Characterisation of natural radioactivity in Karoo Basin groundwater prior to shale gas exploration

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dc.contributor.advisorLindsay, R.
dc.contributor.advisorNewman, R.T.
dc.contributor.advisorMaleka, P.P.
dc.contributor.authorBotha, Ryno
dc.date.accessioned2017-06-30T11:10:06Z
dc.date.accessioned2024-10-30T10:23:18Z
dc.date.available2017-08-31T22:10:05Z
dc.date.available2024-10-30T10:23:18Z
dc.date.issued2017
dc.descriptionMagister Scientiae - MScen_US
dc.description.abstractThe prospect of unconventional shale-gas development in the Karoo Basin (South Africa) has created the need to obtain baseline data on natural radioactivity in Karoo groundwaters. The Karoo Basin groundwater radiological baseline developed through this study could serve as a reference to research potential future radiological contamination effects due to hydraulic fracturing. The major naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) studied was radon (222Rn), in particular in-water activity concentrations; however, supplementary radium (226Ra and 228Ra) in-water activity concentrations and uranium (238U) in-water concentrations measurements were also made. A total of 53 aquifers across three provinces were sampled for groundwater and measured, with three measurement series from 2014 to 2016. The aquifers were categorized as shallow, mixed, or deep source. The radon-in-water baseline of the Karoo Basin can be characterised by a minimum of 0.6 ± 0.9 Bq/L, a maximum of 183 ± 18 Bq/L and mean of 41 ± 5 Bq/L. The radon-in-water levels from shallow sources (with water temperature < 20 °C) were systematically higher (40 Bq/L) than for deep sources (with water temperature > 20 °C). The natural fluctuations in radon-in-water levels were predominantly associated with shallow aquifers compared to almost none observed in the deep sources. The uranium in-water baseline can be characterised by a minimum of below detection level, a maximum of 41 μg/L, and the mean of 5.10 ± 0.80 μg/L. Similar to radon-in-water levels, uranium in-water levels for shallow sources were systematically higher than for deep sources. The limited (six aquifers) radium (228Ra and 226Ra) in-water activity-concentration measurement results were very low, with a maximum of 0.008 Bq/L (226Ra) and 0.015 Bq/L (228Ra). The 228Ra/226Ra ratio baseline were characterised by a minimum of 0.93, a mean of 3.3 ± 1.3, and a maximum of 6.5. The radium isotopes’ activity concentration ratio is an isotopic tracer for hydraulic fracturing wastewater. Pollution and contamination (radiological), due to unconventional shale gas development, in water resources has been noticed in the Marcellus Basin (United States). Consequently, developing and improving continuous baseline monitoring are of importance to study the environmental radiological effect of hydraulic fracturing.
dc.identifier.citationBotha, R. (2017). Characterisation of natural radioactivity in Karoo Basin groundwater prior to shale gas exploration. MSc. University of the Western Capeen_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10566/16615
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherUniversity of the Western Capeen_US
dc.rights.holderUniversity of the Western Capeen_US
dc.subjectKaroo Basin
dc.subjectHydraulic fracturing
dc.subjectBaseline
dc.subjectRadon
dc.subjectGroundwater
dc.titleCharacterisation of natural radioactivity in Karoo Basin groundwater prior to shale gas explorationen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US

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