ISSN:
1745-6584
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Energy, Environment Protection, Nuclear Power Engineering
,
Geosciences
Notes:
Vast deposits of oil shale are contained in the Piceance basin in northwestern Colorado. The basin may contain as much as 40 million acre-feet of stored water associated with these deposits, much of which may have to be drained for mining. Yet, most analyses of watersupply for oil-shale development have focused on surface water with only brief mention of ground water.This study used a synthetic streamflow model to investigate the effects of using conservative estimates of ground water on the required active storage capacity of a hypothetical reservoir on the White River. Results of the study indicate that use of ground water from mine drainage and/or auxiliary wells may have a significant impact on the size and timing of surface-water reservoirs. Thus, ground water may be an important source of supply, particularly during early development of an oil-shale industry. The study results strongly suggest that further investigations are needed on the physical availability of ground water as well as the institutional, legal and waterquality constraints on its use.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6584.1983.tb00747.x
