Resources for the Petroleum & Refining Industry

31. Water Scarcity In Texas: Rushing Ahead Of Science Could Scuttle Solutions 1/28/2020

    Water scarcity is a challenge facing many Texas communities, and it’s encouraging to see how many state leaders are proactively exploring solutions to our growing water needs. This has brought the oil and gas industry and the massive volumes of water it uses and produces each year into the conversation.

32. Doublethink In The Desert: The Myth Of Recycling In The Permian Basin 6/17/2019

    Everyone is familiar with the water cut statistics: three to seven barrels of produced water emerge from the ground per barrel of oil. This oft-cited statistic is useful to appreciate the scale of the volumes of water produced in the Permian Basin. However, it does not tell the whole story.

33. Scientists Identify Opportunities To Better Understand Oilfield Wastewater 4/24/2019

    Collaborative research is a critical element for identifying unforeseen risks associated with using the oil industry’s wastewater outside the oilfield. That’s the recommendation of a new peer-reviewed paper accepted this week in the Journal of Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management (IEAM).

34. What To Watch As The Texas Legislature Takes Up Climate, Energy, Water, And More 4/23/2019

    We’re past the midpoint of the Texas legislative session and the bill filing deadline is behind us. Because the legislature only meets for five months every other year, there’s a lot to accomplish in a short span.

35. How Oil & Gas States Did (And Did Not) Protect Land And Water In 2018 1/11/2019

    Keeping an eye on what happens with domestic oil and gas regulation is a bit like herding cats. We’ve seen encouraging progress on air quality issues related to oil and gas, but an equally critical front that’s seen major action is protection of our land and water resources.

36. Drilling Fluid Producer Discovers The Coriolis Advantage 1/8/2019

    Drilling fluid is critical for successful oil extraction. Typically made up of water, clay and a complex mix of chemicals, it supports the drilling process in a variety of ways — from lubricating and cooling the drill bit under high-temperature and high-pressure conditions, to lifting drill cuttings to the surface, to maintaining oil well stability and safety. But drilling fluid is not a “one size fits all” solution. To work properly, the fluid must be optimized for the unique geographic conditions of individual well sites.

37. EPA-New Mexico Wastewater Report Is A Conversation Starter, Not The Final Word 1/4/2019

    When it comes to answering questions about whether the oil and gas industry’s wastewater can be safely reused for other purposes, like food crops, livestock, or even drinking water, there are a number of other serious factors to be considered.

38. Onshore Crude Oil Decontamination Using A Water Security Test Bed 11/6/2018

    Onshore crude oil production has increased in the United States over the past few years. Oil producers, specifically the North Dakota Pipeline Authority and the Bakken Shale field producers are transporting crude oil by rail and train to both the East and West Coast oil refineries. While rail tends to be one of the safer and more efficient ways of transporting crude oil, there is still a risk of a spill. Oil spills are threats to both ground and surface waters, which can ultimately impact drinking water.

39. Tank Monitoring Challenges Solved With Radar Level Transmitters 10/25/2018

    An electrical contractor in the Upper Midwest United States provides oilfield tank monitoring for several oil companies. They supply level measurement and control in nearly 400 barrel tanks containing crude oil and/or produced salt water.

40. State Leaders Concerned About Safety Of Reusing Oil And Gas Wastewater 8/30/2018

    Regulators from across the country met in Vermont this week at the Environmental Council of the State’s (ECOS) fall meeting to discuss some of the nation’s most pressing environmental challenges. I joined members of ECOS’ Shale Gas Caucus to discuss an emerging threat imminently impacting oil and gas-producing states: the question of what to do with the massive amount of wastewater produced by the oil and gas industry each year.