The International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association (IPIECA) has developed a new fact sheet on evaluating the opportunities and challenges of reusing produced water for the onshore oil and gas industry. In recent years, the increased demand for, and regional variability of, available water resources, along with sustainable water supply planning, have driven interest in the reuse of produced water.
The fact sheet, in conjunction with other IPIECA water management guidance, is intended for oil and gas operators and contractors, policymakers, and other parties of interest to explore opportunities to reuse produced water.
The document discusses the sources of produced water, from conventional onshore oil and gas operations to unconventional operations, followed by summarising their common constituents and management methods, as well as discussing several successful produced water reuse applications.