U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

PROJECT SUMMARY SHEET

Solicitation Number: DE-PS26-04NT15460-00
Project Title: Utilization of Aquaculture for the Treatment of Process Water before Irrigation of Agricultural Crops and Well Location Restoration
Topic Area/ Program Area of Interest: DE-PS26-04NT15460-02 Topic 2: Produced Water Beneficial Use
Organization:
Board of Regents of The University of Arizona / Department, Division or Unit:
Soil, Water and Environmental Science
Organization Type: Small BusinessLarge BusinessNot-for-profit Public Educational InstitutePrivate Educational InstituteState or Local GovernmentFederal GovernmentOtherspecify if other:
DUNS Number: / Project Duration (months): 36
U.S. Congressional District of Organization: / County of Organization: Pima
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR (PI)
PI Name {Prefix, First, Middle, Last, Suffix}: NoneDr.Mr.Mrs.MissMsHon. Kevin M. Fitzsimmons NoneJr.IIIIIEsq.M.D.P.E.
PI Address:Environmental Research Lab
2601 E. Airport Drive
Tucson, AZ 85706- / PI Phone:520-626-3324 ext.
PI Fax: 520-573-0852
PI email:
BUSINESS OFFICER (BO)
BO Name {Prefix, First, Middle, Last, Suffix}: NoneDr.Mr.Mrs.MissMsHon. Kathy Bell NoneJr.IIIIIEsq.M.D.P.E.
BO Address:Environmental Research Lab
2601 E. Airport Drive
Tucson, AZ 85706- / BO Phone:520-626-3322 ext.
BO Fax:520-573-0852
BO email:

FUNDING REQUIREMENTS

Funding Source / Year 1 / Year 2 / Year 3 / Year 4 / Total
DOE Share / $ / $ / $ / $ / $
Applicant Share / $ / $ / $ / $ / $
Other () / $ / $ / $ / $ / $
Total / $ / $ / $ / $ / $

TEAM MEMBER 1

Name: Trenton Roberts / City & State Tucson, AZ / Cong. Dist.
Team Contribution:
TEAM MEMBER 2
Name: Dr. James Walworth / City & State Tucson, AZ / Cong. Dist.
Team Contribution:

TEAM MEMBER 3

Name: Dr. John Woiwode / City & State Jackson, WY / Cong. Dist.
Team Contribution:

TEAM MEMBER 4

Name: Gas guy / City & State Farmington, NM / Cong. Dist.
Team Contribution:
For more than 4 Team Members, please provide the above information after the abstract information below.
ABSTRACT OF PROJECT: In the space below include a public abstract of not more than one (1) single spaced typewritten page clearly stating the objectives of the proposed research, the title of the project, methodology, and sponsoring organization(s). This self-contained document, should be suitable for publication and identify objectives of the project, methods to be employed, and the potential impact of the project (i.e., benefits, out comes). It should be informative to other persons working in the same or related fields and, insofar as possible, understandable to a lay reader. This document must not include any proprietary or sensitive business information as the Department may make it available to the public.

Utilization of Aquaculture for the Treatment of Produced Water for Irrigation of Agricultural Crops and Well Location Restoration
Disposal of process water as a by-product from natural gas extraction is a significant environmental constraint to further gas development in the Western U.S. We propose to evaluate and demonstrate the potential of using small-scale aquaculture production units to alter the chemistry of proces water. During the processes of degassing and oxygenating water, feeding fish, and using biofilters during recirculation, aquaculture production water is stripped of nitrogen and sulfide gases, while nitrates, phosphates, and dissolved carbon compounds accumulate. Preliminary analyses and trials have shown that most process water is capable of supporting euryhaline species such as tilapia and catfish and low total dissolved solids (TDS) waters could support trout culture. Discharge waters from an aquaculture operation will have lower pH and elevated levels of nitrates, phosphates, dissolved organic carbon and organic suspended solids. These characteristics and nutrients will imporve the capacity of this water to be used as an irrigation source, even if TDS level are elevated above the level of the original process water. In cases with high levels of initial and final TDS, native halophytes can be used that will thrive on nutrient enriched saline water then be used for environmental restoration efforts and/or grazing by sheep, goats or cattle.
The present proposal, from the University of Arizona, proposes to construct a greenhouse at a producing well, install a convential low head oxygenator to strip gases and add oxygen to the process water and to then use the process water to rear fish and use the effluent to irrigate several crop and native plants. During the first year the greenhouse would be constructed, the plumbing installed, fish stocked and plants will be grown in lysimeter buckets inside the greenhouse. In year two, the fish culture will continue, greenhouse plant trials will continue. Outdoor trials with crop and native halophytes will be conducted. Water and soil quality parameters will be measured for years one and two. Fish and plant growth and survival will also be determined. In year three, greenhouse and field trials will be completed and an economic analysis will be prepared to determine the feasibility of making this a profitable enterprise. The results will be extended to the natural gas community, to the DOE sponsors, to Cooperative Extension and NRCS and the wider technical and scientific community
POINT OF CONTACT FOR COORDINATION, PREPARATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF PRESS RELEASES
Name: Kevin Fitzsimmons Title: Professor, Soil, Water and Environmental Science
Telephone No.:520-626-3324 E-Mail: