Materials develop during the exploration and production of gas, oil, and coal-bed methane (CBM), including millions of barrels of produced and frac flowback water and hydrocarbon-impacted soils and muds. If the natural fracture of shale is not fully developed, then the shale is further opened by hydro-fracturing (fracking) to assist with the release of gas and oil. The cleats are opened up with a frac-water mixture injected into the formation at various locations within the seam.
Produced water and flowback water are generated from the CBM, shale gas, and shale oil wells. Produced water is water that is withdrawn from the coal seam and shale through the wells drilled into the coal seam and shale during the gas/oil collection at the surface.
Flowback water is used to fracture shale in order to open the fissures that enable the release of the gas from the formation if the natural fissures are not fully developed. This water is pumped into the formation and then eventually collected at the surface in a manner similar to the collection of the produced water.
SCS Engineers employs several technologies to reuse (preferred) or dispose of production and flowback water, including:
SCS Engineers’ services include site investigation, permitting, design, construction quality assurance, and certification of surface water storage impoundments, evaporation ponds, and injection wells.
Sustainable Recovery and Reuse of Oil-Based Muds and Drilling Waste
