Kris M. Bansal

Kris Bansal, PhD, SPE, is a consultant with expertise in developing optimum engineering solutions requiring system integration and interface with multiple disciplines from reservoir to the topsides in upstream operations. He retired as an Engineering Fellow from ConocoPhillips after 30 years of service in E&P. He spent a year at BP as a consultant providing technical support on produced water management issues in support of BP’s Gulf of Mexico operations. He also provided training in produced water management to BP’s engineers.

At ConocoPhillips, he was the global subject matter expert in upstream water management, providing technical and problem-solving expertise in ConocoPhillips worldwide operations to develop innovative, cost-effective, and environmentally sound solutions to process problems. He taught waterflood school and presented problem solving seminars for technology transfer to operations and engineering in ConocoPhillips.

Before joining ConocoPhillips, he spent 6 years in Saudi Aramco (Ghawar Field) in operations engineering and 3 years at Calgon Corporation in activated carbon R&D. Prior to joining industry, he spent 6 years in academic research at Carnegie-Mellon University and Han Meitner Institute of Nuclear Research in Germany.

Having earned an MS and PhD in physical chemistry and MS in chemical engineering, together with extensive experience in operations, he provides a unique combination of fundamental knowledge with firsthand practical experience to organizations. He can be reached at krismbansal@yahoo.com.

Water management

Mastering Produced-Water Management in Deepwater GOM: 25 Years of Insights—Part 2

This article is the second of a two-part series on produced-water management in the Gulf of Mexico and covers four themes: equipment, process configuration, operations, and effluent quality.

March 6, 2025 • Kris M. Bansal • Oil and Gas Facilities
Water management

Mastering Produced-Water Management in Deepwater GOM: 25 Years of Insights—Part 1

This first of a two-part series provides guidelines for designing and operating advanced produced-water systems on offshore platforms, covering fluid characterization, chemical treatment, equipment, process configuration, operations, and effluent quality.

October 7, 2024 • John M. Walsh • Oil and Gas Facilities
Water management

A Reassessment of the Role of Colloidal Iron in Produced Water From Shale Operations—A Review of Field Data and Literature (Part B)

This paper is the second of a two-part series. It covers facilities problems caused by iron, injectivity problems caused by iron, and the mitigation of colloidal iron-related problems.

November 24, 2021 • John M. Walsh • Oil and Gas Facilities
Water management

A Reassessment of the Role of Colloidal Iron in Produced Water From Shale Operations—A Review of Field Data and Literature (Part A)

A review of the properties of iron compounds and their impact in shale produced water treatment with an emphasis on their colloidal forms. A wide range of problems is associated with these compounds in produced water including emulsion stabilization, oil-coated solids, pad formation in separators, pipeline solids, and plugging of water disposal formations.

September 20, 2021 • John M. Walsh • Oil and Gas Facilities