Flowback Water Treatment in the Permian Basin: A Case Study for a Large Oil/Gas Exploration Company

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Flowback Water Treatment in the Permian Basin: A Case Study for a Large Oil/Gas Exploration Company

Produced water from the extraction process of oil and gas reserves, as well as flow back water from hydraulic fracturing operations, must be properly managed in order to mitigate any environmental impacts to existing water supplies caused by oil drilling/fracturing activities.

Recent research and data indicate that the amount of produced water from these energy exploration and drilling operations in the Permian basin in TX/NM, USA alone is between 9 and 15 million barrels of water per day with volumes anticipated to be 75-90% increased within the next 10 years.

As energy exploration and extraction continue to grow in the US, the volume of water that will need to be treated will increase along with the requirements of appropriate flowback and produced water treatment solutions to maintain compliance with the environmental impacts on the existing water supplies in these areas of exploration.

The composition and chemistry of produced water is variable and can be complex due to the amounts of contaminants in each of the produced water streams and geographic areas.

Flowback & Produced water generally is composed of a brackish solution containing relatively high levels of dissolved minerals, certain heavy metals, salts and organic compounds and potential sulfur reducing bacteria’s (SRB’s).

The high levels of dissolved organic minerals, chemicals, salts and heavy metals require appropriate treatment solutions based on the intended use for the produced water. 

In certain cases, the produced water from these oil exploration operations can either be reused in the same well production process or it can be used for other applications, including agriculture/irrigation or other non potable applications based on economic feasibility.

Attached link

https://genesiswatertech.com/blog-post/produced-water-treatment-in-the-permian-basin-a-bench-case-study-for-a-large-oil-gas-exploration-company/

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