Oil companies to buy treated wastewater
Two companies drilling for oil and natural gas in west central Oklahoma have found a source of water protected against drought and water rationing.
“As long as we’re flushing the toilets, we can supply water to the energy industry,” El Reno Mayor Matt White said.
Oil and natural gas companies typically use several million gallons of water per well for hydraulic fracturing operations. That water often is provided from ponds, rivers, aquifers and municipal water supplies. Companies increasingly are recycling the water and the ancient seawater produced along with oil and natural gas.
Two new projects are the first of their kind in Oklahoma to use treated wastewater to power drilling operations.
Austin, Texas-based Jones Energy has signed a contract with El Reno for access to some of the water from the city’s new $22 million sewage treatment plant. Under terms of the deal, Jones will build a 4.5 million gallon storage facility next to the treatment plant and will have access to the water for two planned wells with the option to use it in future projects.
“This might help us pay for
the treatment plant, and it will use the water to bring economic growth to our county,” White said. “Why not support Oklahoma jobs and industry and use this water instead of the water we need to survive on?”
When Jones Energy is finished with the storage tank, El Reno will be able to use it to store water for golf courses or other uses, White said.
A few miles to the east, Oklahoma City is working on a similar project with Oklahoma City-based Devon Energy Corp.
The Oklahoma City Water Utilities Trust and the Oklahoma City Council this month approved a deal that gives Devon the option to use treated wastewater from Oklahoma City’s Deer Creek and Chisholm Creek wastewater treatment plants.
“They’ll use treated wastewater that otherwise would go into the river and head out of the state,” said Chris Browning, Oklahoma City Water Utilities Trust general manager.
“Rather than taking raw water that we would use to treat for potable water, they’re using our highly treated wastewater so we don’t have any impact on our water supply.”
Devon’s contract with Oklahoma City doesn’t require the company to use the water, but it provides the ability in case it
We’re looking at things like whether the water is cleaned to the point that if it comes in contact with a person that person will not become ill.” Shellie Chard, water quality division director at the Department of Environmental Quality
is needed.
“As part of a comprehensive approach to water conservation and stewardship, Devon is exploring opportunities with the City of Oklahoma City that could result in the company incorporating treated municipal wastewater into its oil and natural gas drilling and well-completion operations,” Devon spokesman John Porretto said. “At this time, it would be premature to discuss further details.”
Both the Oklahoma City and El Reno contracts require permits from the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality for the companies to use and transport the treated wastewater.
“We’re looking at not only protection of the environment, but also public health,” said Shellie Chard, water quality division director at the Department of Environmental Quality. “We’re looking at things like whether the water is cleaned to the point that if it comes in contact with a person that person will not become ill.”
Environmental quality representatives have been involved in several meetings and discussions between the companies and the cities, she said.
“This is a great way to drought-proof a community,” Chard said. “This allows industry and cities a way to ensure we will have safe and adequate drinking water in the future by using other water that doesn’t have to be drinkable for other purposes.”
The increased use of treated wastewater is one of the many recommendations that are part of the state’s Water for 2060 plan, which is designed to lead the state to use no more freshwater in 2060 than when the plan began in 2012.
“We are promoting the use of marginal quality waters,” said Julie Cunningham, executive director of the Oklahoma Water Resources Board. “We’re certainly pleased with any efforts to use those waters so that we can preserve our freshwater sources for drinking and other uses.”
Successful projects in Oklahoma City and El Reno could lead to other efforts throughout the state, Cunningham said.
“Any example we can provide — that can show that this is a more costeffective and water-saving alternative — would certainly show that others can use marginal water as well,” she said.