Industrial wastewater treatment at scale: Rethinking produced water in oil & gas

Key takeaways

Produced water management has shifted focus from freshwater usage to emphasizing the importance of clean brine recycling.
Traditional treatment methods struggle with the variability of produced water and often require constant chemical adjustments.
Economies of scale in water treatment have drastically improved due to large-volume processing capabilities.
Oil and gas operators prioritize reliability of water supply to adhere to frack schedules, even sometimes sacrificing quality.
With environmental pressures and resource constraints, produced water recycling has become a cost-effective and sustainable solution.
There is a growing trend towards advanced treatment systems that aim to repurpose produced water for broader societal usage.

Summary

The Shift from Freshwater to Clean Brine

Brent Halldorson explains the evolution in the oil and gas industry from the initial focus on freshwater for fracking to the current necessity of clean brine recycling. This evolution was driven by the adaptation of salt-tolerant chemicals and the need to recycle and reuse produced water, addressing environmental concerns and operational efficiency.

Challenges with Traditional Treatment Systems

Halldorson emphasizes the variability of produced water from multiple wells and how this poses significant challenges for conventional treatment methods. Oil slugs and fluctuating compositions complicate the operation of traditional systems, which require constant adjustments in chemistry. He highlights the inefficiencies of methods like chemical flocculation when faced with this inherent variability.

Economics of Water Treatment Systems

The discussion highlights a significant shift in water treatment economics with the advent of large-scale treatment systems due to water midstream development. Brent notes that operators can now process much larger volumes of water (up to 400,000 barrels a day), allowing for greater operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness, changing the dynamics of water management in the industry.

Prioritizing Reliability over Quality

Halldorson shares insights into the priorities of oil and gas operators, who often favor reliability and uptime in their water supply over the theoretical quality of water. This perspective illustrates the pressing need for consistent water availability in relation to fracking schedules, indicating a critical shift in operational priorities.

Produced Water Reuse as an Economic Solution

The episode discusses the evolution of produced water reuse from being a perceived 'plan B' to becoming a cost-saving measure. With dwindling freshwater resources, companies are now finding that recycling produced water not only conserves valuable resources but also reduces operational costs.

Emerging Trends in Water Purification

Brent anticipates an exciting future for produced water management, highlighting trends toward advanced treatment desalination to enable the repurposing of produced water for societal benefits. The goal shifts from just serving the oil and gas industry to providing valuable resources for agriculture and communities, ushering in a new era of environmental sustainability.

Show notes

In this Processing Pros episode LiqTech's Brent Halldorson discusses how high-capacity membrane filtration is reshaping reuse economics in upstream oil and gas water management.