Characterizing Various Produced Waters from Shale Energy Extraction within the Context of Reuse

Abstract

Environmental concerns with unconventional oil and gas development are frequently centered on elevated water usage and the induction of seismic events during waste disposal. Reuse of produced water for subsequent production well stimulation can effectively address these concerns, but the variability among such samples must be well understood. Twenty-four samples of wastewater from unconventional oil and gas development were collected from south and west Texas to assess their variability and feasibility for direct reuse. Bulk metrics were collected, including total organic carbon, total nitrogen, as well as total dissolved and suspended solids. The profiles of pertinent inorganic constituents were also evaluated. Variations were not only seen between regions but also among samples collected from the same region. For example, the average total organic carbon for Eagle Ford samples collected was 700 ± 500 mg/L, while samples collected from the Permian Basin featured an average total organic carbon concentration of 600 ± 900 mg/L. The Permian Basin total organic carbon ranged from 38 to 2600 mg/L. The total dissolved solids levels had the same variability between regions, with an average value for Eagle Ford of 20,000 ± 10,000 mg/L and a Permian Basin value of 150,000 ± 40,000 mg/L. However, samples were more reproducible within a given region. Collectively, the data indicate that the direct reuse of raw produced water for subsequent production well development without treatment is not feasible based on the reported reuse thresholds. Unconventional development wastewater samples from the Permian Basin were also compared to produced water values from conventional oil and gas wells in the same region, as reported by the United States Geological Survey. Samples collected in the Permian Basin consistently demonstrated lower ionic strength compared to conventional produced water data.

Geological Insights into Exploration and Extraction of Lithium from Oilfield Produced-Water in the USA: A Review

“…The Smackover Formation and Marcellus shale brines are identified to be the richest on Li, while the fluctuation of this element was found to be extremely dramatic. ,,− Several brines from other plays in the Appalachian Basin, such as Lock Port Dolomite, Newburg Sandstone, and Bucket Shale, demonstrate economically attractive regions with Li concentrations identified up to 154 mg/L, while the waters of the Eagle Ford, Bakken and Barnett shale plays are less prominent Li sources reaching 50 mg/L. ,, The fact that it is possible to extract more than 90% of the Li from the produced brines, while the completion additives present within the fluid and the estimated thousands of tonns being recoverable from the retrieved oilfield brines, the anticipated economic effect on the oil industry from this source is profound. Therefore, there is a pronounced potential for the US to compete in the global Li market once more development on recovery technology is achieved, with a great potential for the oilfield industry to contribute.…”

Mixture Toxicity of Three Unconventional Gas Fracking Chemicals, Barium, O‐Cresol, and Sodium Chloride, to the Freshwater Shrimp Paratya australiensis

“…High salinity is a widespread issue, where Cl − and Na + are typically the two most abundant ions associated with salinity in flowback‐produced water, particularly from shale gas (Liden et al, 2022 ; Willems et al, 2022 ). In Australian groundwater reservoirs associated with unconventional gas extraction, total dissolved salt concentrations range from 40 to 200 000 mg/L (Hall et al, 2018 ), whereas mean Na + and Cl − concentrations of coal bed methane waters in Australia are approximately 1300 mg/L each or total 2600 mg/L NaCl content (Willems et al, 2022 ).…”