Kent Wilkins

Assistant Chief of Planning and Management

OK Water Resources Board

Shale Play Water Management 2014

November 20, 2014
Presentation Summary

 Water Appropriation Law in Oklahoma

 Identification of Available Water using OK 

Comprehensive Water Plan – Regional Reports

 Water Mapping and Drought Tools

 Innovative Solutions for Drought Resilience – Case 

Studies

2
Water Permitting Process

 Applications required (except for domestic use)

 Follow Administrative Procedures Act process

 Notice of application (mailed & published)

 Hearing if protested

 Applications are approved/denied by the OWRB 

9-member Board
Permit Types

Long-term Permits:

GW-Permits indefinite; based on basin yield/land owned 

 SW-Permits subject to forfeiture for non-use; 

interference 

90-day Provisional Temporary Permits: 

Granted at discretion of Director. Subject to cancellation. 

No notice or hearing requirements – Only easement.

Other Options: Can purchase water from existing permit 

holder as long as O&G is listed as authorized use on 

permit. 

4
OK Groundwater Law

 Fresh water under the surface, outside the cut 

banks of a definite stream

 Ownership tied to overlying land owner (1890 O.T. 

statute)... yes, it’s severable!

 Use subject to reasonable regulation

 Maximum annual yield/equal proportionate share 

as determined by OWRB
Groundwater Law Requirements

1. The applicant owns or leases the land from 

which the water will be withdrawn

2. The dedicated land overlies a groundwater 

basin

3. The water will be put to a beneficial use

4. Waste of the water will not occur
Oklahoma’s Groundwater

 23 major groundwater aquifers store 320 million 

acre-feet of water
OK Stream Water Law

 Water inside a natural channel, 

within the cut bed and banks, 

including ponds and lakes

 Public Water - Owned by everyone, 

owned by no one (res communes in 

Roman law)

 Use subject to appropriation; can 

be lost

 Priority by date, not by use
Oklahoma’s Surface Water

 34 major reservoirs store 13 million acre-feet of water

 4,300 public/private & watershed protection lakes
Long-Term Water Permits Statewide

1 acre-foot = 325,851 gallons

Type Number Amount 

(AFY)

Groundwater 10,815 3,760,126

Surface 

Water

2,034 2,591,411

Total 12,849 6,351,537

10
11
12

Active 90-Day Provisional-Temporary Permits
13

Provisional-Temporary Permits (2014)
14

90-Day Provisional Temporary Permits for 

Oil & Gas Production 2007 – Oct. 2012
15

Provisional Temporary (90 day) Permits

for Oil & Gas Usage (1992-2014)
16

Water Usage in Perspective

0

20000

40000

60000

80000

100000

120000

140000

160000

Woodford

Shale Well

Corn Circle

Avg (126-ac)*

OKC Daily

Avg**

Earlywine

G.C. (2011)***

7,518

57,480

90,000

143,705

Thousands of Gallons

Water Usage (x 1,000 gallons)

* Agricultural Issues & Recommendations, OWRB, June 2011, p. 6

** www.okc.gov/utilities

*** http://www.okgazette.com/oklahoma/article-13296-water-hogs.html 
Total Water Demands (2010-2060)

Oklahoma Comprehensive Water Plan
2060 Statewide Water Demand

Oklahoma Comprehensive Water Plan
Growth by Water Use Sector (2010-2060)

M&I = 28%

Irrigation = 25%

Thermoelectric = 31%

Oil/Gas = 12%

Oklahoma Comprehensive Water Plan
20

Oklahoma Comprehensive Water Plan

Largest Water Demand Sector Growth 

(2010-2060)
2060 Permit Availability

21

Groundwater

Oklahoma Comprehensive Water Plan
2060 Permit Availability

22

Surface Water

Oklahoma Comprehensive Water Plan
Basins with Greatest Potential to Offset Fresh 

Water Use with MQ Water

Innovative Solutions
Mapping Tool for Water Rights
Watershed Modeling Tool
Drought Monitoring Tools
•Off Stream Storage Reservoir

•Long-Term Permits VS 90 Day Permits

•Company Purchased Water Rights

•Permits on Year Round Flowing 

Streams

•Combination Groundwater and 

Stream Water Permitted Sites

Innovative Solutions – Case Studies
Private 

Landowner 

Permit for 

1760 Ac-Ft of 

Groundwater 

for Oil & Gas 

Usage

Innovative Solutions – Case Study
Oil & Gas 

Company 

Permit for 

640 Ac-Ft –

(Must own 

or lease 

land)

Innovative Solutions – Case Study
Landowner 

Groundwater 

Permit for 592 

Ac-Ft – Owner 

has applied for 

Stream Water 

Right at Same 

Site

Innovative Solutions – Case Study
Private 

Landowner 

Permit for 

1280 Ac-Ft 

for Oil & Gas 

Usage

Innovative Solutions – Case Study
Private 

Landowner 

Permit for 

10,507 Ac-Ft 

of 

Groundwater 

for Oil & Gas 

Usage

Innovative Solutions – Case Study
Oil & Gas 

Company 

Stream 

Water 

Permit on 

Federal 

Reservoir –

1500 Ac-Ft 

Utilizing 

Storage

Innovative Solutions – Case Study
Water Supply 

Company 

Permit for Oil & 

Gas Use – 1400 

Ac-Ft per year

Innovative Solutions – Case Study
Private Diversion 

on River with OffStream Storage 

Site – 1354.7 Ac-Ft 

for Oil and Gas

Innovative Solutions – Case Study
Company 

Stream Water 

permit with off 

Stream Storage 

– 1624 Ac-Ft for 

Oil & Gas Use

Innovative Solutions – Case Study
20,000 Ac-Ft 

Long-Term 

Permitted 

GW-SW Sites 

for Oil & Gas 

Usage Across 

State (since 

2012)

Innovative Solutions
39

Kent Wilkins, Assistance Chief of 

Planning and Management

Oklahoma Water Resources Board

3800 North Classen Boulevard

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73118

Ph: 405.530.8800

Em: kent.wilkins@owrb.ok.gov

www.owrb.ok.gov