Choosing The Right Instrumentation For Produced Water Treatment Systems

In recent years, rising oil and gas output from unconventional shale plays has generated tremendous wealth for producers, oilfield service providers, and the wider economy. However, it has also placed increasing strains on natural resources, such as water.

Less than a decade ago, it took roughly 100,000 barrels of water to frac a single well. Today, that number is nearly five times higher and rising – particularly in the case of long laterals and wells that require a large amount of proppant.

The issue goes beyond how much water is needed per well; it also extends to the amount of water being produced. In some instances, as many as ten barrels of water are produced for every barrel of oil. Add to this the flowback water from injection, and the industry is having to manage billions of barrels of water annually.