Critical View of Technology Requirements
Overview• Energy issue with produced water and its associated costs
– Produced water and hydraulic fracturing flowback water is generally mineralized and contains particulates and dissolved organic compounds
– Water brought to the surface as part of the E&P operation– Depending on the source, the water amounts can be significant, such as
unconventional plays of coal bed methane or tight sands
• What are the different types of produced water?• Can produced water be recycled?• Is the drought in the Western US an issue with energy
development?• What issues need to be solved in the future?
Discussion Outline• Introduction• Volumes of produced water• Water conflicts with energy development• Role of agriculture• Cost implications• Summary
The global situation for water is not improving and will be an impediment to industrialized growth over time.
Water Use as a Function of Overall Water Management
Water Use in Western US
Agricultural Use
Municipal
Other
Fracking
What is the percentage of total fracking and energy development = 0.14% of total use in the US typical - (example is Colorado)
Largest use is Agricultural at 85% Second highest use is Municipal and Industrial at 7% All others is 8% This 0.14% equals the amount of water used on an annual basis
by the City of Denver.
So what is the issue? Can’t we get more water from Agriculture?
• Agricultural use is increasing
• Environmental groups are fighting fracking and energy development in general Agricultural use has to increase
• Municipal uses are increasing
• Oil and Gas can out bid all others
• Water from Agriculture will be a PR nightmare
Projected Water Shortages
Reference: USBR - Water 2025 Study
• Areas of red are water short
• Note that in the western US, there is an opportunity to utilize produced water for beneficial use
Projected Produced Water Volumes
Produced Water Volumes:
• US – 21 Bbbl/yr
• Wyo – 2.36 Bbbl/yr
• CO – 0.38 Bbbl/yr
• Ut – 0.15 Bbbl/yr
Recent data in Colorado suggests dramatic increase in volumes
Brackish Water in the US• Efforts to find new untapped water
supplies in the US• NAS study on desalination• Constraints are not the
technology, but the financial, environmental and social factors
• Participation is needed by all in the development of this resource to limit any significant issues associated with this treatment
Inland Desalination a Now-Attainable Solution
Saline Aquifers
Resources
Problem
• Drought is still an issue
• Energy Development can demand water in short supply
What is the impact of the drought on energy production?
Availability of water in Permian Basin with extended drought
Colorado River basin issues Municipal water supplies are stretched
alreadyLake JB Thomas 0.50% full
(0.1% 6 months ago)EV Spence Reservoir 5.1% full
(0.2% 6 months ago)OH Ivie Reservoir 20.7% full
Requirement for District is to supply water for drinking and public safety – water for E&P operations is not a concern and very limited at this point
“If you don’t have water, you can’t attract industry” – Guy Andrews – Economic Development Director – Odessa Texas
Full Reservoir
Current Conditions
Treatment Issues• Treatment to what
standard?• Frack water
makeup?• Discharge to a
surface water or tributary groundwater – 40 CFR 435
• Disposal is Class II injection well
• Disposal is surface water pond
Beneficial Use of Produced Water• Upper Colorado River Basin
(Green River Play) – at 2 bbl’s/MCF – 70,000,000 AF or potentially 500,000 to 1,000,000 AF per year
• Potential users are entities on the lower Colorado River Basin
• Need all entities within the Colorado River Basin to cooperate
• Discussions with State Engineers of the Upper Colorado River Basin
Produced Water as an Asset• Historically, produced water has been treated as a waste
product – Current methods of disposal – reinjection (Class II Injection
Wells), evaporation ponds and direct discharge – are being challenged due to adverse environmental impacts
• Plan to turn this wastewater into an asset - a marketable product - by:– Treating for surface discharge– Conceiving a unique water delivery system - augmenting
tributary water supplies with non-tributary water– Pioneering a path through the numerous legal and
regulatory obstacles
Ownership of Produced Water• Colorado Example
– Tributary – Non-Tributary Groundwater– HB 1303 – how does this apply in
Colorado– COGCC Rules (907)– State Engineer
• Agreement on non-tributary status (Fossil water in other states)
– CDPHE Technical Review, Permit and approval
– Landowner issue– Water Rights & Court
• Other Western States– Prior appropriation– First in Use – First in Right
Permitting Requirements
Example Projects• Wellington Colorado
Project – Ag irrigation and hydraulic fracturing make up water
• CBM Project – Wyoming – water reuse and sale of produced water as augmentation water on the Colorado River
• Energy – Carbon Capture Project Wyoming – recovery of lithium from dewatering operation
Issues that need to be solved in the future
• Brine disposal and potential recovery of chemicals
• New technologies that will separate salts and organics at a lower energy requirement
• Better utilization of water and its management• Adoption of water reuse and recycling
Summary & Conclusions – What have we learned?
Water use for E&P operations is critical to the future of the industry
Produced Water can meet surface water discharge requirements
State Wide permits are available in some states and allow for expedited permitting
Discharge standards can be daunting but with careful design can be met
Be aware of what you add to your fracking fluids as this is what you will need to remove
Brine reuse and recycling should be considered Harvesting of metals should be considered in the future
to offset costs
• Water Rights associated with produced water turn this waste into an asset
• Produced Water Reuse• Site specific• Formation will add constituents that might be an
issue• Hydraulic Fracturing Flowback Water Reuse
• Viability highly dependant• Transportation Economics• Disposal Economics & Availability• Treatment Economics (TDS – key driver)
Summary & Conclusions – What have we learned?
Summary & Conclusions – What have we learned?
Treatment – becoming more refined Customized to influent characteristics & output req. Mobile or Centralized depending on volumes and
transportation Pre-treatment removal is key to success
Organics Hardness & Metals Particulates Bacteria Control
If organics and scaling compounds removed, reuse may be achieved without TDS removal in some cases
Water reuse will likely become SOP in many areas