New EPA Report on Oil and Gas Well Produced Water Management
While significant, and perhaps excessive, critical attention has been given to the injection of fluids and proppants into deep underground formations in the process of hydraulically fracturing oil and gas wells, far greater risks are presented in the management of enormous volumes of produced water from these wells. Produced waters often bring contaminants from these deep underground formations to the surface. The contaminants can include bromide, calcium, chloride, magnesium, sulfate, and radioactive materials. Produced water is often referred to as “brine”. Produced waters can sometimes be re-injected into nearby wells as a hydraulic fracturing fluid. When such opportunities are not available to recycle the wastewater, produced water is often injected into other deep underground formations for disposal. In some locations, produced water is sent to a waste water treatment plant to be processed; however, the treatment of produced waters is often far beyond the capability and capacity of these facilities. If none of the above options are viable, direct discharge into a receiving stream may be the only option left, but economically viable treatment options are generally not available to that end and direct discharge is prohibited in most of the country. I was invited to speak on hydraulic fracturing and produced water issues at universities in China several years back where I learned firsthand that these types of water management issues can differ greatly from one geographic region to another. There is not a “one-size-fits-all” solution.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency recently published the following report on oil and gas well produced water management issues : Summary of Input on Oil and Gas Extraction Wastewater Management Practices Under the Clean Water Act. A copy of the report can be found on the EPA website at:
https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2020-05/documents/oil-gas-final-report-2020.pdf
EPA plans to announce their next steps for produced water management under the federal Clean Water Act in subsequent communications. Here is a link to EPA’s webpage with more information on this report:
https://www.epa.gov/eg/final-report-oil-and-gas-extraction-wastewater-management
