Description

Petroleum geomechanical activities including drilling, hydraulic fracturing, and reservoir compaction are among the primary contributors to soil degradation in hydrocarbon rich regions. These subsurface operations alter geomechanical stress regimes, disrupt soil structure, and create preferential pathways for the migration of hydrocarbons, heavy metals, and drilling fluids into terrestrial environments. This review synthesizes recent advances in both quantitative and qualitative assessment methods for evaluating petroleum-induced soil contamination. Quantitative approaches, such as soil sampling, geophysical and geochemical techniques, remote sensing, and coupled geomechanical modeling, provide spatial and temporal insights into pollutant distribution and mobility. Concurrently, qualitative evaluations based on ecotoxicological bioassays, microbial community profiling, and soil health indicators reveal the long term ecological implications of contamination. Case studies from major petroleum basins including the Niger Delta, the Permian Basin, and the Groningen gas field highlight the socioenvironmental consequences of geomechanical disturbances. The review further discusses emerging remediation strategies, including bioremediation, phytoremediation, and risk-based monitoring frameworks. It concludes by emphasizing the need for integrated, multidisciplinary approaches to assess, manage, and mitigate soil pollution in geomechanically active oil extraction zones.

Date Conducted

July 2025

Contributors

seyed mustafa davarpanah shahrie