Water management
Ongoing seismicity concerns and orphan well risks are pushing operators and regulators to explore alternatives for managing produced water.
This paper describes a decision-support system that integrates field data, system specifications, and simulation tools to quantify system performance, forecast operational challenges, and evaluate the effect of system modifications in water management.
If there is a key takeaway as 2025 comes to a close, it is the new level of diligence and depth in water-management planning, along with a growing recognition of the need to invest in more complex methods and sophisticated technologies.
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The well count and completion intensity of US tight oil and gas operations have grown in recent years, and rising pressure from environmental regulations means that produced water management has become a key focus for operators. -
When surface water is scarce, communities and industries typically turn to groundwater to meet their freshwater needs. A new report from the Groundwater Protection Council indicates that produced water may be a new resource to reduce the use of fresh water for some of those needs.
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Operators are looking for ways to better handle water coming from subsea wells, which is typically treated at topside facilities. Subsea separation systems are not equipped to discharge water back into the reservoir, so how do companies close the gaps?
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The report details information obtained during the EPA’s outreach to stakeholders. The information in the report will help the EPA determine whether any future actions are appropriate to address oil and gas extraction waste water further.
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Oilfield wastewater disposal volumes are expected to double in the Permian Basin within the next 2 to 3 years, a new analysis from global energy intelligence firm Wood Mackenzie shows.
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A growing sector of water midstream companies is in the Permian Basin looking to take advantage of a business opportunity borne out of rising produced water volumes. Billion-dollar valuations for these companies in the near future could become a reality.
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Frac water disinfection experts become De Nora service arm in the unconventional oil and gas market.
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Operators in the Permian Basin are looking for new ways to handle the rising volumes of produced water coming out of the region without using saltwater disposal wells. One solution, treatment for discharge, could provide an efficient alternative.
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Management of produced water is driving subtle yet potentially consequential changes in certain regions. Contributing factors for seismicity and well pressurization, while different, share some elements. By assessing these common elements, partial risk profiles for both conditions can be assessed.
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Three papers selected from 2018 SPE ATCE look at the challenges and approaches to the treatment of increasing volumes of produced water.
