Oil & Gas Industry Advances Energy Water Initiative

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Oil & Gas Industry Advances Energy Water Initiative

U.S Oil and Gas Industry collaborates to advance Energy Water Initiative

World Water Dayis celebrated on March 22 each year. This year's theme W ater and Sustainable Development focuses on the importance of water to health, nature, urbanization, industry, energy, food, and equality.

Water and energy are connected—the two are inseparable resources because water is required to generate energy, and energy is needed to deliver water. The oil and gas industry understands this critical connection, which is why several energy companies are making it a top priority to seek solutions to study and improve the lifecycle water use and management in their industry.

In January, CH2M HILL published a report,U.S. Onshore Unconventional Exploration and Production Water Management Case Studies, for the Energy Water Initiative (EWI). The report synthesizes 12 case studies which represent a cross section of EWI member operations—spanning Arkansas, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming. The objectives of the case studies were two-fold: to illustrate the diverse, regional water resource challenges the industry faces and share innovative strategies and lessons learned that individual companies have developed to continually evolve stewardship practices with EWI's members and stakeholders.

EWI was formed in 2014 as a collaborative effort among participating members of the U.S. oil and gas industry to better understand and identify opportunities to improve the lifecycle water use, conservation, and management in U.S.-based upstream unconventional oil and natural gas exploration and production. Participants include:

The oil and gas industry has made significant progress to reduce demand on freshwater and improve the logistics around handling and disposing of water, and the reporthighlights real strategies to improve the industry's lifecycle water use and management. Case studies from the report illustrate six major water management trends, as well as established and emerging water treatment and handling technologies—like using brackish water, municipal and industrial wastewater, or recycled or reused produced water as alternatives to freshwater sources in upstream unconventional oil and natural gas exploration and production.

Other key water management trends highlighted in the report include:

  1. Development and improvement in fracturing chemistry enables industry to use non-freshwater sources
  2. Treatment technology innovation continues to make produced water reuse more feasible
  3. Improvements in water conveyance for gathering and distribution reduces truck traffic
  4. New water storage designs provide flexibility and reliability in alternate, non-freshwater sourcing
  5. Transparency improves relationships with communities, industry, and regulators
  6. Dedicated water staff within energy organizations improve water management planning, technical support, and performance

CH2M HILL is proud to be collaborating with this new and important energy industry sector to shape, promote, and apply emerging technologies and innovative solutions to help our clients address their water-energy nexus challenges and opportunities. Especially on World Water Day, as we consider the growing water crisis, we are reminded of the importance of leading progressive water management practices that reduce the use of freshwater and help the industry be stewards of our limited water supplies.

Source:CH2Mhill

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