Permian Basin boosts water recycling to tackle drought

MRT • By Mella McEwen

In this article from MRT, Mike Dyson, CEO of Infinity Water Solutions, noted the growing recognition of the need for beneficial reuse of produced water. He stressed the importance of a regulatory framework to encourage investment in recycling and reuse infrastructure.

The article discusses the increasing efforts in the Permian Basin to recycle and reuse produced water, driven by the need to address drought conditions and the growing demand for sustainable water management in oil and gas operations. Companies like Aris Water Solutions are collaborating with major industry players such as Chevron and ConocoPhillips to develop technologies that treat produced water for reuse in applications like aquifer recharge and agriculture. This initiative is part of a broader industry trend to view produced water as a valuable resource rather than waste, with the potential to alleviate water scarcity in arid regions like West Texas.

A significant challenge highlighted in the article is the lack of a comprehensive regulatory framework to support large-scale water recycling and reuse. Robert Crain from Texas Pacific Water Resources points out that while the technology to treat produced water exists, regulatory hurdles and the need for reliable discharge permits remain obstacles. The industry is transitioning from deep to shallow water injection to mitigate seismic activity, emphasizing the need for beneficial reuse to manage the vast volumes of produced water effectively.

Mike Dyson underscores the importance of establishing a regulatory framework to attract investment in water recycling infrastructure. He notes that without efficient water management, the oil and gas industry risks hindering its development potential, which could have significant economic implications for states like Texas and New Mexico. The article also highlights the industry’s progress in treating produced water, with treated water now being used for agricultural purposes and demonstrating environmental benefits, such as being cleaner than the Pecos River.

Read the full article here.