Produced water treatment in the oil and gas industry is a hot topic. Let’s explore potential uses for recycled produced water from oilfields.
The Cost of Produced Water in the Oilfield
According to the IEA (International Energy Agency) in 2003, more than $6 trillion of upstream investment is needed to meet the global demand for gas and oil up until 2030.
Their study also showed that oil demand would grow about 1.6% per year, and the production lost to decline will be between 5% – 11% annually. As much as $1 trillion will go toward maintaining production, and a huge chunk of that allocation will be set aside to handle brine water.
Reusing Produced Water
About 2.5B gallons of produced water are extracted daily in the oil and gas industry. If this water is treated correctly, it could be reused in other industries, such as agriculture, industrial, or energy production. However, only a tiny percentage of that water is actually reused in those areas.
Why? Many oil and gas companies cringe over the high cost of treatment. Public safety and environmental concerns are also at play. Recycled produced water bears a liability, depending on the level of treatment. And each state governs its own water rights and regulations, making reused water a tricky area to navigate.
However, treatment technologies are consistently advancing, along with a desire to clean, reuse, and recycle such a natural resource.
Uses for Recycled Produced Water
We’ve encountered many industry-specific uses for recycled produced water from the oil and gas fields. At this point, the most common use is still in the oil field.
For example, recycled water is injected into oil wells to enhance production. Think hydraulic fracturing. Studies show that 45% of all produced water is recycled for this purpose.
The agriculture sector has a high water demand, and recycled produced water can also be used here. In this case, it would be used to restore overgrazed rangeland or create livestock forage.
Treated produced water can also be used for aquifer storage to maintain groundwater supplies.
In the future, it makes sense to convert produced water into fresh, drinking water. This would be an incredible advancement that opens doors for even more recycled water uses in oil and gas fields.
Produced Water Treatment in Oil and Gas Industry
Chlorine dioxide has stepped to the forefront of produced water treatment in the oil and gas industry. It has proven extremely effective on biofilm, as well as reacting with produced water for immediate treatment.
We combine chlorine dioxide with custom equipment, application design & manufacturing, and ultimate flexibility. One of our proudest strengths is our ability to create custom solutions. So, we can cater to a wide range of challenges presented by the harsh or remote locations where production occurs.
Also, PureLine’s treatment of water from the oilfield can have uses beyond just oil and gas. Please contact us to learn more.