The primary objectives of this paper include identifying key challenges in managing produced water, assessing current produced-water treatment practices, identifying areas for improvement, and establishing an approach focusing on innovative sustainable solutions that benefit both the industry and the environment. In the case-studies section of the complete paper, the authors include detailed application case studies from Colombia and India (the latter is included in this synopsis).
Key Challenges in Managing Produced Water
Produced-water management presents a complex set of challenges that spans environmental, technical, economic, and regulatory areas, often requiring multifaceted treatment solutions. The following primary impediments faced in produced-water management are detailed in the complete paper:
- Variability in water composition
- High treatment costs
- Large flow volumes
- Environmental risks
- Regulatory compliance
- Limited disposal options
- Technological limitations
- Beneficial reuse obstacles
- Climate change considerations
Current treatment technologies include physical separation, chemical treatment, membrane filtration, thermal technologies, and biological treatment. Current disposal methods for produced water management in the US are diversified, with 46% of the water being disposed of, 41% reinjected, and 13% recycled.
