Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in waters associated with oil and gas development in the Denver Basin

Matthew S. Varonka; Aaron M. Jubb; Bonnie McDevitt; Jenna L. Shelton; Elliott P. Barnhart; Denise M. Akob; Isabelle M. Cozzarelli

doi:10.1038/s41598-025-33394-9

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in waters associated with oil and gas development in the Denver Basin

Scientific Reports

By: Matthew S. Varonka, Aaron M. Jubb, Bonnie McDevitt, Jenna L. Shelton, Elliott P. Barnhart, Denise M. Akob, and Isabelle M. Cozzarelli

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-33394-9

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Abstract

Use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the petroleum industry could be a cause for concern due to the large volumes of produced water (PW) generated during oil and gas extraction, the reuse of these wastes in water-stressed regions, and adverse health outcomes related to PFAS exposures. However, PW PFAS characterization is nearly absent in the literature, and hydraulic fracturing (HF) chemical disclosures often omit the identities of additives as proprietary. Here we evaluate PFAS in PW samples from three petroleum wells in the Denver Basin during their first year of production. Total concentrations of targeted PFAS (Σ₄₀PFAS) were < 35 ng/L in PW samples, with short-chain PFAS like perfluorobutanoic acid persisting throughout the sampled duration. Analysis of freshwater inputs for hydraulic fracturing (Σ₄₀PFAS ~ 113 ng/L) and mixed fracture fluid (Σ₄₀PFAS ~ 69 ng/L) indicated much of the targeted PFAS content was derived from the input water, and not from HF additives, however samples subjected to oxidation indicated the presence of PFAS precursors that would not be detected by targeted analysis. This study highlights that while PFAS content is low in the studied PWs, the potential for redistribution of PFAS in the environment may be a consideration for reuse applications.

Suggested Citation

Varonka, M., Jubb, A., McDevitt, B., Shelton, J.L., Barnhart, E.P., Akob, D., Cozzarelli, I.M., 2026, Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in waters associated with oil and gas development in the Denver Basin: Scientific Reports, v. 16, 5743, 8 p., https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-33394-9.

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Additional publication details
Publication type	Article
Publication Subtype	Journal Article
Title	Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in waters associated with oil and gas development in the Denver Basin
Series title	Scientific Reports
DOI	10.1038/s41598-025-33394-9
Volume	16
Publication Date	February 07, 2026
Year Published	2026
Language	English
Publisher	Springer Nature
Contributing office(s)	Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center
Description	5743, 8 p.
Country	United States
State	Colorado, Nebraska, Wyoming
Other Geospatial	Denver Basin