Berkleigh Gressett
Texas Tech University, Petroleum Engineering
High costs of obtaining fresh water and produced water disposal, as well as low commodity prices have made water reclamation an attractive option for companies looking to increase their profit margins. Special environmental considerations arise when dealing with the handling and treatment of produced and reclaimed fluids for use in oilfield operations. These include the handling of wastes generated from treating large volumes of produced water, storing and transporting the water via properly designed tanks, ponds, pipes, and other equipment, and complying with existing environmental regulations while adequately assessing additional risks associated with water recycling. The paper will discuss the current technologies utilized to treat reclaimed water and the environmental risks associated with them, special facilities design considerations for handling reclaimed water, relevant environmental policies, and the general pros and cons of water recycling including economic factors, infrastructure requirements, and public perceptions.