Environmental Impacts
Enhanced oil recovery wells typically produce large quantities of brine at the surface. The brine may contain toxic metals and radioactive substances, as well as being very salty. This can be very damaging to drinking water sources and the environment generally if not properly controlled.
In the United States, injection well activity is regulated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state governments under the Safe Drinking Water Act. EPA has issued Underground Injection Control (UIC) regulations in order to protect drinking water sources. Enhanced oil recovery wells are regulated as Class II wells by the EPA. The regulations require well operators to reinject the brine used for recovery deep underground in Class II Disposal Wells.
Read more about this topic: Enhanced Oil Recovery
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