3 Potassium
6.7 Calcium
sll
2.1
ell
63 84 Sodium
sll
t2.t 1.05 Sulphate
Chloride
sll
t7 -20
104.5 t70
sll
I 100 1212 Density
cll
34-35 180 349 TDS
208000 Conductivity
rS/cm
50000
255000
W
TN
@
mffi
W
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