TOPICS OF INTEREST
WATER TREATMENT AND MANAGEMENT
Water Desalination Applications in Shale-Gas and Polymer EOR Produced Waters
Oil and gas extraction using water has opened up new hydrocarbon resources. However they can produce four times more salty water byproduct than oil. Desalination in shale gas and polymer-flood EOR remain niche markets for lowering cost and improving production.
Goodnight Midstream Lands Big Investment To Expand Water Operations
After a planned acquisition of Goodnight fell through, private equity firm Tailwater Capital is boosting its total investment in the water midstream company to more than $500 million. Goodnight recently signed five long-term contracts with producers in the Delaware Basin and the Bakken.
Bandwidth of Nanotechnology in the Oil Field Widens
Nanotechnology has great potential to reduce cost, increase production, and even improve the sustainability of E&P operations. But, where do we stand in terms of potential vs. reality? And, is the industry ready and willing to use the technology?
NGL Acquires Hillstone, Adds to Delaware Water Infrastructure
The $600-million deal sees NGL net around 580,000 B/D in disposal capacity and 680,000 B/D in transportation capacity via 19 saltwater disposal wells and a network of produced water pipelines. Hillstone also holds an aggregate of more than 110,000 acres in the Delaware Basin.
Department of Energy Invests $4.6 Million in Produced Water Treatment
The projects are intended to accelerate the development and commercialization of treatment technologies to reduce waste water that is being injected into disposal wells and increase water supplies for reuse.
Water Survey Assesses Souring and Corrosion at Production/Injection Plant
At a water treatment plant for an onshore oil field in northern Germany, formaldehyde injection was started in 2015 as a biocide. The goal of this study was to understand the chemical parameters and microbial distribution in the water system and whether formaldehyde injection was effective.
H2O Midstream Acquires Sabalo’s Permian Produced Water Assets
The deal sees H2O Midstream increase its produced water gathering network to more than 435,000 B/D of disposal capacity and 190 total miles of pipeline. The Permian water midstream company will add more than 40,000 B/D of recycling capacity with the option to double that capacity over time.
Water Midstream Companies Strike Deals in Delaware, STACK Plays
A joint-venture agreement gives Solaris control of Concho’s produced-water infrastructure in New Mexico, and Lagoon Water Solutions closed on a deal with Continental in Oklahoma.
Surveys Show Minority of Oil and Gas Firms Investing in Water Management
Getting water is a big issue for those who fracture wells, as is the disposal of it. The number of companies investing in water facilities and reuse, though, remains a minority.
Water Outside the Permian: How Are Other Basins Handling the Volumes?
The Permian gets the lion’s share of attention when it comes to produced water, but other basins have a need to haul volumes off-site. How has the market changed in these areas recently? Is there a greater enthusiasm for pipelines, and can water midstream thrive?
Integration, Collaboration Drive Water Midstream Growth in Permian
As Permian production ramps up and saltwater disposal well capacity is pushed to its limit, companies see a need to develop collaborative, commercially viable methods of handling produced-water volumes. If reuse remains at its current rate of only 15%, operators could face a $30-billion tab.
The Opportunity and Threat Posed by US Shale Water
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.
Addressing the Gaps in Subsea Produced Water Treatment
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?
Water Midstream Sector Positioned To Handle Rising Permian Volumes
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.
De Nora Acquires Neptune Enterprises To Form De Nora Neptune
Frac water disinfection experts become De Nora service arm in the unconventional oil and gas market.
Permian: Treating Produced Water for Discharge Reduces Injection
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.
Case Studies in Produced Water Treatment
Three papers selected from 2018 SPE ATCE look at the challenges and approaches to the treatment of increasing volumes of produced water.
Testing of Two-Stage Biofiltration Unit for Mitigation of VOC Emissions
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in crude oil can be released to the atmosphere from storage tanks, waste waters, and equipment leaks. A pilot-scale sequential biotrickling/biofiltration unit was designed and tested for removal of VOCs from a wastewater sump.
Fit-for-Purpose Water Treatment in Permian Shale
Sourcing water for hydraulic fracturing, and disposing of produced water, are constraints and significant cost items in the Permian Basin. Some of the produced water can be treated and reused by using a water life cycle approach..
Permian Operators Squeezed by Growing Water Pressure
Finding water for hydraulic fracturing and then finding a use for it when it flows back are critical engineering problems to solve in the booming Permian Basin.
Different Basins, Different Produced Water Strategies
Water management for unconventional projects continues to evolve at a rapid pace. What are some of the universal trends industry is adopting to handle higher produced water volumes and increased demand, and how do local dynamics impact the adoption of these trends?
New Research Explores Effective Produced Water Treatment
As operators seek lower water management costs, a pair of studies examines methods and technologies that could have a major impact on treatment and reuse for hydraulic fracturing operations and beyond.
Analytic Models Propose Wastewater Disposal Facility Locations in Marcellus
Researchers at Texas Tech University have released a study into wastewater production and disposal in the Marcellus Shale, proposing disposal hubs across the state of Pennsylvania that could reduce trucking distances.
Permian Water Market Ramps Up Activity
As rig counts continue to go up in the region, the Permian water disposal market is expected to see growth through 2021 with a possible record-high 8.4 billion bbl next year.
How Water Management for Shale Oil and Gas is Evolving
An overview of some of the trends and issues related to water management for tight oil and gas are discussed, including environmental, sustainability, and legislative issues associated with water handling for hydraulic fracturing.
Incorporating Reuse: The Next Frontier for Produced Water Management
As producers and third-party vendors navigate the logistical challenges of water management, the push toward greater reuse of produced water has gained steam. How close is the industry to 100% reuse?
Are Your Produced Water Decisions Based on the Best Economics?
Recycling produced water may not be the soundest economic decision for operators of hydraulic fracturing projects. A water logistics expert examines the design considerations companies must account for with full-cycle water management systems.
Apache Aims To Boost Produced Water Reuse in Permian
The rising oil production and produced water volumes in the Permian are expanding the scope and scale of recycling. Apache is targeting 50% of its frac water to be made up from recycled produced water this year.
Newfield Exploration: Diligence Needed for STACK Water Plan
An advisor at Newfield Exploration takes a closer look at the company’s water management operations in the Oklahoma STACK, as well as the lessons learned in its development.
Dealmakers: Water Transport, Disposal Companies Tap Into Permian Basin
The demand for water and disposal services in the Permian Basin has piqued the interest—and investments—of companies eager to acquire existing pipeline infrastructure and saltwater disposal facilities to capitalize on the growing need.
Predictive Models Optimize Produced Water Transport and Disposal
Predictive models may help in the estimation of produced water volumes and the optimization of the locations for water recycling and disposal facilities to reduce truck hauling distances.
Benefits Outweigh Challenges of Boosting Water Infrastructure
Michael Dunkel, vice president for CH2M, believes water management for upstream will transform over the next few years. Effective water management is only possible with water infrastructure and there are many benefits for all the stakeholders to building the infrastructure.
Nanotechnology for Oilfield Applications: Challenges and Effects
This paper presents a critical review of the recent literature to determine the status of research and development and field application of nanotechnology in the oil field.
Oil-Droplet Removal From Produced Water by Use of Nanoparticles
Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) is a promising way to remove dispersed oil from produced water. In this study, the authors investigated the optimal operating conditions for MNPs and the mechanisms of MNP/oil attachments and magnetic separation.
Sinopec Tests Separation Technology at FuLing Shale Site
OriginClear agreed to a sales licensing deal for use of its Electro Water Separation technology at a Sinopec-operated shale gas site.
Spatial Analysis of Horizontal-Shale-Well Water Production in the Wattenberg Field
This paper analyzes water production from horizontal shale wells in five sections of the Wattenberg field in northeastern Colorado. Models were developed for these wells for future water-production prediction and a spatial analysis was also conducted.
Newfield Exploration to Build New Water Recycling Facility
Newfield Exploration broke ground on a water recycling facility in the Anadarko Basin in Oklahoma.
Studies Reveal Geological Faults, Stress Orientations in Texas, Oklahoma
Geophysicists from Stanford University have compiled a map of new maximum horizontal stress orientations in Texas and surrounding areas, potentially giving operators new information for avoiding seismic activity in their hydraulic fracturing operations.
WY DEQ: Hydraulic Fracturing Not Likely Culprit of Water Contamination
The Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality recently concluded that hydraulic fracturing operations were not the likely cause of well water contamination in a small town.
TOC Analysis of Waste Water: Practical for Continuous Monitoring
Three metrics that are used for monitoring organics in water are total organic carbon (TOC), chemical oxygen demand, and biological oxygen demand. While less commonly used than the other two methods, TOC can offer practical advantages to operators.
A Critical Review of Alternative Desalination Technologies for Smart Waterflooding
Smart waterflooding by tuning injection-water salinity and ionic composition has gained attention in recent years. In this study, desalination technologies are reviewed with the objective to develop potential water-treatment solutions that can most efficiently alter injection-water chemistry.
Full Life Cycle Approach Improves Water Management Economics
A look at a water management plan for developing shale assets in the Permian Basin encompassing the full life cycle of each field.
URTeC: New Strategies Needed To Maximize Produced Water Storage, Usage
At the 2016 Unconventional Resources Technology Conference, Barry Donaldson, vice president of global sales and marketing at Tetra Technologies, discussed possible cost-effective water management strategies.
Efficient Water Management Strategies Could Help Lower Costs
As the cost to source, transport, store, treat, and dispose of water remains relatively high, water management programs will become a greater priority in the coming year.
Efficient Water Management Needed in Low Oil Price Market
In the current economic environment, efficient water management practices will become even more essential for companies looking to run successful hydraulic fracturing operations.
Water Management for Enhanced Oil Recovery Projects
Produced water from chemical floods can cause problems for separation and water treatment equipment due to the polymers and surfactants used. Challenges are greater offshore where space limitations can affect treatment options.
Driver of Water Sampling: Science or Risk Management?
Operators are increasingly sampling local groundwater prior to drilling as a risk management approach to deal with public concerns about hydraulic fracturing and other activities.
Bacteria: The Real Water Issue of Hydraulic Fracturing
Though a best practice for sustainable hydraulic fracturing operations, using nonpotable water creates an environment in which microorganisms thrive. If left unchecked, bacteria can affect the environment and the economic viability of the hydraulic fracturing operation.
Produced-Water-Treatment Systems: Comparison of North Sea and Deepwater Gulf of Mexico
Water treatment systems in the North Sea differ from those in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico (GOM). This paper provides a detailed understanding of these differences and provides insight into the design of water-treatment systems in general.
Optimizing Metal-Removal Processes for Produced Water With Electrocoagulation
Many oil and gas companies are pursuing fracture-flowback-water and produced-water recycling for subsequent drilling and fracturing operations. Removal of metals is important to success of these processes.
Southwestern Energy Approaches Goal of Freshwater Neutrality
Southwestern Energy plans to be freshwater neutral in its hydraulic fracturing operations by next year, and the company is well on its way to achieving that goal, said the leader of the group responsible for bringing it to fruition.
Operators Explore Agricultural Options for Reuse of Flowback and Produced Water
Market dynamics and costs drive the search for solutions. In California, where water is needed, producers are finding potential for reuse of waste water.
Unconventional Resources: New Facilities Find Solutions to Limited Water Sources
Companies are deploying a variety of technologies to reduce the water needs of hydraulic fracturing. Where are these new facilities with these new technologies, and how will they help operators solve the problem of finding water to use?
Polymer-Flood Produced-Water-Treatment Trials
Polymer flooding has been used to enhance the production of oil from mature fields in Oman. This article discusses the trial of several approaches to improve the treatment of water produced from these fields.
A Comparison of Methods for Boron Removal From Flowback and Produced Waters
While storage and logistics are critical elements of the viability of water reuse, if the water chemistry is not fit for gel fracturing formulations, it will not matter how much is stored in centrally located impoundments.
Unconventional Oil and Gas Production Drives Trends in Water Management and Treatment
This article explores the outlook for the global market and gives insight into technology trends and the regions that hold the biggest opportunities for water treatment.
Mechanical Vapor Recompression for the Treatment of Shale-Gas Flowback Water
Used extensively by the food, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries, the mechanical-vapor-recompression (MVR) process is viewed as a reliable method for recovering demineralized water from concentrated brines. This paper reports on performance of an advanced MVR system in north-central Texas.
Chemical Pretreatment of Guar Gum-Based Hydraulic Fracturing Solutions and Produced Water
Hydraulic fracturing solutions use a gelling agent known as guar gum to transport proppant. Flowback water can have guar gum concentrations has high as 1% by volume creating treatment challenges prior to reuse or disposal.
Optimizing Water Storage in Oilfield Water Treatment
With inconsistent inlet water quality being the rule rather than the exception, sizing and operational considerations of the treatment system components must vary accordingly to make the most economic sense.
Flotation, Filtration, and Adsorption: Pilot Trials for Oilfield Produced-Water Treatment
In this study, a pilot plant with a capacity of 50 m3/d was used to conduct flotation, filtration, and adsorption trials for produced-water treatment at a crude-oil gathering facility.
Produced and Flowback Water Recycling and Reuse - Economics, Limitations, and Technology
The demands for the fresh water used in many hydraulic fracturing operations are placing pressure on water sources in some regions of the United States. Because of the high volumes of water needed for fracturing and competing demands availability of fresh water has decreased and costs have grown.
Water Management for Hydraulic Fracturing in Unconventional Resources - Part 5
This is the fifth article in a series covering water management in hydraulic fracturing in unconventional resources. The focus of this article is biological control. Additives to improve fracturing conditions can have negative effects on water treatment.
The Science and Technology of Hydrocyclones
A recent webinar focused on hydrocyclones and their application for offshore oil and water separation. The discussion includes fundamental science, practical considerations, implementation and field experience.
Water Management for Hydraulic Fracturing in Unconventional Resources—Part 4
This is the fourth article of a series covering water management in hydraulic fracturing (HF) in unconventional resources. This article discusses the use of mechanical vapor compression (MVC) as a desalination technology.
Operators See Range of Options for Treating Flowback Water
A growing number of alternatives for treating flowback water enable operators to meet the requirements for discharge or reuse of the water in the fracturing fluid, a scientist said recently.
Water Management for Hydraulic Fracturing in Unconventional Resources - Part 3 Water Treatment Technologies: Coagulation/Flocculation and Electrocoagulation
This is the third article of a series on water management for hydraulic fracturing in unconventional resources. This month, water treatment technologies are introduced, beginning with the removal of suspended solids by coagulation/flocculation and electrocoagulation for recycling flowback fluids.
Treating and Releasing Produced Water at the Ultradeepwater Seabed
Technology is evolving to meet the challenges to automate water separation and purification in deepwater for environmentally safe discharge at the seabed. To solve these problems the best available solutions must be selected and the technology gaps must be identified and closed.
Water Management for Hydraulic Fracturing in Unconventional Resources—Part 2 Properties and Characteristics of Flowback Fluids
In this second article of a series covering water management in hydraulic fracturing (HF) in unconventional resources, the properties and characteristics of the flowback fluids are discussed, together with the general categories of technologies that are best suited to treat them.
New Water-Treatment Technologies Tackle Offshore Produced-Water Challenges in EOR
Enhanced oil recovery processes, particularly offshore, create challenges for produced water treatment. This option reviews technology options and current applications.
Water Management for Hydraulic Fracturing in Unconventional Resources—Part 1
This is the first of several articles on the subject of water management for unconventional hydraulic fracturing. This article outlines the critical issues and outlines development of a strategy for treatment of flowback fluids.
Micro- and Ultrafiltration Technologies Offer New Options for Offshore Waterflooding
The number of offshore facilities employing waterflooding with desalination continues to grow. Currently, more than 50 sulfate removal units are in operation offshore with a total capacity of approximately 8 million BWPD.
Produced Water Management Offers Value to Companies
Produced water has typically been viewed as a waste product to be disposed. A recent webinar explored ways that this waste can be turned into value through treatment and reuse. Available options vary with the quality of the produced water.
The Lowdown on Low-Sal Water Technology
Changing the salinity of injection water could make the difference in getting more out of existing wells.
How Does Low-Sal Water Work?
Using low-sal water for flood can add 30% to the amount of oil that can be recovered from a reservoir. What is the theory behind it?
A Closer Look at Flotation Technology
A recent webinar covered the varieties of current technology for flotation equipment and provided an in-depth look into flotation technology and the options surrounding offshore applications.
Chemical and Mechanical Problems in Produced Water Treating Systems
Ted Frankiewicz' Distinguished Lecture presentation on “Diagnosing and Resolving Chemical and Mechanical Problems in Produced Water Treating Systems” was the subject of a recent webinar.
New Options for Produced Water Treatment
A recent webinar discussed current technologies to enable reuse of produced water in gas and oil shale developments.
Sulfate Removal—The Adoption of a Water Treatment Technology by the Oil and Gas Industry
The oil and gas industry is sometimes slow to adopt new technologies and other times quick to deploy a new approach. The decision whether to try something new weighs the perceived risks and rewards.
Evaluation of Scale Inhibitors in Marcellus High-Iron Waters
The high level of dissolved iron commonly present in the Marcellus waters of Pennsylvania and West Virginia adversely affects the ability of scale inhibitor to inhibit calcium carbonate scale. This study tests two new products under a range of conditions.
Challenges of Water Treating for Chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery
Higher oil prices has created increased interest in chemical enhanced oil recovery (CEOR) using polymers, surfactants, and alkalis. This technology poses some special challenges, especially around water treatment.
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