Companies aim to release more treated oilfield wastewater into rivers and streams

An oil well adjacent to the Red Bluff Reservoir in Reeves County on Feb. 24, 2020. NGL Water Solutions Permian has proposed discharging treated produced water into the reservoir.These days the Pecos River barely fills its dry, sandy bed where it crosses West Texas, but the river could be poised to flow again — with treated oilfield wastewater.

After two years of studies, the company is applying for a state permit to discharge up 840,000 gallons per day of treated oilfield wastewater into a tributary of Salt Creek, which feeds into the Pecos River. That volume won’t turn the Pecos into a roaring river but it could open doors for larger projects that could transform the river.

When it comes to produced water reuse, some companies are putting in serious effort to do it safely, said Ira Yates, founder of Friends of the Pecos and heir to a West Texas oil fortune. But he worries that if the gates are opened on discharges, other startups won’t be as thoughtful. In the East, Pennsylvania authorized discharges of treated produced water from central wastewater treatment plants into rivers. However, Pennsylvania State University researchers laterTCEQ’s Richter said the agency received four permit applications to discharge produced water during 2023 and 2024. Texas Pacific Water Resources and NGL Water Solutions Permian both applied for permits in the Pecos River watershed of the Permian Basin.

In a forthcoming paper, Hardberger points out that many of the constituents in produced water are difficult or costly to test for and do not have established EPA toxicity standards. These are numerical values measuring the risk presented by exposure to a chemical or contaminant. She compares the EPA’s list of standards for public water supplies, which includes exposure guidelines for approximately 90 contaminants, with the over 1,100 chemicals that have been found in produced water.

Crain said Texas Pacific Water Resources has developed a process to treat the wastewater up to discharge standards cost-effectively. The technology remains undisclosed while patents are pending, he said, but is already used in the nuclear and commercial food products sectors. Now it is TCEQ’s turn, based on this data, to set standards for the quality of the water to be discharged.up to 16.9 million gallons per day of treated produced water near the Red Bluff Reservoir on the Pecos River in Reeves County. The company is a subsidiary of Tulsa-based NGL Energy Partners.

Brasil Últimas Notícias, Brasil Manchetes

Similar News:Você também pode ler notícias semelhantes a esta que coletamos de outras fontes de notícias.

Only 57 companies produced 80 percent of global carbon dioxideSarah Fielding MS, is an acclaimed journalist focusing on mental health, social issues, and tech. At Engadget, she reports on tech news, whether it be a Twitter bot exposing gender pay gaps or a beloved classic game's revival.
Fonte: engadget - 🏆 276. / 63 Consulte Mais informação »

Oklahoma Sues Texas Natural Gas Companies Over Winter Storm UriOklahoma has filed lawsuits against two Texas-based natural gas companies, accusing them of fraudulently reducing gas supplies during Winter Storm Uri in 2021. The state's attorney general plans to pursue further legal action against other companies involved in market manipulation.
Fonte: wjxt4 - 🏆 246. / 63 Consulte Mais informação »

Texas Governor seeks to limit investment companies from buying single-family homesSAN ANTONIO - Texas Governor Greg Abbott is asking lawmakers to consider legislation that would block or restrict investment companies from buying single-family
Fonte: cbsaustin - 🏆 595. / 51 Consulte Mais informação »