Challenge

Pioneer Natural Resources (Pioneer) faced a legal challenge alleging brine contamination of a shallow aquifer due to oil production and injection wells. The case raised concerns over potential water quality degradation impacting local irrigation wells, requiring thorough investigation and expert testimony.

Solutions

DBS&A provided expert litigation support, offering detailed analyses across several key areas, including:

• Assessment of oil well integrity and the risk of brine migration along abandoned boreholes.
• Evaluation of potential over-drilling or over-pumping of irrigation wells.
• Comparison of regional water chemistry to local water quality, and analysis of irrigation well capture zones.
• Calculation of produced water travel times to irrigation wells and the role of over-irrigation and focused recharge from playa lakes in water quality degradation.

Additionally, we evaluated the reliability of laboratory and field techniques used in water sample analysis, identifying errors and clarifying the actual impact on irrigation wells.

Results

Our in-depth technical analysis provided the foundation for dismissing the case, as the plaintiffs ultimately chose not to pursue the matter further, highlighting the robustness of our findings and expertise.