CHAPTER 4 TREATMENT, DISPOSAL, AND RECYCLING OF FLOWBACK AND PRODUCED WATER

• Jurisdiction: United States

Water-Energy Nexus: Acquisition, Use, and Disposal of Water for Energy and Mineral Development
(Sep 2012)
CHAPTER 4
TREATMENT, DISPOSAL, AND RECYCLING OF FLOWBACK AND PRODUCED WATER
Kenneth Knox
Noble Energy, Inc.
Denver, Colorado

KEN KNOX is a Senior Advisor for Noble Energy and is responsible for strategic planning and management of their comprehensive full life-cycle water program. Ken has extensive experience in water resources planning, engineering, and management activities for a variety of public and private interests throughout the United States and international community. He is the former Chief Deputy State Engineer in Colorado and served as the Compact Coordinator and Engineer Advisor for the nine Interstate River Compacts that Colorado is a party to. Ken was also responsible for water supply, water rights administration, litigation, and engineering functions for the State of Colorado. He received a B.S. in Chemical Engineering and a M.S. and Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Colorado State University. Dr. Knox is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Denver and teaches graduate-level classes in environmental law & policy, management, and finances.

Water Management

for Flowback

Produced Waters

September 2012

Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation

Treatment, Disposal, and Recycling of Flowback and Produced Water

September 13, 2012

Ken Knox

The views expressed in this paper are solely those of the author (or authors).

Please cite as: Knox, Kenneth. Treatment, Disposal, and Recycling of Flowback and Produced Water,

The Waler-Energy Nexus, Paper Mo. 4, Page No. (Rocky Mt.. Min.L. Fdn. 2012).

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Need for Effective Flowback & Produced Water Management

Unconventional Shale Development

• The Energy Information Administration estimates a total resource base estimate of 6,622 Tcf in the largest shale plays of 33 countries (2011)

• This increases the world's technically recoverable gas resources by over 40%

• Horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing allow these unconventional tight resources to be profitably recovered

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Public Scrutiny of Unconventional Shale Development

• Both hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling have come under public scrutiny

• The large volume of water required for fracturing a horizontal well is one of the public's main concerns

• To relieve water usage concerns surrounding unconventional resource development, effective use of water treatment and recycling is necessary!

Average Water Consumption

Noble Well Water Consomption Banking

Drilling Water	Hydraullc Fracturing Water	Total Water
(thousand gallons)
Vertical Well	77	310	387
Horizontal Well	130	2,700	2,830

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Comprehensive Water Management Strategy

? Secure reliable water supply for present and...