Produced Water Reuse 

Initiative 2013

 Discussion: 

Comparing the Most Effective Produced 

Water Treatment Technologies to Date to 

Derive if an Economical Method has been 

Found 

October 29, 2013 

Water Recycle & Reuse 
WATER TREATMENT TECHNOLOGIES

       

! Understanding the minimum levels to which you need to clean 

produced water for it to effectively support completions 

fluids 

! Stating the different technologies available to understand the 

processes and chemicals being used to recycle the water 

! Examining the costs of differing approaches to ascertain 

whether successful procedures have also been cost-effective 

! Understanding the extent to which recycling water can 

decrease costs and improve overall economics in the long-run 

Water Recycle & Reuse 
MINIMUM TREATMENT DRIVERS 

Varying Frac Strategies 

Slick vs. Gel 

Hybrid Frac – both complete and by stage 

Testing Strategies – conflicting interests 

TDS – Tolerance Levels 

TSS – Filtration or Precipitation? 

Cleaning Costs are Dropping, Frac Fluids are Becoming More Tolerant 

Sterilization Requirements 

Chemical vs. Mechanical Kill – Redose vs. Carryover 

Water Recycle & Reuse 
Water Treatment 

Technologies/Cost 

Filtration Hydroclone – $.50-1.50 per BBL 

Chemical Precipitation - $1-3 per BBL 

Advanced Oxidation - $1-2.50 per BBL 

Reverse Osmosis - $3.50-5.50 per BBL 

Distillation/Evaporation - $6-8 per BBL 

Water Recycle & Reuse 
Economics – Cost Effective? 

! What are the true costs of water? 

! Direct Costs – Vary by Basin and Producer Strategies 

! Purchase, Trucking, Storage, Disposal 

! Are These Optimized Now? 

! Are There “Take or Pay” Contracts to Overcome? 

! Disposal Cost will Continue to Rise 

! Indirect Costs 

! Water Supply and Price Volatility

! Perceived as Poor Stewards of the Resource 

! Trucking Risks: Safety, Road Damage, Dust, Mud 

! Long Term Disposal Legal Liability 

! The Answer is More Complex than Per Barrel Cleaning Price 

Water Recycle & Reuse 
After Drilling – Now What? 

! Ultimately Rig Counts Will Drop – Water Production will 

Continue 

! Recycle is the Answer Today but What Happens in the Future? 

! Clean to Direct Discharge Standards – TDS is the Limiter 

! Evaporate, Distill, etc. - VOC’s and Power are the Limiters 

! Pretreat to POTW. Regulatory Hurdles and Requires Private – 

Public Partnerships 

! Find New Use – Different Industry? 

Water Recycle & Reuse 
The Future of Water/Energy 

Predictions 

The public will have a better understand of the oil and gas 

energy exemptions. Integrated water-energy policy will be 

more holistic, not ad-hoc 

Water is, and will continue to be, the pinch point for energy 

exploration/production and refining 

Traditional wastewater treatment plants will begin to accept 

produced water from oil and gas companies. 

The nexus point where industrial wastewater treatment 

meets mobile frac water recycling will be a major sign of 

integrated water and energy needs in broader alignment – 

fixed and distributed treatment facilities will grow in 

capabilities

Water Recycle & Reuse 
Balancing Needs of: 

Water Consumption, 

Food Production, 

Energy & Recreation 

Oil/Gas 

Industry 

General 

Public 

Can a bridge be built to align the needs for Water? 

Ag 

Govt

Regulation 

Enviro

Unknown 

Future Needs 

Water Recycle & Reuse 
Eric Gopsill 

Concord Produced Water Services 

Vice President 

720.530.9043 mobile 

Eric.Gopsill@h2o.concordenergy.com

Contact Information: 

Water Recycle & Reuse 
Bio 

Eric Gopsill currently serves as Vice President of Produced Water 

Services for Concord Energy Holdings, an integrated commodity 

logistics and oilfield services company. 

Prior to Concord Energy, Eric was a Senior Program Manager for 

CH2M HILL overseeing alternatively delivered water and 

wastewater treatment projects throughout North America. His 

career has been spent in the water business for the last 20+ years 

and has included design, construction, and operation of facilities 

from $5M to $100M+ per project. 

Education

Colorado School of Mines, BS Engineering (Civil) with an 

Environmental Engineering Minor. Graduated December 1989. 

Water Recycle & Reuse 
Questions & Answers 

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