19 JANUARY 2023 WorldWide Drilling Resource® Chevron’s Hydraulic Fracturing Operations to Use More Recycled Water Adapted from Information by Chevron Wells in the Permian Basin can bring up as much as five times more water than gas and oil. Chevron recycles and reuses this produced water during hydraulic fracturing operations. Produced water that can’t be recycled for this purpose is transported to be used by other operators in their fracturing processes when and where possible. When this is not feasible, water is safely reinjected thousands of feet into the ground. In 2022, Chevron reached an agreement with Aris Water Solutions expected to significantly improve its ability to efficiently recycle produced water. With this partnership, Chevron is on the path to using 80% recycled produced water for hydraulic fracturing in most areas by the end of 2023. As part of the arrangement, Aris will use its existing pipeline infrastructure to make more produced water from Chevron and other operators available for recycling. This pipeline system can also be used to move produced water away from areas with known seismic activity. Increasing recycled water use in the Permian moves Chevron closer to its longterm goal of reducing water reinjection for disposal purposes in the region, and toward a more sustainable way of handling excess water. It also helps preserve freshwater and groundwater in drought-prone areas. In 2021, more than 99% of Chevron’s Permian Basin water demand was met using brackish groundwater (salty water extracted from the earth) and produced water which was treated and recycled. About 55% of water used was brackish, while the remaining 45% was recycled. Just under 1% of water was obtained from freshwater sources in 2021, and the company is further planning to phase out brackish water. In doing so, it will continually reuse treated produced water which would otherwise be reinjected into the ground. “Recycling produced water is not only a responsible practice from an environmental stewardship perspective; recycling provides an economic benefit too,” said Cullen Jones, Chevron water operations engineer. “The produced water can typically be recycled at a cheaper price than brackish water sources can be purchased. This reduces the capital [spent] associated with developing new [gas and oil] wells.” G&O March issue deadlines: Space Reservation - January 25th Ad Copy - February 1st
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