- Texas is facing a looming water shortage, prompting officials to explore using oilfield wastewater to help solve the issue. However, treating this highly contaminated and potentially radioactive water could demand more energy than the entire power capacity of most U.S. states.
- Companies like Natura Resources and Texas Pacific Water Resources are using advanced technologies, including a molten salt nuclear reactor and filtration systems, to treat the wastewater for non-potable uses.
- Despite these efforts, treating oilfield wastewater still requires significantly more energy than seawater or municipal wastewater, making large-scale adoption unlikely until the process becomes more energy-efficient and economically viable.
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Texas is facing mounting water supply challenges, and officials are considering using oilfield wastewater to help address the problem. However, treating the water so it can be safely recycled could demand more energy than the entire power capacity of most U.S. states.
How bad is Texas’ water shortage?
According to data compiled in the 2022 water plan from the Texas Water Development Board, towns and cities in the state could face severe water shortages by 2030. Water flow in 75% of Texas rivers and all of its major aquifers are seeing decreasing levels.
How could wastewater from oilfields be part of the solution?
The Permian Basin, located largely in West Texas, is the most productive U.S. oilfield and generates roughly 1 billion gallons of wastewater daily. This wastewater is highly contaminated, containing chemicals, potentially radioactive elements, and salt levels up to seven times higher than seawater.
Despite these challenges, lawmakers and industry leaders are exploring ways to treat and repurpose the water for non-potable applications, such as agriculture and industrial projects.
However, the treatment process is highly energy-intensive. Estimates suggest treating the entire volume of wastewater from the Permian Basin could require up to 26 gigawatts of power — more electricity than what’s generated in 30 U.S. states.
What technologies are being used to make this work?
Some companies are attempting to use advanced technologies to make this process more viable. Natura Resources is building a treatment facility powered by a next-generation molten salt nuclear reactor, which would provide the heat needed for thermal desalination. Meanwhile, Texas Pacific Water Resources is constructing a 5-megawatt plant that uses freezing techniques and various filtration systems to treat up to 10,000 barrels of wastewater daily.
Still, the energy demands remain significant. Employing some of these thermal desalination methods on a single barrel of oilfield wastewater can require up to 25 kilowatt-hours, compared to just 1.3 kilowatt-hours for seawater and 0.3 kilowatt-hours for municipal wastewater treatment.
What happens next?
Industry experts caution that many companies may be hesitant to invest in large-scale treatment projects until the technology becomes more energy-efficient and cost-effective.
