A New View of Produced Water: Resource, Not Waste

Abstract Large volumes of saline water are produced during unconventional oil and gas development, and the water can rarely be reinjected into the same formation from which it was extracted. This water, known as produced water, can provide a valuable additional water source to local communities. For example, in Australia, South America, and the arid western United States, reusing produced water decreases demand on potable water supplies and aids in helping oil and gas operators achieve a social license to operate. However, produced water is currently regulated as a waste in almost all jurisdictions, limiting its beneficial reuse. Our team has developed a reproducible framework to create comprehensive Produced Water Management Plans that provide operators with a large suite of options to beneficially reuse produced water. The framework consists of the following four steps: (1) Analyze the produced water source; (2) Understand the needs of local water users; (3) Compare the compatibility between the produced water quality and the water quality objectives of target end reuses; and (4) Determine the appropriate options for treatment if necessary. Once the plan is developed, the permitting and approval path is designed and implemented. Examples of beneficial reuse options span from recycling for field use including well stimulation, to crop irrigation, industrial washwater, golf course irrigation, wildlife habitat support, and livestock watering. While the framework for developing management plans is widely applicable, the beneficial uses recommended within the plans are intensely site-specific due to local regulatory settings, reuse options available in the vicinity, and the chemical properties of the produced water. In California, the development of a Produced Water Management Plan led to a suite of reuse options including field water use, creek discharge to support critical wildlife habitat, and irrigation for local wineries. The latter two options required treatment. In Australia, the Produced Water Management Plan recommended livestock watering and industrial use with untreated water or irrigation for growth of fodder plants with treated water. These results demonstrate that beneficial reuse of produced water can gain regulatory approval and local acceptance. In times of water scarcity, wisely managing water resources becomes more important. As regulatory hurdles ease, there should be more opportunities for the beneficial reuse of produced water.