In order to extract gas and oil from deep under the earth’s surface water in injected into the ground in order to break up rocks which is where the hydrocarbons have been trapped. This method of breaking up the rocks is known as fracking or hydraulic fracturing. Not only is much water used in the process, but there is also much water produced as waste that is generally high in various contaminants. There are several companies that are working on trying to find a way to frac without water, but when it comes to hydraulic fracking, water must be used.
As the need for more oil and gas continues in the world, there will also be a need for more water. There is a need therefore to find a way to better manage the water that we have. Oil and gas companies will have to think of frac water treatment as an option, so that they can reuse the same water for fracking the next well. Water conservation is a big topic in the world today and with one well using up 4 – 6 million gallons of water, there is need to recycle and reuse.
Technology for frac water treatment is becoming more and more critical considering that the industry is still growing. The industry needs to find ways to carry out fracking in a way that is more environmentally sustainable. If the water treatment becomes economical it could change the way the gas and oil companies do business. Currently, one of the challenges they are facing is having to truck the water to far of water treatment facilities that are the few able to properly treat it. In addition, disposal wells have been dug far off. Again, the water needs to be trucked to the disposal wells, which is quite expensive.
Gas and oil producers are currently having the water treated and using some of it. The push is to get to 100% recycle and reuse but they are still far from that. For now some tend to store the water in artificial ponds where it is diluted. The danger though is that the pond may leak sending its contaminated water into the environment. In order to dilute the produced water, they still have to use lots of fresh water so the consumption of fresh water is still high. When they can no longer reuse it is trucked to the disposal wells which are generally a long distance away. The transportation of the water also stands the risk of spillage along the way.
Frac water treatment technologies need to be improved so that our fresh water can be conserved. That way, frac water and produced water can be recycled and reused.
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