Fresh water sourcing and 

recycling economics

Presented at 

3

rd Annual Shale Gas Water Management Initiative

November 28, 2012

Dallas, TX

By: Dewitt Dees - HWR
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 Water Logistics in the Oil and Gas industry

 Myths vs. Reality of Frac Process

 Flow back and produced water qualities and associated 

treatment options

 Case study in the Eagleford shale play

 Conclusions and Questions

Discussion Topics
 Changing economics with fluctuations in natural gas and oil 

prices

 TDS, TSS variations from field to field

 Frac chemical variation

 Flow back vs. produced water quantities

 Oil and other organics present

 Intended use for treated water – reuse or disposal

 Mobile vs. fixed assets

 Producer owns and operates vs. working with service 

provider

Challenges in treatment selection
Reuse logistics

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Lateral Pipe

Multi Well Pad

Disposal Pipeline

Fresh Water Pipeline

Nat Gas Well

Nat Gas Well

Nat Gas Well

Disposal Well

Fresh Water Source

Terminal Facility

Frac Tanks

Temporary Pipe

Temporary Pipe

Frac Tanks

Frac Tanks

Frac Tanks

Temporary Pipe
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Fresh water storage options
 Temporary or fixed pumps, pipelines (flex steel, fibrespar, HDPE, 

FPVC), strainers, etc. with bag filters for TSS removal

 Option to use large water storage with main trunk line and 

laterals directly to frac pad to reduce truck traffic

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Water Transfer Options
Make-up of typical frac fluids
Typical Makeup of Flowback and 

Produced Waters

• Mainly Water

• Total dissolved solids (TDS)

• A mixture of carbonates, chlorides, sulfates, nitrates, sodium 

and other materials

• Oils and greases

• Low levels of NORM depending on formation
USGS Inlet TDS Survey

Source: http://water.usgs.gov/orh/nrwww/Otten.pdf
 Filtered/disinfected low TDS waters as “fresh water” for 

hydrofracturing

 Treated Flowback and Produced water with oil, TSS, 

scalants removed, and disinfected for blending with fresh 

water

 Hydrocarbons recovered from hydrocarbon based drilling 

muds

 Cleaned cuttings and well pad gravel for reuse

 Calcium chloride, barite, heavy brines that can be produced 

from the flowback and produced water

 Distilled water from thermal treatment systems

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What will the producers accept as 

recycled products?
 Operator Injection Wells <$2 per bbl

 Infield underground injection of water into deep containment zones

 Often no acceptable geologic zones available infield

 Expected to be under increasing public/regulatory pressure over time

 Commercial Injection Wells $1-3 per bbl + transportation

 Out of field underground injection of water into deep containment 

zones

 Expected to be under increasing public/regulatory pressure over time

 Evaporation Pits $1-3 per bbl + transportation

 Infield or out of field holding ponds for evaporation of water and 

storage of salts

 Under immediate public/regulatory pressure and increasing over time

 VOC emissions are a concern

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Existing Disposal-Treatment Options 
 Solids removal $1-$3/bbl.

 Condensate/Oil removal and recovery $1-$4/bbl.

 Hardness removal for reuse (fresh water limited 

fields) $3 -$5/bbl.

 Total dissolved solids removal for reuse or discharge 

(usually in fields with high amounts of produced 

water) $3-12/bbl. depending on incoming TDS and 

technology used

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Disposal-Treatment Options - continued
Softening via Reaction Clarification

Softening Chemicals

Raw Water

Filtrate Recycle Solids to Disposal

Softened Water

pH Adjust

Overflow

Underflow

Underflow

Reaction

Clarifier

Sludge

Thickener

Media

Filter

Filter Press

Source: VWS Oil and Gas
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12,000 bpd reuse plant in Marcellus
 Technology is based on proven 

scientific principles of electrochemistry.

 First documented in the early 

1900s.

 Primary coagulants are iron and 

aluminum.

 Reaction time is less than 30 

seconds and 

coagulation time is roughly 10 

minutes.

Electrocoagulation Science
Where Is EC Effective?

GOOD

 TSS

 Turbidity

 Metals (Fe, Cu, Zn, etc.)

 Dissolved Metals

 Bacteria

 Sulfur Reducing Bacteria

 TPH

 Barium

 Strontium

 Emulsified Oils

Source: ROLCO
Eagle Ford Pilot Project 

Eagle Ford Assets

 4 salt water disposal wells 

(plus 3 permits for new 

wells)

 70+ trucks

 290+ frac tanks

 180+ miles of temporary 

piping

“Availability of fresh water is 

key concern for producers”

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7,500 BPD EC Unit
 Project description

 Partnered with technology provider to install and optimize the design

 Install full scale 7500 bbl/day unit at Alpha disposal

 Start up 8/1/12 – Full operation 9/1/12

 System has treated all types of flowback and produced waters from most 

operators in the area

 System is running successfully on all water types entering facility

 Designed as a fixed system but can easily be moved to an operators field.

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Project Overview
 Water variability is a wide range –

 Color black to light blue

 Ph from 1.9 – 6.8

 More organics in water than shown in pilot testing

 Organics break is significant after AECRR #1

 Organic material floats with hydrogen that is dissolved in water

 Material removed from AECRR #1 greater than pilot

 Float material sinks over time 

 Filter aid is effective to get all material to float

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Observations 
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Water before and after
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EC Benefits
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7,500 BPD Eagleford Recycle Unit
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Eagleford EC Recycle System
Conclusions

 Water management can be a potential obstacle to 

producers when developing shale plays

 Each field has its own specific set of challenges 

 Public perception is not always correct 

 Producers are working hard to change public perception 

and separate fact from fiction

 One technology is not the answer

 Working together – suppliers and producers can develop a 

water management program to bring operation costs 

down and reduce fresh water demand
Questions?

 Dewitt Dees

 Director Business Development

 Heckmann Water Resources

 Cell 713-253-2393

 dewitt.dees@hwrcorp.com