EDGAR 10-K Filing

Company CIK: 1693256
Filing Year: 2025
Filename: 1693256_10-K_2025_0001558370-25-001154.json

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ITEM 1. BUSINESS
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Select Water Solutions, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries (collectively referred to as “Select,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is a leading provider of sustainable water-management solutions to the energy industry in the U.S. As a leader in the water management industry, we place the utmost importance on safe, environmentally responsible management of water throughout the lifecycle of a well. Additionally, we believe that responsibly managing water resources through our operations to help conserve and protect the environment in the communities in which we operate is paramount to our continued success.
With a diverse geographic footprint across the U.S., we operate through three primary segments: Water Infrastructure, Water Services and Chemical Technologies.
Our Water Infrastructure segment develops, builds, and operates permanent and semi-permanent infrastructure solutions to support full life cycle water management and waste treatment solutions. These solutions incorporate both new oil and gas well development and ongoing production activity, including recycling and disposal of flowback and produced water and the associated logistics. As our customers transition from appraisal to full-field development, and also transition to treated produced water to complete new wells, our fixed infrastructure networks can provide environmental benefits by reducing the demand for water disposal, water hauling by truck and fresh water demand, while at the same time enabling economies of scale that help reduce customer capital expenditures and lease operating expenses over the life of the field. These water networks can also help balance water supply across regions and customers to promote greater water reuse.
Our Water Infrastructure operations are underpinned by a growing portfolio of long-term contractual agreements, and accompanying customer commitments, that encompass the delivery of water needed for the near-term development of new oil and gas wells but also provide the long-term solutions that manage produced water over the entire production life of a well. These agreements, which commonly entail higher operating margins over a longer contractual term, underscore our commitment to our customers and our role as primary environmental steward for these operations. Our infrastructure networks facilitate for the gathering and takeaway of produced water, as well as the treatment, reuse and delivery of treated produced water. Our infrastructure assets include permanent pipeline infrastructure, semi-permanent pipeline infrastructure, fixed and mobile treatment and recycling facilities, water storage facilities, saltwater disposal wells (“SWDs”) and landfill facilities.
We are actively expanding our portfolio of water recycling facilities across multiple regions, emphasizing water recycling opportunities as a cornerstone of our operations. We recognize produced water as an invaluable, sustainable non-potable water source, naturally generated from ongoing oil and/or gas production. Through our dedicated efforts in recycling, we aim to progressively reduce the proportion of produced water being reinjected into SWDs over time, thereby diminishing the industry’s reliance on fresh water and reinforcing our commitment to responsible resource management.
Additionally, we are pursuing recycling solutions beyond traditional reuse for oil and gas operations that could enable the beneficial reuse of produced water for non-energy applications. This could enable substitution of treated produced water in general industry and agriculture, or other stewardship-oriented applications such as wildlife rehabilitation, carbon capture and sequestration, or drought mitigation, among other opportunities. Further advancements could preserve substantial fresh water sources and enable the industry to become a contributor to the water lifecycle.
Our Water Services segment provides the complex services needed to support new well completions as well as ongoing production over the life of the well, including water transfer, water sourcing, flowback and well testing, water containment, fluids hauling, water monitoring and water network automation, as well as various on-site rental equipment and accommodation offerings. Through our patented WaterONE™ automation services and our proprietary AquaView® software platform, our Water Services segment provides extensive technology solutions that enable 24/7 monitoring and visibility for our customers into all of their water-related operations, including hydrographic mapping, water volume and quality monitoring, remote pit and tank monitoring, leak detection, asset and fuel tracking and automated-equipment services. We believe these technologies help our customers lower their operating costs, improve well productivity, increase safety, reduce the risk of spills and reduce the environmental footprint of their operations.
Our Chemical Technologies segment develops, manufactures, manages logistics and provides a full suite of chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing, stimulation, cementing, pipelines and well completions. Our completion chemicals are sold primarily to leading integrated and independent E&P companies and pressure-pumping service companies in the U.S. to support well stimulation and completion. We also provide customized water treatment and flow assurance solutions across the completion and production lifecycle. Additionally, through our FluidMatch™ solutions, we provide comprehensive testing and analysis of our customers’ application conditions, product chemistry and key performance requirements for oil and gas well completion fluid-system design. This process may include water profiling, application and fluid assessment, treatment assessment, product selection, optimization and customization.
Industry and Company Overview
Over the past two decades, advancements in horizontal drilling and completions technologies have led to significant and sustained growth in oil and natural gas production in the United States. Advances in drilling and completion technology have propelled shale oil production in the U.S. from about 500,000 barrels per day in 2010 to approximately 9 million barrels per day currently, which accounts for approximately 9% of the total global oil supply. Additionally, U.S. shale gas production has increased from about 15 billion cubic feet per day in 2010 to approximately 85 billion cubic feet per day as of December 2024, or nearly 80% of U.S. natural gas production and nearly 20% of global natural gas supply. This growth has dramatically impacted fundamental global supply and demand dynamics and has resulted in a generally balanced to over-supplied market in recent years. While demand for oil and natural gas has
generally increased over the last fourteen years, demand is cyclical and subject to many factors. For example, demand in the energy industry has been impacted by global geopolitical conflicts, including the Russia-Ukraine war and hostilities in the Middle East. Demand for our services is influenced by the level of drilling and completion activity by E&P companies in the U.S., which in turn depends largely on the current and anticipated profitability of developing oil and natural gas reserves, as well as the ongoing production of existing wells.
Water is essential to the development and completion of unconventional oil and gas wells, where oil and gas producers rely on hydraulic fracturing to stimulate the production of oil and gas from subsurface rock formations with low permeability. The modern hydraulic fracturing process involves the high-pressure injection of large volumes of water and proppant, together with chemicals, through a cased and cemented wellbore into targeted subsurface formations thousands of feet below ground to fracture the surrounding rock. Modern hydraulic fracturing involves complex, engineered solutions to produce oil and gas from tight geological formations in a cost-effective manner.
The volume of water required to economically produce tight oil and gas reserves in the U.S. has grown in recent years and water and water-related services comprise a meaningful portion of our customers’ drilling and completion budgets. For example, in 2010, the completion of a typical horizontal well could require roughly 75,000 barrels of water, but today, current horizontal well completion designs can call for in excess of 750,000 barrels for a single well. Our customers’ current multi-well pad development plans can require in excess of five million barrels to complete all of the wells on the pad. Furthermore, in recent years and in the pursuit of further efficiencies, operators have advanced the development of “zipper fracturing,” “simul-fracturing” and “trimul-fracturing” operations. Zipper fracturing results in two wells being stimulated on the same pad at the same time. This significantly reduces the amount of time needed to complete operations on a single pad. With simul-fracturing or trimul-fracturing operations, operators can even further eliminate idle time on the remaining wells on a single pad by making forward progress across all the wells on a pad. For example, on a four-well pad, with simul-fracturing operations, the operator can pump down two wells, while perforating the other two, allowing it to complete more lateral footage in the same amount of time compared to standard zipper-fracturing operations where two of the wells would remain idle during the stimulation phase of the first two wells. While this does not increase the overall water consumption on a per-site basis, this does significantly increase the volumetric flow rates required to the wellsite at any given time and the sophistication of the logistics required for delivery, while concurrently decreasing the overall number of days spent on a single location. Significant mechanical, logistical, environmental and safety issues related to the sourcing, transfer, storage and treatment of such large volumes of water and the rate of delivery have increased both the total cost of water and related services and the complexity and importance of the services required. This trend has shifted many of our customers’ operational focus away from legacy small, local water service providers, to larger regional and national players like us, who have the expertise, technology and scale to provide high-quality, reliable, comprehensive and environmentally responsible water-management solutions for the full extent of the water lifecycle.
Delivering these comprehensive and environmentally responsible water management solutions requires significant logistical expertise to overcome the challenges of gathering, treating, blending, and delivering significant volumes of produced water or treated produced water. These logistical challenges are typically met through a combination of temporary and permanent solutions utilizing pipe and hose infrastructure to deliver water across the broad geographic areas in which we operate. These logistical solutions significantly reduce the cost and environmental footprint compared to legacy solutions such as tank truck and frac tank operations. For a single representative multi-well pad that requires five million barrels of water, we can utilize our pipe and hose infrastructure solutions and eliminate the approximate equivalent of 38,500 tank truck loads from the roads. This significantly reduces the capital and operating expenditure costs for our customers while dramatically improving the safety of our operations. Importantly, these solutions also reduce the environmental impact and carbon footprint of our customers’ operations by limiting spills and diesel exhaust emissions, as well as reducing the social impact of heavy vehicle traffic in the communities in which we operate.
We also develop and source water treatment and completion chemicals that are a critical part of the U.S. energy industry. Water treatment chemicals enable a barrel of water to be used in ongoing operations while completion chemicals are blended with water to improve the transport and placement of proppant in targeted zones within the producing geological formations. The induced fractures near the wellbore allow hydrocarbons to flow into the wellbore for extraction. Our team of chemists and research and development personnel work directly with our customers to
support the optimization of water quality and their fracturing fluid systems through our FluidMatch™ solutions. Through laboratory and application experience, we apply our expertise in chemistry to develop, manufacture and supply a wide range of specialized and customizable products to our customers for their well completion fluid systems.
Up to fifty percent of the water pumped into the well during the hydraulic fracturing process returns as “flowback” water during the first several weeks following the well completion process, and a large percentage of the remainder, plus naturally occurring water in the producing formation, is recovered as produced water over the life of the well. The total volumes of flowback and produced water are significantly greater than the volumes used for new well completions. By some estimates, the U.S. oil and gas industry today produces over 24 billion barrels of water per year and this volume is likely to grow, relative to the demand for volumes for new well completions of approximately six billion barrels per year. This flowback and produced water must be captured, contained and then either treated and recycled for reuse in subsequent fracturing jobs or disposed of in an environmentally-responsible manner. We provide services that support the operator’s management of flowback and produced water for either reuse or disposal. Additionally, our customized chemical treatment programs help improve well productivity and reduce production costs, thereby extending the economic life of our customers’ oil and gas wells.
As produced water volumes have significantly grown in recent years, logistical advancements similar to those seen in the delivery of source water volumes for new well completions have been developed for managing these produced water volumes. Increasingly, the transportation of these produced water volumes has shifted away from traditional tank truck operations and onto gathering pipeline infrastructure for disposal or recycling and reuse. Recycling produced water through dedicated infrastructure for reuse significantly reduces the lease operating costs for our customers over the life of a well, while also reducing the environmental impact and carbon footprint of our customers’ operations by limiting diesel exhaust emissions and reducing truck traffic in our local communities.
Ultimately, our customers are required to manage more than 24 billion barrels of produced water annually, and we are focused on how we can create the most beneficial resource out of what has historically been viewed solely as a waste stream. We believe the industry will increasingly turn to specialized water solutions companies like us to help cost-effectively manage produced water in an environmentally responsible manner. Select intends to play an important role in the advancement of water and chemical solutions that are designed to meet the sustainability goals of all stakeholders.
Mergers and Acquisitions - 2024 Year-in-Review
During 2024, we executed a number of strategic business combinations and asset acquisitions, totaling approximately $163 million in the aggregate. These transactions included the acquisition of Tri-State Water Logistics, LLC and certain of its affiliates (the “Tri-State Acquisition”) for approximately $58.3 million, which strengthened our fluids and solids treatment and disposal assets and operations in the Haynesville region; the acquisition of Trinity Acquisition Holdings, LLC (d/b/a Trinity Environmental Services) and related entities (the “Trinity Acquisition”) for approximately $30.8 million, which added strategic saltwater disposal wells and pipelines in the Permian Basin; the acquisition of certain disposal assets, operations and disposal and recycling permits in the Rockies region (the “Rockies Infrastructure Acquisition”) for approximately $18.1 million which strengthened our water disposal assets in the region; the acquisition of equity interests from certain subsidiaries of Buckhorn Waste Services, LLC and Buckhorn Disposal, LLC (the “Buckhorn Acquisition”) for approximately $18.8 million, adding to our solids waste management capabilities in the Bakken; the acquisition of substantially all of the assets and operations of Iron Mountain Energy, LLC (the “Iron Mountain Acquisition”) for approximately $14.0 million, expanding our fluids and solids treatment and disposal operations in the Haynesville region; the acquisition of equity interests of certain subsidiaries of Bobcat SWIW Holdings, LLC for approximately $8.1 million (the “Bobcat Acquisition”), strengthening our Marcellus/Utica disposal operations; and the acquisition of certain assets and related liabilities in the Permian Basin and Northeast Ohio for approximately $14.6 million (the “2024 Asset Acquisitions”), enhancing our current and future water infrastructure capabilities. These business combinations and asset acquisitions further expand our focus on investing in water infrastructure projects.
Industry Observations & Looking Ahead
The oil and gas industry in 2024 continued to navigate a complex landscape shaped by global economic factors, geopolitical tensions, and evolving energy policies. Despite volatility, oil prices have remained relatively stable year-over-year, with WTI crude oil remaining flat at around $77 per barrel. However, natural gas prices hit a historic lower price, averaging near $2 per MMBtu. Despite a decrease in natural gas prices, this price environment has supported steady drilling and completion activities in most basins in which we have strategically positioned our operations.
The industry's focus on capital discipline and operational efficiency has intensified, driving demand for integrated water management solutions that optimize costs and enhance environmental performance. This trend aligns well with our strategy of providing comprehensive water infrastructure and chemical solutions. As operators prioritize free cash flow generation and responsible development practices, our services become increasingly vital to their operations.
Looking ahead to 2025, we anticipate a continued emphasis from our customers on sustainable production growth, with operators balancing output increases against market demand and environmental considerations. While we expect regulatory tailwinds to be supportive of increased drilling and completion activities, the ongoing energy transition is likely to accelerate water management challenges, as produced water volumes increase with well maturity and other growing industrial demand increases stress on overall water resources. This scenario presents significant opportunities for our water recycling and disposal capabilities, particularly in regions facing water scarcity or stringent regulatory environments.
Energy demand projections remain resilient, supporting a cautiously optimistic outlook for oil and gas activity levels. However, potential headwinds include inflationary pressures, supply chain constraints and international economic concerns. We continue to monitor the evolving regulatory landscapes, especially concerning emissions and water management. Our diversified service offerings and strategic infrastructure investments, including recent acquisitions and new recycling and pipeline projects, position us well to adapt to these challenges and capitalize on emerging opportunities in this dynamic market environment.
Recent market conditions, including the war between Russia-Ukraine, hostilities in the Middle East, the U.S. presidential election and elevated interest rates and levels of inflation, have created volatility in the markets in which we and our customers operate. During 2024, the West Texas Intermediate spot price for oil ranged from a low of $66.73 per barrel in September to a high of $87.69 per barrel in April, and the Henry Hub spot price for natural gas ranged from a low of $1.21 per MMBtu in November to a high of $13.20 per MMBtu in January.
Sustainability
We are committed to a corporate strategy that supports the long-term viability of our business model in a manner that focuses on all stakeholders, including our people, our customers, the environment, and the communities in which we operate. We believe this focus will help us and our customers achieve their short-term and long-term strategic goals, help us attract and retain top talent, and further our efforts to generate superior investor returns. We believe our commitment to foster a culture of corporate responsibility is an important part of being a company with operations spanning the contiguous U.S. Further, we believe being a good corporate steward is strategic to our growth in the energy industry and will better allow us to develop solutions that both address the needs of our customers and contribute to sustainable business practices. Our commitment to these principles is exemplified through our sustainability-linked credit facility, which incorporates certain key performance indicator targets related to growing produced water recycling volumes and maintaining market-leading employee safety performance. Additionally, as a customer-oriented company, we compete with other providers based on various factors, including safety and operational performance, technological innovation, process efficiencies and reputational awareness. We have identified the following four priorities as part of our comprehensive corporate responsibility initiative: Environmental Consciousness, Health and Safety, Human Capital Management and Community Outreach. We believe there is a strong link between these corporate responsibility initiatives and our ability to provide value to our stakeholders.
Environmental Consciousness
We are one of the few public companies whose primary focus is on the management of water and water logistics in the energy industry with a focus on driving efficient, environmentally responsible, and economic solutions that lower costs throughout the lifecycle of the well. We believe water is a valuable resource and understand that the energy industry, other industries, and the general public are competing for this resource. We continue to provide access to water as demanded by our customers and have significantly increased our focus on the recycling and reuse of produced water, as well as assessing other industrial water sources, to meet the industry’s water demand and align our operations with the goals of our customers. We have invested significantly in the development and acquisition of fixed and mobile recycling facilities that support the advancement of commercialized produced water reuse solutions. By doing so, we strive to reduce the amount of produced water being reinjected into SWDs and to reduce our usage of fresh water as well as that of our customers. By implementing our innovative approach to end-to-end water solutions, we have become a leader in recycling produced water to be reused for energy production. See Part I, Item 1. “Business - Competitive Strengths” and “-Description of Business Segments” for more discussion on our operating capabilities and expertise around advancing sustainable water and chemical solutions.
Safety & Well-being
Safety Culture: We maintain a culture of safety, committed to the protection of the health and the safety of our employees, as well as preserving the environment and our relationships with the communities in which we operate. We place a strong emphasis on the safe execution of our operations, including safety training for our employees and the development of a variety of safety programs designed to make us a market leader in safety standards and performance. We have a comprehensive approach to formulating and managing training requirements for all of our operational employees. This includes mandatory participation in monthly, quarterly, and annual environmental, health and safety meetings, a combination of live in-person training and computer-based training tailored to specific job-duties and operational activities, and comprehensive safety reference material. We also empower operational personnel with stop-work authority (“SWA”) as a tool to advance our safety culture. Our SWA policy empowers our employees to stop work whenever they identify unsafe work conditions.
Safety Recognition Program (SRP): The investment and creation of our SRP in 2016 has had a profound impact on our organization. By acknowledging and rewarding employees for their commitment to safety, we have witnessed a significant improvement in overall workplace safety culture. Employees are more vigilant, proactive, and engaged in promoting a safe working environment. Incidents and accidents have seen a noticeable decline, reflecting the program's success in fostering a collective sense of responsibility for safety. Additionally, the positive reinforcement from the recognition program has boosted employee morale and teamwork, creating a ripple effect that extends beyond safety practices, contributing to a healthier and more productive workplace overall.
Human Capital Management
Attracting, retaining, and developing the talent needed to address current and future business needs is a key component of our human capital strategy. We invest in our workforce by offering competitive wages and benefits, continually working to create a strong company culture, and engaging our talent. We have an industry-leading safety program that makes our Company an attractive place to work. As of December 31, 2024, we had more than 3,700 employees. Our human capital measures and objectives focus on several areas including, but not limited to, culture, safety and well-being, employee retention, human rights and social responsibility, and operational execution.
Culture: Culture is an integral part of our operations because of its profound impact on recruitment, job satisfaction, work performance and morale and begins with our mission and core values. We are all connected by WATER: our values - Working Safe, Accountability, Teamwork, Excellence, Respect. These are the foundation for how we strive to accomplish our mission to deliver operational excellence and develop sustainable water and chemistry solutions every day. Our employees put our core values into action daily to improve operational excellence, safety, and the customer experience. To help build a strong company culture, we developed an employee recognition program to acknowledge and celebrate employees who live our values through their work and interactions. At Select, we know that many drops of excellence can create a wave of impact. Drop of Excellence is our highest recognition award for our employees, and the
recipients of such recognition represent the best of the best across the Company. Drop of Excellence nominations are submitted by executive leadership and recognize individuals that have made significant contributions to our success and serving our customers. Our strong company culture includes commitments to all stakeholders, and we aim to create a work environment that fosters a diverse and inclusive company culture. Additionally, we prioritize safety in our operations through rigorous training, structured protocols and ongoing automation of our operations. Our prioritization of safety includes a commitment to safeguarding the communities in which we operate. See Part I, Item 1. “Business-Human Capital” and Part I, Item 1. “Business-Environmental and Occupational Safety and Health Matters” for more discussion on our efforts on safety, training, employee culture and other stakeholder engagement.
Management Alignment: We believe that proper alignment of our management and our board of directors with our shareholders is critical to creating long-term value, including the alignment of management compensation and incentive structures and the continued leadership of an experienced, diverse and independent board of directors. See Part III, Item 10. “Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance” and Part III, Item 11 “Executive Compensation” for additional discussion on our governance and compensation structures.
Benefits: To support the ongoing health and well-being of our employees, we offer a competitive benefits package for regular, full-time employees, such as medical, dental and vision, life and accident insurance, and an employee assistance program to support employees and their families’ mental well-being through life’s changing circumstances. We’re also proud to offer the Select Family Fund as a resource to employees. Established in 2020, the Family Fund assists employees in crisis situations. The program is funded by employee donations via payroll deductions with an annual company match.
Employee Retention: From organizational announcements to quarterly leadership updates and employee initiatives, a strong cadence of communication helps our employees to be successful and informed in their roles and to be equipped to lead their teams through change. Communications and change management will continue to play a key role for how employees and leaders are developed for their role. Employee development is encouraged through regular, constructive dialogue, including semi-annual one-on-one conversations about well-being, performance, and growth, facilitated by a formal feedback program. This approach ensures our core values are integrated into daily operations, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and alignment with our strategic goals. Our approach to employee development encourages managers and supervisors to engage in constructive dialogue with their direct reports, focusing on performance, continuous improvement, and growth opportunities. Through these initiatives, we aim to maintain a culture of development, operational excellence, and commitment to our employees’ well-being and professional growth.
Succession Planning: We also recognize the importance of intentional development through succession planning, and the long-term benefit of improved engagement. We maintain an online employee job portal that allows employees to apply for open positions quickly and easily within the Company, whether it be a change of location, a promotion, or a new position in a different service line. In some service lines where career progression can be easily mapped, job progression is outlined allowing an employee to visualize the path necessary to achieve job competency, mastery, and promotion. We offer trainings from senior leadership to our field operations to support the roll out of new initiatives and skills required for growth.
Human Rights & Social Responsibility: We recognize the many benefits of having a diverse workforce and are committed to conducting business in a manner that respects all human rights. We are committed to promoting and encouraging respect for people and fundamental freedoms for all without distinctions of any kind, such as race, color, sex, language, religion, or political or other opinions. We demonstrate this commitment in our employment practices, through our Code of Conduct, our Equal Employment Opportunity Employer Policy, and our Anti-Harassment Policy, as well as through our policies on safety and security for our employees. We provide several ways for individuals to raise concerns anonymously via our Ethics Reporting System or Environmental Health & Safety Hotline.
Community Outreach
Being a Good Neighbor: As a company operating in various communities throughout the United States, we value the hospitality of the local communities we call home. We are dedicated to being an exemplary neighbor by adhering to strict environmental standards, promoting workplace safety, and contributing to the communities where we operate. We
collaborate with numerous non-profit organizations and industry groups centered on environmental and social causes. By dedicating our time and resources, we actively contribute to the development of strong communities and create an improved environment for our employees, customers, and communities at large. In today’s world, where the demands for high-performance solutions are more crucial than ever, we recognize the importance of meeting these demands while actively embracing environmentally responsible practices within the communities we serve. We steadfastly maintain our commitment to delivering solutions that align with these principles.
Proactive Engagement: We also believe in taking a proactive role to create dialogue with landowners, communities, operators, local agencies, and state agencies in areas where oil and gas activities occur. We view each of these constituents as a partner to our Company and have identified the following areas of focus as we foster these partnerships: minimize our footprint; drive top-level performance while holding our team to a higher standard; strengthen our partnerships with landowners and customers in the areas in which we operate; minimize downtime and disruption; and cultivate long-term relationships with landowners and our customers to expedite resolution of issues in an efficient manner.
Operational Execution: It is critical that all of our employees that serve our customers are qualified and trained for their roles, understand our policies and work procedures, and receive the work direction necessary to operate safely. Site managers create daily, weekly and monthly plans to coordinate tasks and personnel. Our employees use standard operating procedures and best practices to standardize effective and consistent execution. Our experienced employees often operate in a mentor capacity to provide guidance and instruction to less experienced employees and use videos to train and develop our operational personnel.
Description of Business Segments
We offer our services through the following three reportable segments: (i) Water Infrastructure, (ii) Water Services and (iii) Chemical Technologies.
Water Infrastructure Segment
Our Water Infrastructure segment provides recycling, gathering, transferring and disposal of water. Water Infrastructure operations are provided through or enabled by a network of permanent pipeline infrastructure, semi-permanent pipeline infrastructure, water recycling facilities, earthen pits, water sources and SWDs.
Water Infrastructure Service Lines
Our Water Infrastructure segment is divided into the following service lines:
● Water Recycling & Reuse. We are one of the largest providers of water treatment and recycling to the energy industry, offering tailored solutions to meet specific customer water quality and delivery needs. Our Water Recycling & Reuse business utilizes both standard and proprietary processes and technology, including mechanical and chemical technologies, to provide high-quality, large volume throughput and cost-optimized recycling and reuse solutions for our E&P customers. These solutions are primarily designed for recycling and reusing flowback and produced water from existing operations to meet customer’s well completion water needs. By providing high-quality completion water volumes, we reduce the need for freshwater sourcing and disposal into SWDs. Our recycling operations consist of temporary, semi-permanent and permanent infrastructure, including above-ground and in-ground containment, along with treatment processing assets and facilities capable of recycling large volumes of produced water for reuse in hydraulic fracturing.
Since 2022, we have invested substantially in developing produced water recycling infrastructure, commencing operations in both the Delaware and Midland Basin portions of the Permian Basin and DJ Basin portion of the Rockies Region. Our combined mobile and fixed recycling operations now include a consolidated daily throughput capacity of approximately 3.2 million barrels per day of active produced water recycling capacity and 21 million barrels of produced water storage. Our recycling process involves treating water by removing contaminants, sediments, and chemicals from water used during drilling and
completions, enabling its reuse in further completion operations. This approach significantly reduces freshwater consumption and minimizes wastewater disposal, supporting environmental sustainability in oil and gas operations.
In 2024, we experienced organic growth in our recycling operations due to several factors, including the commercial success of our business development team in securing long-term projects and increased activity levels from existing asset bases. We expanded our recycling system infrastructure, particularly in the Permian Basin. We anticipate further growth ahead with planned expansions and new recycling infrastructure, especially in the Permian Basin. These developments, along with new long-term contracts, are supporting our continued organic growth and enhancing our capacity to provide sustainable water management solutions to the energy industry.
● Pipelines & Logistics. We have developed some of our larger, strategic water sources into comprehensive, permanent pipeline systems designed to provide water used for drilling, completion and production activity across a wide geography or to collect and redistribute produced water into our recycling and disposal facilities. In many instances, we also provide the associated storage and logistics needed to deliver the water directly to our customers’ wellsites. We have developed or acquired pipeline systems in the Permian Basin, including the Northern Delaware Basin of New Mexico and the Midland Basin in Texas, the Bakken Shale in North Dakota, the Haynesville Shale in Louisiana and the DJ Basin in Colorado within the Rockies region. These pipeline networks encompass more than 1,000 miles of temporary and permanent pipeline infrastructure and related storage facilities and pumps throughout the Permian Basin, more than 90 miles of gathering and distribution pipelines in the Bakken Shale, a 60-mile dual lined buried gathering and distribution pipeline system in the Haynesville Shale and other long-term contracted gathering pipeline and distribution systems in the MidCon and Rockies regions. These pipelines utilize a combination of industrial, surface and produced water sources and include a number of long-term contracts, including take-or-pay agreements, minimum volume commitments and acreage dedications supporting the operations.
● Fluid Disposal. In 2024, we continued to add to our SWD infrastructure with multiple strategic acquisitions. The Trinity Acquisition added saltwater disposal wells and pipelines in the Permian Basin, bolstering our presence in this key region. We also added a strategic SWD well in the Permian Basin through an asset acquisition in Eddy County, New Mexico. The Bobcat Acquisition enhanced our disposal operations in the Marcellus/Utica region. The Iron Mountain Acquisition and Tri-State Acquisition strengthened our fluids and solids treatment and disposal assets in the Haynesville region. Further, the Rockies Infrastructure Acquisition improved water disposal operations in that region. Altogether, these acquisitions significantly increased the number of active SWDs under our ownership and operation. Presently, we manage an extensive portfolio of active SWDs spanning across the Permian, MidCon, Bakken, South Texas, Rockies, Marcellus/Utica, and Haynesville regions, establishing a leading presence in key unconventional basins. We also have substantial additional permitted, undeveloped disposal capacity and permits currently in process that provide growth opportunities in strategic areas. In aggregate, we command a daily permitted disposal capacity of more than 2.2 million barrels per day across our operational footprint. Our disposal services cater to both flowback water generated during and shortly following well completion operations and naturally-occurring produced water extracted during the oil and natural gas production process over the life of a well. These volumes are transported to our SWDs through networks of owned and third-party gathering pipelines, as well as a fleet of owned and third-party fluid hauling trucks, ensuring the efficient logistical management of this critical aspect of our operations.
● Solids Management. Select operates four landfill and solids treatment facilities strategically positioned to support our customers' waste management needs in the Bakken and Northeast regions. These include a 50-acre special waste landfill in North Dakota, acquired through the Nuverra acquisition, with more than five million cubic yards of permitted capacity. The facility primarily handles solid waste from the E&P industry. Two additional landfill facilities, acquired through the Buckhorn acquisition, are located in Montana and North Dakota. The Montana facility spans 400 acres and is permitted to manage over 25,000 tons of waste annually, including technologically enhanced naturally occurring radioactive materials (“TENORM”) and other non-hazardous industrial byproducts. The North Dakota facility encompasses 565 acres and is permitted to manage up to 360,000 tons of waste annually, further enhancing waste
management capabilities in the Bakken region. Select also operates a solids treatment facility in Ohio within the Marcellus/Utica basin. This facility treats up to 3,000 barrels per day of liquids-equivalent contaminated and residual solids, offers tank cleanout and lab services, and connects via pipeline to a Select wastewater disposal facility.
Water Infrastructure Geographic Areas of Operation
We provide our Water Infrastructure offerings in most of the major unconventional shale plays in the continental U.S., as illustrated by a “✓” in the chart below.
Geographic Region
Marcellus /
Services Provided
Permian
MidCon
Bakken
Eagle Ford
Utica
Haynesville
Rockies
Water Recycling & Reuse
✓
-
-
-
-
✓
✓
Pipelines & Logistics
✓
✓
✓
-
-
✓
✓
Fluid Disposal
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Solids Management
-
-
✓
-
✓
-
-
Water Infrastructure Customers
Our Water Infrastructure customers primarily include major integrated and independent U.S. and international oil and gas producers.
Water Infrastructure Competition
While our customers typically award contracts after a competitive bidding process, the presence of existing infrastructure in an acreage position can be critical in realizing economic value. In addition to the reach and capacity of existing area networks, track record, the skill and competency of our people, pricing, safety, the ability to move sufficient volumes at scale and environmental performance are key factors in the bid evaluation. Equipment availability, location, and technical specifications can also be significant considerations. We have a successful track record of utilizing our infrastructure to obtain various long-term contracts such as areas-of-mutual-interest, acreage dedications, well bore dedications, minimum volume commitments and take-or-pay agreements, while maintaining operational capacity for short-term work that may emerge.
Certain large midstream companies offer some water-oriented and infrastructure services, though these are generally ancillary to their core businesses of gathering and transporting oil and gas volumes. There are also public water-midstream-focused competitors. Additionally, certain of our E&P customers have invested in water infrastructure for their own operations. As a result, the water infrastructure competitive landscape is highly fragmented and our main competitors, aside from E&P companies, can often be private water midstream companies that focus on a more limited geographic area or service offering. We seek to differentiate ourselves from our competitors through our expansive scale and by delivering high-quality solutions throughout the sourcing, recycling and disposal elements of the water lifecycle, coupled with extensive regulatory expertise, well-trained people and a commitment to superior execution and a safe working environment. Additionally, we believe our ability to couple our water infrastructure with our water services and oilfield chemicals expertise provides an advantage relative to our competition.
Water Services Segment
Our Water Services segment consists of our services businesses, including water transfer, flowback and well testing, water sourcing, fluids hauling, water monitoring, water containment and water network automation, primarily serving E&P companies. Additionally, this segment includes the operations of our accommodations and rentals business.
Water Services Service Lines
Our Water Services segment is divided into the following service lines:
● Water Sourcing. Our Water Sourcing service line provides water, permitting and, in some instances, necessary logistics required by our E&P customers to support their drilling and completion operations. Our sourcing efforts include identifying, developing and obtaining the right to use water from a variety of sources, including surface, subsurface, industrial, municipal and produced water. Through a portfolio of contracts with and permits from regulatory bodies, corporations and individual landowners, we have secured rights of approximately two billion barrels of water annually from hundreds of strategically located sources across the U.S.
● Water Transfer. We believe we are the largest provider of water transfer services to the industry. Our Water Transfer service line installs temporary above-ground pipeline systems that can be equipped with full automation to deliver water autonomously at high volumes and rates from a water source to water containment facilities (tanks and pits), or directly to the wellsite.
We install layflat hose as part of a flexible water transfer solution that can be customized to fit a specific project. Our layflat hose allows for quick, cost-effective deployment and removal of transfer assets with limited environmental disturbance and can be quickly redeployed for new projects, including projects in different geographic regions. Layflat hose has a significantly lower risk of spills than most other types of temporary jointed pipe as a result of the strength and durability of the hose as well as the secure nature of any coupling joints used to connect multiple sections of hose. Our layflat hose consists primarily of 12-inch diameter segments, powered by mobile pumps. Historically, this equipment has been powered by diesel; however, we are actively developing and deploying electric pumping units, which should decrease emissions and further reduce the environmental impact of our operations. Depending on the requirements of a project, layflat hose may run from a water source directly to a containment area, such as an above-ground pit or storage tank, or to a wellsite. Water can also be transferred from one containment area to another as part of managing a larger supply network. Our customers generally prefer layflat hose to alternative temporary piping options due to the cost-effectiveness, limited environmental impact, customizability and reduced risk of spills.
o Water Network Automation. Our proprietary and industry-leading automation technologies provide integrated water transfer solutions with automated pump operation, automated valve control, automated blending and proportioning capabilities, automated manifolds, level monitoring and data collection with analytics. We are able to provide our customers with increased visibility into their water inventories and usage, improving their efficiency and decreasing their costs. Our technology also provides us with the unique ability to detect potential issues and prevent them from occurring, as well as to reduce manpower and equipment on certain jobs, in turn mitigating safety and environmental risks while reducing overall fuel emissions.
● Water Containment. We provide a diverse set of primary and secondary containment solutions for the temporary storage and containment of water and fluids. We believe we are the largest provider of high-capacity aboveground water storage tanks (“ASTs”) in the U.S. We offer ASTs ranging in size from 4,500 to 82,000 barrels (or 189,000 to 3.4 million gallons) per tank, with remote monitoring capability in every major U.S. basin. Our ASTs provide a high-volume, low-cost containment alternative to traditional mobile storage tanks, which typically hold 500 barrels (or 21,000 gallons). ASTs can also be set up as part of our Water Treatment & Recycling service offerings, which can be bundled with our Water Sourcing and Water
Transfer services. A 40,000 barrel AST can be delivered by three trucks and installed in a single day, replacing the equivalent of 80 trucks delivering individual 500-barrel mobile storage tanks. This reduction in truck traffic provides a significant reduction in traffic congestion in local communities as well as the associated emissions from the transportation of mobile storage tanks. Our modular tank design allows for twenty different tank configurations to meet each customer’s individual needs. We also offer assorted secondary containment solutions, from drive-over to raised barriers and multi-ringed nested AST solutions, that are designed to reduce the risk and environmental impact of potential spills.
● Fluids Hauling. We currently operate over 800 tractor trailers and body load trucks and believe we are one of the largest providers of fluids hauling to the oil and gas industry. Our Fluids Hauling group provides transportation for water and various drilling, completion, and production fluids, utilizing our fleet of vacuum, winch and kill trucks, hot oilers, and hydrovacs, along with other related assets, such as mobile storage tanks. Our operations span the Permian, MidCon, Bakken, Eagle Ford, Marcellus/Utica, Haynesville, and Rockies regions.
● Flowback and Well Testing. Our flowback and well testing services, covering a dynamic range of temperature, pressure, volume and H2S concentrations, adds value for our customers by providing well productivity data associated with our services, including fracturing support, fracturing plug drill out, flaring operations, ventless flowback operations, sand management and production testing. Our specialized well testing equipment is outfitted with advanced metering and telemetry, bringing remote visibility to our customers. Services are provided by highly-trained personnel that specialize in delivering performance optimization, or our high demand equipment is available for rental without personnel. We believe we are one of the largest flowback and well testing providers both in service and rental equipment inventory to the U.S. land industry. Additionally, certain of our services utilize specialized, closed-loop vapor tanks that prevent the release of methane and vapors to the atmosphere during drill out and flowback operations.
Some of our operations are governed by the Environmental Protection Agency’s (“EPA”) emissions regulations. For example, we offer green completions through our mobile production facilities, which is a collaborative process that attempts to safely contain and combust flare gas, reducing emissions at the wellsite. This provides our customers with enhanced emissions reduction solutions to help meet their sustainability targets and initiatives without the need for an external power supply, further reducing the environmental impact.
● Accommodations and Rentals. Our accommodations and rentals service line provides workforce accommodations and surface rental equipment supporting drilling, completion and production operations in the U.S. onshore energy industry. The services provided include fully furnished office and living quarters, freshwater supply and wastewater treatment and removal, portable power generation and light plants, internet, phone, intercom, surveillance and monitoring services and other long-term rentals supporting field personnel.
Water Services Geographic Areas of Operation
We provide our Water Services offerings in most of the major unconventional shale plays in the continental U.S., as illustrated by a “✓” in the chart below.
Geographic Region
Marcellus /
Services Provided
Permian
MidCon
Bakken
Eagle Ford
Utica
Haynesville
Rockies
Water Sourcing
✓
✓
✓
✓
-
✓
✓
Water Transfer
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Water Containment
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Fluids Hauling
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Flowback and Well Testing
✓
✓
-
-
✓
-
✓
Accommodations and Rentals
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
-
✓
Water Services Customers
Our Water Services customers primarily include major integrated and independent U.S. and international oil and gas producers.
Water Services Competition
Our industry is highly competitive. Our customers typically award contracts after a competitive bidding process. Operational track record, the skill and competency of our people, pricing, safety, technology and environmental performance are key factors in the bid evaluation. Equipment availability, location, service breadth and technical specifications can also be significant considerations.
Certain large domestic and international oilfield services companies offer some water-oriented and environmental services, though these are generally ancillary to their core businesses. As a result, the water solutions industry is highly fragmented and our main competitors are typically smaller and often private service providers that focus on water solutions and logistical services across a narrow geographic area or service offering. We seek to differentiate ourselves from our competitors by delivering comprehensive, high-quality services and equipment supported in many regions by fixed infrastructure networks, coupled with well-trained people and a commitment to sustainability, superior execution and a safe working environment.
Chemical Technologies Segment
Within our Chemical Technologies segment, we develop, manufacture, manage logistics and provide a full suite of completion chemical products utilized in hydraulic fracturing, stimulation, cementing and related well completion processes. We sell chemicals and provide services primarily to leading E&P operators and pressure-pumping service companies in the U.S. We also provide customized water treatment and flow assurance solutions to our customers throughout the lifecycle of a well.
Chemical Technologies Service Lines
Our Chemical Technologies segment is made up of the following service lines:
● Chemical Manufacturing. We are a specialty manufacturer of polyacrylamides, surfactants, crosslinkers and other custom chemistries. Polyacrylamides, or friction reducers, are water-soluble polymers that reduce friction and boost viscosity of the hydraulic fluid during application in energy production. We manufacture this reactive chemistry in Midland, Texas and Tyler, Texas with regional distribution facilities across the United States. Our in-basin manufacturing provides reduced lead times to decrease non-productive time on
location for our customers with fully automated processes from raw materials to finished goods. We are among the largest manufacturers of friction reducers to the energy industry, producing anionic, cationic and viscosifying friction reducers. Our manufacturing is supported by in-house logistics and comprehensive lab services.
● Completion Chemicals. Our Completion Chemicals service line provides technical solutions, products and expertise related to chemical applications in the energy industry. We develop solutions, manage logistics and provide a full suite of chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing, stimulation, cementing, pipelines and well completions for customers ranging from major integrated and independent oil and gas producers to pressure pumpers. This service line also utilizes its chemical experience and lab testing capabilities to customize tailored water treatment solutions designed to optimize the fracturing fluid system in conjunction with the quality of water used in well completions. Through our Completion Chemicals service line, we develop and provide a full suite of chemicals utilized in hydraulic fracturing, stimulation and cementing, including polymers that create viscosity, crosslinkers, friction reducers, surfactants, buffers, breakers and other chemical technologies. We source our products through our own manufacturing operations as well as through third-party producers and distributors. We provide 24/7/365 time-critical logistical support to our customers and our warehousing and service includes inventory management with computerized tracking and monthly reporting. We use automated communications systems combined with direct-to-wellsite delivery to ensure seamless product availability for our customers. With our expertise in fracturing chemistry, we can develop customized products to meet customers’ frac-fluid system requirements.
● Water Treatment. Through our Water Treatment service line, we provide advanced water treatment solutions throughout the well lifecycle, as well as specialized stimulation flow assurance and integrity management, and post-treatment monitoring services in the U.S. land market. Our specialty chemicals are used in applications such as water conditioning, water recycling, on-the-fly treatment and water reuse and mining. Our chemical experts provide pre-treatment water sampling, analysis and testing to determine a water’s chemistry, then design the most effective fracturing fluid system. The team delivers customized programs using proven chemical technologies and mobile equipment to treat almost any oilfield water for reuse. Following our treatment applications, fluid samples are analyzed again to ensure the treatment is optimized to reduce overall chemical investment. Water Treatment provides disinfection solutions to neutralize microorganisms, hydrogen sulfide (H2S), iron sulfide, phenols, mercaptans, and polymers in the surface water. Our Water Treatment team works closely with our Completion Chemicals service line as well as our water monitoring, reuse and recycling teams within our Water Services and Water Infrastructure segments to advise our customers on the best economic and operational solutions to manage their water quality and chemical solutions needs.
Chemical Technologies Geographic Areas of Operation
We provide Chemical Technologies services in most of the major unconventional shale plays in the continental U.S. In the chart below, a “✓” indicates that we offer the service line in the indicated geographic region.
Geographic Region
Marcellus /
Services Provided
Permian
MidCon
Bakken
Eagle Ford
Utica
Haynesville
Rockies
Chemical Manufacturing
✓
-
-
-
-
✓
-
Completion Chemicals
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Water Treatment
✓
✓
✓
✓
-
✓
✓
Chemical Technologies Customers
Our Chemical Technologies customers primarily include pressure pumpers, and major integrated and independent U.S. and international oil and gas producers.
Chemical Technologies Competition
The Chemical Technologies business is highly competitive. Our competitors include both large manufacturers and companies that are pure distributors of commodities and specialty chemicals. We believe that the principal competitive factors in the markets we serve are technical expertise, manufacturing capacity, workforce competency, efficiency, safety record, reputation, experience and price. Additionally, projects are often awarded on a bid basis, which tends to create a highly competitive environment. We seek to differentiate ourselves from our competitors by delivering high-quality services and solutions paired with water treatment expertise through our FluidMatch™ design solutions, coupled with superior execution and operating efficiency in a safe working environment. Additionally, many of our competitors focus on serving multiple industries outside of oil and gas, and therefore we believe our dedicated focus on the oil and gas industry and in-basin manufacturing capabilities provides a competitive advantage. We also believe our expertise in water management provides a competitive advantage that allows us to assess and optimize our chemical solutions in a unique manner.
Segment Synergies
The expansion of our Water Infrastructure segment directly enhances the revenue-generating potential of our Water Services segment by creating synergies between physical assets and service operations. New pipeline and recycling systems trigger increased demand for Water Transfer work, as customers rely on comprehensive solutions to efficiently move water to and from operational sites. Similarly, additional disposal facilities lead to greater opportunities for Fluids Hauling, leveraging preferred access and cost efficiencies associated with handling higher volumes. By integrating advanced infrastructure with flexible service capabilities, the Company maximizes value for clients, drives operational efficiency, and unlocks new opportunities for long-term contracts and increased market share. Our recycling operations use emulsion polymers manufactured by our Chemical Technologies segment for water treatment. The emulsion polymers help separate the solids from the liquids in the water.
Significant Customers
There were no customers that accounted for 10% or more of our consolidated revenues for the year ended December 31, 2024.
Sales and Marketing
We direct our sales activities through a network of sales representatives and business development personnel, which allows us to support our customers at both the field and corporate level. Our sales representatives work closely with local operations managers to target potential opportunities through strategic focus and regular customer interaction. We track the drilling and completion activities of our current and potential new customers. Our operations managers meet with our sales team several times a week, and monitor sales activity via daily reporting. To support our sales strategy, we have developed a proprietary database that integrates market information such as current rig, completion crew and permit activity and the location of our strategic water sources and networks.
Our marketing activities are performed by an internal marketing group with input from key executives. We intend to build and maintain a well-recognized brand in the oil and gas industry through multiple media outlets, including our website and social media accounts, print and billboard advertisements, presenting at and participating in various industry-specific conferences, case studies, publications and lectures.
Environmental and Occupational Safety and Health Matters
Our water-related operations in support of energy development and production activities pursued by our customers are subject to stringent and comprehensive federal, tribal, state and local laws and regulations in the U.S. governing occupational safety and health, the discharge of materials into the environment and environmental protection. Numerous governmental entities, including the EPA, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) and analogous state agencies, have the power to enforce compliance with these laws and regulations and the permits
issued under them, often requiring difficult and costly actions. These laws and regulations may, among other things (i) require the acquisition of permits or other approvals to take fresh water from surface water and groundwater, construct pipelines or containment facilities, drill wells and other regulated activities; (ii) restrict the types, quantities and concentration of various substances that can be released into the environment or injected into non-producing belowground formations; (iii) limit or prohibit our operations on certain lands lying within wilderness, wetlands and other protected areas; (iv) require remedial measures to mitigate pollution from former and ongoing operations; (v) impose specific safety and health criteria addressing worker protection; and (vi) impose substantial liabilities for pollution resulting from our operations. Any failure to comply with these laws and regulations may result in the assessment of sanctions, including administrative, civil and criminal penalties, the imposition of investigatory, remedial or corrective action obligations or the incurrence of capital expenditures; the occurrence of restrictions, delays or cancellations in the permitting, performance or expansion of projects; and the issuance of orders enjoining performance of some or all of our operations in a particular area.
Our business activities present risks of incurring significant environmental costs and liabilities, including costs and liabilities resulting from our handling of oilfield and other wastes, because of potential air emissions and wastewater discharges related to our operations, and due to historical oilfield industry operations and waste disposal practices. Our businesses include the operation of oilfield waste disposal injection wells that pose risks of environmental liability, including leakage from the wells to surface or subsurface soils, surface water or groundwater. In addition, private parties, including the owners of properties upon which we perform services and facilities where our wastes are taken for reclamation or disposal, also may have the right to pursue legal actions to enforce compliance as well as to seek damages for non-compliance with environmental laws and regulations or for personal injury or property or natural resource damages. Some environmental laws and regulations may impose strict liability, which means that in some situations we could be exposed to liability as a result of our conduct that was lawful at the time it occurred or the conduct of, or conditions caused by, prior operators or other third parties.
The trend in U.S. environmental regulation is typically to place more restrictions and limitations on activities that may affect the environment. Moreover, accidental releases or spills may occur in the course of our operations, and we cannot assure you that we will not incur significant costs and liabilities as a result of such releases or spills, including any third-party claims for damage to property, natural resources or persons. Historically, our environmental compliance costs in the U.S. have not had a material adverse effect on our results of operations; however, there can be no assurance that such costs will not be material in the future or that such future compliance will not have a material adverse effect on our business and operational results. Our customers may also incur increased costs or restrictions, delays or cancellations in permitting or operating activities as a result of more stringent environmental laws and regulations, which may result in curtailment of exploration, development or production activities that would reduce the demand for our services. Any new laws and regulations, amendment of existing laws and regulations, reinterpretation of legal requirements or increased governmental enforcement that result in more stringent and costly construction, completion or water-management activities, waste handling, storage transport, disposal, or remediation requirements or increased climate-related restrictions on our customers’ operations could have a material adverse effect on our financial position and results of operations. We may be unable to pass on such increased compliance costs to our customers.
The following is a summary of the more significant existing environmental and occupational safety and health laws in the U.S., as amended from time to time, to which our operations are subject and for which compliance may have a material adverse impact on our capital expenditures, results of operations or financial position.
Hazardous substances and wastes. The federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (“RCRA”), and comparable state statutes regulate the generation, transportation, treatment, storage, disposal and cleanup of hazardous and non-hazardous wastes. Pursuant to rules issued by the EPA, the individual states administer some or all of the provisions of RCRA, sometimes in conjunction with their own, more stringent requirements. Drilling fluids, produced waters, and most of the other wastes associated with the exploration, development, and production of oil or gas, if properly handled, are currently exempt from regulation as hazardous waste under RCRA, and instead are regulated under RCRA’s less stringent non-hazardous waste provisions, state laws or other federal laws. However, it is possible that certain oil and gas drilling and production wastes now classified as non-hazardous could be classified as hazardous wastes in the future. Any loss of the RCRA exclusion for drilling fluids, produced waters and related wastes could result in an increase in our and our oil and gas producing customers’ costs to manage and dispose of generated wastes, which
could have a material adverse effect on our and our customers’ results of operations and financial position. In the course of our operations, we generate some amounts of ordinary industrial wastes, such as paint wastes, waste solvents and waste oils that may be regulated as hazardous wastes.
Wastes containing naturally occurring radioactive materials (“NORM”) may also be generated in connection with our operations. Certain processes used to produce oil and gas may enhance the radioactivity of NORM, which may be present in oilfield wastes. NORM is subject primarily to individual state radiation control regulations. In addition, NORM handling and management activities are governed by regulations promulgated by the OSHA. These state and OSHA regulations impose certain requirements concerning worker protection, the treatment, storage and disposal of NORM waste, the management of waste piles, containers and tanks containing NORM, as well as restrictions on the uses of land with NORM contamination.
The federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (“CERCLA”), also known as the Superfund law, and comparable state laws impose liability, without regard to fault or legality of conduct, on classes of persons considered to be responsible for the release of a “hazardous substance” into the environment. These persons include the current and past owner or operator of the site where the hazardous substance release occurred and anyone who disposed or arranged for the disposal of a hazardous substance released at the site. Under CERCLA, such persons may be subject to joint and several, strict liability for the costs of cleaning up the hazardous substances that have been released into the environment, for damages to natural resources and for the costs of certain health studies. CERCLA also authorizes the EPA and, in some instances, third parties to act in response to threats to the public health or the environment and to seek to recover from the responsible classes of persons the costs they incur. In addition, neighboring landowners and other third parties may file claims for personal injury and property damage allegedly caused by the hazardous substances released into the environment. We generate materials in the course of our operations that may be regulated as hazardous substances.
We currently own, lease, or operate numerous properties that have been used for activities supporting oil and gas exploration, development and production for a number of years. Although we believe that we have utilized operating and waste disposal practices that were standard in the industry at the time, hazardous substances, wastes, or petroleum hydrocarbons may have been released on, under or from the properties owned or leased by us, or on, under or from other locations, including off-site locations, where we conduct services for our customers or where such substances have been taken for treatment or disposal. In addition, some of our properties have been operated by third parties or by previous owners or operators whose treatment and disposal of hazardous substances, wastes, or petroleum hydrocarbons was not under our control. These properties and the substances disposed or released on, under or from them may be subject to CERCLA, RCRA and analogous state laws. Under such laws, we could be required to undertake response actions or corrective measures, which could include removal of previously disposed substances and wastes, cleanup of contaminated property or performance of remedial operations to prevent future contamination, the costs of which could be material.
Water discharges and use. The Federal Water Pollution Control Act, also known as the Clean Water Act (“CWA”), and analogous state laws, impose restrictions and strict controls with respect to the discharge of pollutants, including spills and leaks of oil and hazardous substances, into state waters and waters of the U.S. The discharge of pollutants into regulated waters is prohibited, except in accordance with the terms of a permit issued by the EPA or an analogous state agency. Spill prevention, control and countermeasure plan requirements imposed under the CWA require appropriate containment berms and similar structures to help prevent the contamination of navigable waters in the event of a petroleum hydrocarbon tank spill, rupture or leak. In addition, the CWA and analogous state laws require individual permits or coverage under general permits for discharges of stormwater runoff from certain types of facilities.
The CWA also prohibits the discharge of dredge and fill material in regulated waters, including wetlands, unless authorized by permit. There continues to be uncertainty on the federal government’s applicable jurisdictional reach under the CWA over waters of the U.S., including wetlands, as the EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (“Corps”) under the Obama, Trump and Biden Administrations have pursued multiple rulemakings since 2015 in an attempt to determine the scope of such reach. Most recently, following legal action on a January 2023 final rule, the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Sackett v. EPA, and the enactment of a subsequent September 2023 rule, the implementation of the definition “waters of the United States” (“WOTUS”) is split based on jurisdiction, with the new
rule enjoined in 27 states and being implemented in the remaining 23. Additionally, the Trump Administration may seek to take additional action with respect to these regulations, though the substance and timing of such action cannot be predicted. To the extent that any new final rule or rules issued by the EPA and Corps expands the scope of the CWA’s jurisdiction in areas where we or our customers conduct operations, such developments could increase compliance expenditures or mitigation costs, contribute to delays, restrictions, or cessation of the development of projects, and also reduce the rate of production of natural gas or crude oil from operators with whom we have a business relationship and, in turn, have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and cash flows. Federal and state regulatory agencies can impose administrative, civil and criminal penalties for non-compliance with discharge permits or other requirements of the CWA and analogous state laws and regulations.
The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (“OPA”) amends the CWA and sets minimum standards for prevention, containment and cleanup of oil spills in waters of the U.S. The OPA applies to vessels, offshore facilities, and onshore facilities, including E&P facilities that may affect waters of the U.S. Under OPA, responsible parties including owners and operators of onshore facilities may be held strictly liable for oil cleanup costs and natural resource damages as well as a variety of public and private damages that may result from oil spills. The OPA also currently limits the liability of a responsible party for economic damages, excluding all oil spill response costs, to $137.7 million; although this limit does not apply if the spill was caused by gross negligence or willful misconduct, resulted from a violation of a federal safety, construction or operating regulation, or if the party failed to report a spill or cooperate fully in the cleanup. The OPA also requires owners or operators of certain onshore facilities to prepare Facility Response Plans for responding to a worst-case discharge of oil into waters of the U.S.
Saltwater disposal wells and induced seismicity. Saltwater disposal via underground injection is regulated pursuant to the Underground Injection Control (“UIC”) program established under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act (the “SDWA”) and analogous state and local laws and regulations. The UIC program includes requirements for permitting, testing, monitoring, recordkeeping and reporting of injection well activities, as well as a prohibition against the migration of fluid containing any contaminant into underground sources of drinking water. State regulations require a permit from the applicable regulatory agencies to operate underground injection wells. Although we monitor the injection process of our wells, any leakage from the subsurface portions of the injection wells could cause degradation of fresh groundwater resources, potentially resulting in suspension of our UIC permit, issuance of fines and penalties from governmental agencies, incurrence of expenditures for remediation of the affected resource and imposition of liability by third parties claiming damages for alternative water supplies, property and personal injuries. A change in UIC disposal well regulations or the inability to obtain permits for new disposal wells in the future may affect our ability to dispose of produced waters and other substances, which could affect our business.
Furthermore, in response to seismic events in the past several years near underground disposal wells used for the disposal by injection of produced water resulting from oil and gas activities, federal and some state agencies are investigating whether such wells have caused increased seismic activity, and some states have restricted, suspended or shut down the use of such disposal wells in certain areas prone to increased seismic activity. Developing research suggests that the link between seismic activity and wastewater disposal may vary by region and that only a very small fraction of the tens of thousands of injection wells have been suspected to be, or have been, the likely cause of induced seismicity. In 2016, the U.S. Geological Survey identified six states with the most significant hazards from induced seismicity, including Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, Colorado, New Mexico and Arkansas. As a result of these concerns, regulators in some states have imposed, or are considering imposing, additional requirements in the permitting of produced water disposal wells or otherwise to assess any relationship between seismicity and the use of such wells. For example, Oklahoma has issued rules for wastewater disposal wells that imposed certain permitting and operating restrictions and reporting requirements on disposal wells in proximity to faults. The Texas Railroad Commission adopted similar rules in Texas. States such as Texas and Oklahoma have, from time to time, suspended hydraulic fracturing or injection disposal operations or called for reduced volumes in response to seismic activity, including most recently in December 2023 in Texas, and similar actions may be taken by these states or others in the future.
An additional consequence of this seismic activity is lawsuits alleging that disposal well operations have caused damage to neighboring properties or otherwise violated state and federal rules regulating waste disposal. The adoption and implementation of any new laws, regulations or directives that restrict our ability to dispose of wastewater gathered
from our customers by limiting volumes, disposal rates, disposal well locations or otherwise, or requiring us to shut down disposal wells, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Hydraulic fracturing activities. Hydraulic fracturing involves the injection of water, sand or other proppants and chemical additives under pressure into targeted geological formations to fracture the surrounding rock and stimulate production. Hydraulic fracturing is an important and common practice that is typically regulated by state oil and natural gas commissions or similar agencies. However, the practice continues to be controversial in certain parts of the country, resulting in increased scrutiny and regulation of the hydraulic fracturing process, including by federal agencies that have asserted regulatory authority or pursued investigations over certain aspects of the hydraulic fracturing process. For example, the EPA has asserted regulatory authority pursuant to the SDWA UIC program over hydraulic fracturing activities involving the use of diesel and issued guidance covering such activities, as well as published an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding Toxic Substances Control Act (“TSCA”) reporting of the chemical substances and mixtures used in hydraulic fracturing. While this notice was subsequently withdrawn, certain chemical disclosures are required on the state level in some states, and the EPA could seek further rulemaking under TSCA in the future.
In late 2016, the EPA released its final report on the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water resources, concluding that “water cycle” activities associated with hydraulic fracturing may impact drinking water resources under some circumstances. The Biden Administration has also called for revisions and restrictions to the leasing and permitting programs for oil and gas development on federal lands and, for a time, suspended federal oil and gas leasing activities. In April 2024, the Bureau of Land Management (“BLM”) finalized a rule that limits flaring from well sites on federal lands, as well as require operators to submit a methane waste minimization plan or a self-certification statement committing the operator to capturing 100% of the gas produced from a well, and to pay royalties on lost gas as a part of the permit application process. The rule is currently subject to litigation and its implementation has been halted in North Dakota, Texas, Utah, Montana, and Wyoming, and it is uncertain what actions the Trump Administration may take with respect to this rule, if any. Additionally, the BLM finalized a rule to update the fiscal terms of federal oil and gas leases according to provisions in the IRA 2022, increasing fees, rents, royalties, and bonding requirements.
Moreover, some state and local governments have adopted, and other governmental entities are considering adopting, regulations that could impose more stringent permitting, disclosure and well-construction requirements on hydraulic fracturing operations, including states where we or our customers operate. For example, Texas, Oklahoma, California, Ohio, Pennsylvania and North Dakota, among others, have adopted regulations that impose stringent permitting, disclosure, disposal and well-construction requirements on hydraulic fracturing operations. States could also elect to place certain prohibitions on hydraulic fracturing. In addition to state laws, local land use restrictions, such as city ordinances, may restrict drilling in general and/or hydraulic fracturing in particular, as certain local governments in California have done. Other states, such as Texas, Oklahoma and Ohio have taken steps to limit the authority of local governments to regulate oil and gas development.
In the event that new federal, state or local restrictions or bans on the hydraulic fracturing process are adopted in areas where we or our customers conduct business, we or our customers may incur additional costs or permitting requirements to comply with such requirements that may be significant in nature and our customers could experience added costs, restrictions, delays or cancellations in their exploration, development, or production activities, which would in turn reduce the demand for our services and have a material adverse effect on our liquidity, consolidated results of operations, and consolidated financial condition.
Air Emissions. The U.S. Clean Air Act (“CAA”) and comparable state laws restrict the emission of air pollutants from many sources through air emissions standards, construction and operating permit programs and the imposition of other compliance standards. These laws and regulations may require us to obtain pre-approval for the construction or modification of certain projects or facilities expected to produce or significantly increase air emissions, obtain and strictly comply with stringent air permit requirements or utilize specific equipment or technologies to control emissions of certain pollutants. The need to obtain permits has the potential to delay our projects as well as our customers’ development of oil and gas projects. Over the next several years, we or our customers may incur certain capital expenditures for air pollution control equipment or other air emissions-related issues. For example, in 2015, the EPA issued a final rule under the CAA, making the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (“NAAQS”) for
ground-level ozone more stringent. Since that time, the EPA has issued attainment/nonattainment designations with respect to ground-level ozone and in December 2020, the EPA under the Trump Administration published a final action that, upon conducting a periodic review of the ozone standard in accord with CAA requirements, elected to retain the 2015 ozone NAAQS without revision on a going-forward basis. The EPA’s review of this standard is ongoing. State implementation of the revised NAAQS could also result in the imposition of more stringent requirements. Compliance with the NAAQS requirements or other air pollution control and permitting requirements has the potential to delay the development of oil and gas projects and increase our or our customers’ costs of development and production, which costs could reduce demand for our services and have a material adverse impact on our business and results of operations.
Climate Change. The issue of climate change continues to attract considerable attention from the public and policymakers in the U.S. and around the world. As a result, numerous proposals have been made, and more are likely forthcoming at the international, national, regional and state levels of government to monitor and limit existing emissions of greenhouse gases (“GHGs”) as well as to restrict or eliminate such future emissions. As a result, our operations as well as the operations of our oil and natural gas exploration and production customers are subject to a series of regulatory, political, litigation, and financial risks associated with the production and processing of fossil fuels and emission of GHGs.
In the U.S., no comprehensive climate change legislation has been implemented at the federal level. Federal regulatory initiatives have focused on, among other things, establishing construction and operating permit reviews for GHG emissions from certain large stationary sources, requiring the monitoring and annual reporting of GHG emissions from certain petroleum and natural gas system sources, and reducing methane emissions from oil and gas production and natural gas processing and transmission operations through limitations on venting and flaring and the implementation of enhanced emission leak detection and repair requirements. However, on his first day in office, President Trump signed several Executive Orders rescinding many of the previous administration’s climate-related initiatives. Although we cannot predict what additional actions the Trump Administration may take with respect to these matters, in recent years, there has been considerable uncertainty surrounding regulation of methane emissions. In December 2023, the EPA finalized a rule that established more stringent Quad Ob new source and Quad Oc first-time existing source standards of performance for methane and volatile organic compound (“VOC”) emissions in the crude oil and natural gas source category. Under the final rule, states will have two years to prepare and submit their plans to impose methane emission controls on existing sources. The presumptive standards under the final rule are generally the same for both new and existing sources, including enhanced leak detection using optical gas imaging and subsequent repair requirements, reduction of emissions by 95% through capture and control systems, zero-emission requirements, operations and maintenance requirements, and so-called green well completion requirements. The rule also revises requirements for fugitive emissions monitoring and repair as well as equipment leaks and the frequency of monitoring surveys, establishes a “super-emitter” response program to timely mitigate emissions events as detected by governmental agencies or qualified third parties, triggering certain investigation and repair requirements, and provides additional options for the use of advanced monitoring to encourage the deployment of innovative technologies to detect and reduce methane emissions.
In August 2022, the IRA 2022 was signed into law. This law, among other provisions, amends the CAA to establish the first federal fee on methane emissions from sources required to report their GHG emissions to the EPA, including certain oil and gas operations. The methane emissions charge started in calendar year 2024 at $900 per ton of methane, increased to $1,200 in 2025, and is set at $1,500 for 2026 and subsequent years. Calculation of the methane fee is based on certain thresholds established in the IRA 2022. The IRA 2022 additionally appropriates significant federal funding for renewable energy initiatives. The methane emissions fee could increase our and our customers’ operating costs, and the funding and incentives established for renewable energy sources could accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels, which could in turn reduce demand for our products and services and adversely affect our business and results of operations. However, we cannot predict whether, how, or when the Trump Administration might take action to revise or repeal the methane charge or the finalized EPA rules related to methane emissions. Additionally, Congress may take actions to repeal or revise the IRA 2022, including with respect to the methane charge, which timing or outcome similarly cannot be predicted.
Separately, various states and groups of states have adopted or are considering adopting legislation, regulations or other regulatory initiatives that are focused on such areas as GHG cap and trade programs, carbon taxes, reporting and tracking programs, and restriction of emissions. For example, Colorado has begun to increasingly regulate oil and gas
operations with consideration towards GHG emissions and cumulative impacts of oil and gas development. In January 2024, the Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission (formerly the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission) adopted final rules that would apply increased scrutiny to the cumulative impacts of GHG emissions of oil and gas development and set GHG emissions intensity targets for oil and gas operators.
At the international level, there exists a non-binding agreement, the United Nations-sponsored “Paris Agreement,” which is a non-binding agreement among participating nations to limit their GHG emissions through individually-determined reduction goals every five years after 2020. President Biden announced in April 2021 a new, more rigorous nationally determined emissions reduction level of 50-52% reduction from 2005 levels in economy-wide net GHG emissions by 2030. Subsequent United Nations climate conferences have called for additional action to transition away from fossil fuels and control or otherwise reduce GHG emissions; although none have been legally binding. On January 20, 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order once again withdrawing the United States from the Paris Agreement. The United States’ participation in future United Nations climate-related conferences, the impacts of these orders, pledges, agreements and any legislation or regulation promulgated to fulfill the U.S. commitments under the Paris Agreement, any Conference of the Parties, or other international conventions cannot be predicted at this time.
Litigation risks related to climate change are also increasing, as a number of states, municipalities and other plaintiffs have sought to bring suit against the largest oil and natural gas exploration and production companies in state or federal court, alleging, among other things, that such companies created public nuisances by producing fuels that contributed to global warming effects, such as rising sea levels, and therefore are responsible for roadway and infrastructure damages as a result, or alleging that the companies have been aware of the adverse effects of climate change for some time but defrauded their investors by failing to adequately disclose those impacts.
Moreover, access to capital by fossil fuel producers as well as other companies supporting the oil and gas industry may be impacted by climate change policies. Stockholders and bondholders currently invested in fossil fuel energy companies but concerned about the potential effects of climate change may elect in the future to shift some or all of their investments into non-fossil fuel energy related sectors. Institutional investors who provide financing to fossil fuel energy companies have also focused on sustainability lending practices that favor “clean” power sources such as wind and solar and some of these investors may elect not to provide funding for carbon-intensive energy companies. Many of the largest U.S. banks have made “net zero” carbon emission commitments, while some of the commitments may be in flux, certain of the banks have announced that they will be assessing financed emissions across their portfolios and taking steps to quantify and reduce those emissions. These and other developments in the financial sector could lead to some lenders restricting access to capital for or divesting from certain industries or companies, including the oil and natural gas sector, or requiring that borrowers take additional steps to reduce their GHG emissions. Additionally, there is the possibility that financial institutions will be required to adopt policies that limit funding to the fossil fuel sector, including as a result of the Federal Reserve joining the Network for Greening the Financial System, which focuses on addressing climate-related risks in the financial sector. While we cannot predict what policies may result from this, a material reduction in the capital available to the fossil fuel industry could make it more difficult to secure funding for exploration, development, production, transportation, and processing activities, which could reduce demand for our services.
In addition, the SEC has finalized a rule that would require registrants to make certain climate-related disclosures in registration statements and annual reports, including their governance of climate-related risks, material climate-related impacts on strategy, outlook and business model, climate risk management, Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions, and if the registrant has set them, climate-related targets and goals. The rule’s implementation is currently paused pending litigation, and the SEC is expected to repeal or further modify the rule; however, the timeline for any repeal, if at all, is subject to uncertainty and may face additional legal challenges. Some states have enacted or are otherwise considering disclosure requirements for certain climate-related risks. Enhanced climate-related disclosure requirements could increase our operating costs and lead to reputational or other harm with customers, regulators, or other stakeholders to the extent our disclosures do not meet their own standards or expectations. Consequently, we are also exposed to increased litigation risks relating to alleged climate-related damages resulting from our operations, statements alleged to have been made by us or others in our industry regarding climate change risks, or in connection with any future disclosures we may make regarding reported emissions, particularly given the inherent uncertainties and estimations with respect to calculating and reporting GHG emissions. Separately, the SEC has from time to time applied
additional scrutiny to existing climate-change related disclosures in public filings, and there is the potential for enforcement if the SEC were to allege that an issuer’s existing climate disclosures were misleading or deficient.
Finally, increasing concentrations of GHGs in the Earth's atmosphere may produce climate changes that have significant physical effects, such as increased frequency and severity of storms, droughts, floods, rising sea levels and other climatic events, as well as chronic shifts in temperature and precipitation patterns. These climatic developments have the potential to cause physical damage to our assets and thus could have an adverse effect on our operations. Additionally, changing meteorological conditions, particularly temperature, may result in changes to the amount, timing, or location of demand for energy or our solutions. While our consideration of changing climatic conditions and inclusion of safety factors in design is intended to reduce the uncertainties that climate change and other events may potentially introduce, our ability to mitigate the adverse impacts of these events depends in part on the effectiveness of our facilities and our disaster preparedness and response and business continuity planning, which we may not have considered or be prepared for every eventuality.
Endangered Species. The federal Endangered Species Act (the “ESA”) restricts activities that may affect endangered or threatened species or their habitats. Similar protections are offered to migratory birds under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act (the “MBTA”). To the degree that species listed under the ESA or similar state laws, or are protected under the MBTA, live in the areas where we or our oil and gas producing customers operate, our and our customers’ abilities to conduct or expand operations and construct facilities could be limited or be forced to incur material additional costs. Moreover, our customers’ drilling activities may be delayed, restricted, or cancelled in protected habitat areas or during certain seasons, such as breeding and nesting seasons. Some of our operations and the operations of our customers are located in areas that are designated as habitats for protected species. In addition, the FWS may make determinations on the listing of unlisted species as endangered or threatened under the ESA. For example, recent listings of the dunes sagebrush lizard and lesser prairie chicken as threatened or endangered may impact our or our customers’ operations. The designation of previously unidentified endangered or threatened species could indirectly cause us to incur additional costs, cause our or our oil and gas producing customers’ operations to become subject to operating restrictions or bans and limit future development activity in affected areas. The FWS and similar state agencies may designate critical or suitable habitat areas that they believe are necessary for the survival of threatened or endangered species. Such a designation could materially restrict use of or access to federal, state, and private lands.
Chemical Safety. We are subject to a wide array of laws and regulations governing chemicals, including the regulation of chemical substances and inventories, such as TSCA in the U.S. These laws and regulations change frequently and have the potential to limit or ban altogether the types of chemicals we may use in our products, as well as result in increased costs related to testing, storing, and transporting our products prior to providing them to our customers. For example, the TSCA requires all chemicals in commerce to undergo a safety review and also requires safety findings before a new chemical can enter the market. Any new restrictions on the development of new products, increases in regulation, or disclosure of confidential, competitive information could have an adverse effect on our operations and our cost of doing business.
Furthermore, governmental, regulatory and societal demands for increasing levels of product safety and environmental protection could result in increased pressure for more stringent regulatory control with respect to the chemical industry. These concerns could influence public perceptions regarding our products and operations, the viability of certain products, our reputation, the cost to comply with regulations, and the ability to attract and retain employees. Moreover, changes in environmental, health and safety regulations could inhibit or interrupt our operations, or require us to modify our facilities or operations. Accordingly, environmental or regulatory matters may cause us to incur significant unanticipated losses, costs or liabilities, which could reduce our profitability.
Occupational Safety and Health and other legal requirements. We are subject to the requirements of the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act and comparable state statutes whose purpose is to protect the health and safety of workers. In addition, the OSHA’s hazard communication standard, the EPA’s Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act and comparable state regulations and any implementing regulations require that we organize and/or disclose information about hazardous materials used or produced in our operations and that this information be provided to employees, state and local governmental authorities and citizens. We have an internal program of inspection designed to monitor and enforce compliance with worker safety requirements.
In addition, as part of the services we provide, we operate as a motor carrier and therefore are subject to regulation by the U.S. Department of Transportation (“U.S. DOT”) and analogous state agencies. These regulatory authorities exercise broad powers, governing activities such as the authorization to engage in motor carrier operations, regulatory safety, and hazardous materials labeling, placarding and marking. There are additional regulations specifically relating to the trucking industry, including testing and specification of equipment and product handling requirements. The trucking industry is subject to possible regulatory and legislative changes that may affect the economics of the industry by requiring changes in operating practices or by changing the demand for common or contract carrier services or the cost of providing truckload services. From time to time, various legislative proposals are introduced, including proposals to increase federal, state or local taxes on motor fuels, among other things, which may increase our costs or adversely impact the recruitment of drivers. We cannot predict whether, or in what form, any increase in such taxes applicable to us will be enacted.
Seasonality
Our results of operations have historically been adversely affected by seasonal declines in the activity levels of our customers, typically in the fourth quarter, related to holidays, inclement winter weather and in some years the exhaustion of our customers’ annual drilling and completions capital expenditure budgets.
Intellectual Property
Protection of our products and processes is important to our businesses. We own numerous patents and, where appropriate, we file patent applications for new products and technologies. For example, we use our AquaView® technology to quantify volumes and flow rates to verify current and potential water availability and volumes when analyzing a new water source. We also currently own multiple U.S. patents relating to completions technology including borate cross-linkers, slurry monitoring systems and others. We also have a robust program to seek patents on new developments.
We have a meaningful backlog of pending patents, including a proprietary water analytics and automation tool, as well as creating fracturing fluids with produced water, evaporation methodologies, cross-linker/breaker mechanisms and liquid distribution metering systems. While a presumption of validity exists with respect to issued U.S. patents, we cannot assure that any of our patents will not be challenged, invalidated, circumvented or rendered unenforceable. Furthermore, we cannot assure the issuance of any pending patent application, or that if patents do issue, that these patents will provide meaningful protection against competitors or against competitive technologies. Additionally, our competitors or other third parties may obtain patents that restrict or preclude our ability to lawfully produce or sell our products in a competitive manner.
We also rely upon continuing technological innovation and trade secrets to develop and maintain our competitive position. There can be no assurance that confidentiality and other agreements into which we enter and have entered will not be breached, that these agreements will provide meaningful protection for our trade secrets or proprietary know-how, or that adequate remedies will be available in the event of an unauthorized use or disclosure of such trade secrets and know-how. In addition, there can be no assurance that others will not obtain knowledge of these trade secrets through independent development or other access by legal means.
We also own a number of trademarks, which we use in connection with our businesses. In addition to protections through federal registration, we also rely on state common law protections to protect our brand. There can be no assurance that the trademark registrations will provide meaningful protection against the use of similar trademarks by competitors, or that the value of our trademarks will not be diluted.
Because of the breadth and nature of our intellectual property rights and our business, we do not believe that any single intellectual property right (other than certain trademarks for which we intend to maintain the applicable registrations) is material to our business. Moreover, we do not believe that the termination of intellectual property rights expected to occur over the next several years, either individually or in the aggregate, will materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Risk Management and Insurance
Our operations are subject to hazards inherent in the oil and gas industry, including accidents, blowouts, explosions, craterings, fires, oil spills and hazardous materials spills. These conditions can cause:
● personal injury or loss of life;
● damage to, or destruction of, property, the environment and wildlife; and
● the suspension of our or our customers’ operations.
In addition, claims for loss of oil and gas production and damage to formations can occur in the well services industry. If a serious accident were to occur at a location where our equipment and services are being used, it could result in us being named as a defendant in lawsuits asserting large claims.
Because our business involves the transportation of heavy equipment, freight and materials, we may also experience traffic accidents, which may result in spills, property damage and personal injury.
Despite our efforts to maintain high safety standards, including the installation of vehicle surveillance systems, from time to time we have suffered accidents, and there is a risk that we will experience accidents in the future. In addition to the property and personal losses from these accidents, the frequency and severity of these incidents affect our operating costs and insurability, and our relationship with customers, employees and regulatory agencies. In particular, in recent years many of our large customers have placed an increased emphasis on the safety records of their service providers. Any significant increase in the frequency or severity of these incidents, or the general level of compensatory payments, could adversely affect the cost of, or our ability to obtain, workers’ compensation and other forms of insurance, and could have other material adverse effects on our financial condition and results of operations.
We maintain insurance coverage of types and amounts that we believe to be customary in the industry, including workers’ compensation, employer’s liability, sudden & accidental pollution, umbrella, directors & officers, comprehensive commercial general liability, business automobile and property, cybersecurity and equipment physical damage insurance. Our insurance coverage may be inadequate to cover our liabilities. In addition, we may not be able to maintain adequate insurance in the future at rates we consider reasonable and commercially justifiable or on terms as favorable as our current arrangements.
We enter into master service agreements (“MSAs”) with most of our customers. Our MSAs delineate our and our customer’s respective indemnification obligations with respect to the services we provide. Generally, under our MSAs, including those relating to our Water Services, Water Infrastructure, Chemical Technologies product sales, accommodations and rentals and completion and construction services, we assume responsibility for pollution or contamination originating above the surface from our equipment or handling of the equipment of others. However, our customers generally assume responsibility for all other pollution or contamination that may occur during operations, including that which may generally result from seepage or any other uncontrolled flow of drilling fluids. The assumed responsibilities include the control, removal and cleanup of any pollution or contamination. In such cases, we may be exposed to additional liability if we are grossly negligent or commit willful acts causing the pollution or contamination. Generally, our customers also agree to indemnify us against claims arising from the personal injury or death of the customers’ employees or those of the customers’ other contractors, in the case of our hydraulic fracturing operations, to the extent that such employees are injured by such operations, unless the loss is a result of our gross negligence or willful misconduct. Similarly, we generally agree to indemnify our customers for liabilities arising from personal injury to or death of any of our employees or employees of any of our subcontractors, unless resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of our customer. The same principles apply to mutual indemnification for loss or destruction of customer-owned property or equipment, except such indemnification is not limited in an instance of gross negligence or willful misconduct. Losses arising from catastrophic events, such as blowouts, are generally the responsibility of the customer. However, despite this general allocation of risk, we may be unsuccessful in enforcing contractual terms, incur an unforeseen liability that is not addressed by the scope of the contractual provisions or be
required to enter into an MSA with terms that vary from our standard allocations of risk, as described above. Consequently, we may incur substantial losses that could materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
Available Information
We file or furnish annual, quarterly and current reports and other documents with the SEC under the Exchange Act. The SEC also maintains an internet website at www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers, including us, that file electronically with the SEC.
We also make available free of charge through our website, www.selectwater.com, electronic copies of certain documents that we file with the SEC, including our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. Information on our website is not a part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
The following risks could affect our financial performance or could cause actual results to differ materially from estimates contained in our forward-looking statements. We may encounter risks in addition to those described below. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us, or that we currently deem to be immaterial, may also impair or adversely affect our business, results of operation, financial condition and prospects.
Risks Related to Our Business Operations
Our business depends on capital spending by the oil and gas industry in the U.S. and reductions in capital spending could have a material adverse effect on our liquidity, results of operations and financial condition.
Demand for our services is directly affected by capital spending by our customers to explore for, develop and produce oil and gas in the U.S. Capital spending is generally dependent on our customers’ views of future demand for oil and gas and future oil and gas prices, as well as our customers’ ability to access capital. Such demand may be impacted by a variety of factors, including global geopolitical instability, accelerated substitution of renewable forms of energy for oil and gas and actions of OPEC+. During the year ended December 31, 2024, the average West Texas Intermediate (“WTI”) spot price was $76.63, versus an average price of $77.58 for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Volatility in oil prices or natural gas prices (or the perception that oil prices or natural gas prices will decrease) affects the spending patterns of our customers and may result in the drilling or completion of fewer new wells or lower spending on existing wells. This, in turn, could lead to lower demand for our services and may cause lower rates and lower utilization of our assets. While customer budgets for U.S. onshore development during 2024 were relatively flat on a year over year basis, and are expected to remain relatively so during 2025, factors outside of our control can alter these budgets, or lead customers to underspend their budgets. Even in an environment of strong oil and gas prices, fewer oil and gas well completions in our market areas as a result of decreased capital spending may have a negative long-term impact on our business. Any of these conditions or events could adversely affect our operating results and may continue to do so into the future. Sustained market uncertainty could also result in lower demand for our services, which could adversely affect our liquidity, results of operations and financial condition. While we believe that the new presidential administration will provide regulatory tailwinds for our industry, industry conditions are influenced by numerous factors over which we have no control, including, but not limited to those discussed in “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”
Political instability or armed conflict in crude oil or natural gas producing regions could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition or future results.
Our business, financial condition and future results are subject to political and economic risks and uncertainties, including instability resulting from civil unrest, political demonstrations, mass strikes or armed conflict or other crises in
crude oil or natural gas producing areas. For example, while there are currently broad-ranging economic sanctions on Russia and certain Russian individuals, banking entities and corporations as a response to the Russia-Ukraine war, an end to the Russia-Ukraine conflict and an easing or elimination of the related sanctions against Russia could result in a decrease in commodity prices as Russian hydrocarbons become more readily accessible on global markets, which could have an adverse effect on our customers and therefore adversely affect our customers’ demand for our services. In addition, the instability in the Middle East has contributed to volatility in oil and gas prices, as well as disruptions to supply chains. Further escalation of conflict in the Middle East, in particular with Iran, a major oil producer, could have an adverse effect on our customers and therefore adversely affect our customers’ demand for our services. The ultimate geopolitical and macroeconomic consequences of these conflicts cannot be predicted, and such events could severely impact the world economy and may adversely affect our financial condition. Although the Company does not have operations overseas, these conflicts elevate the likelihood of supply chain disruptions, heightened volatility in crude oil and natural gas prices and negative effects on our ability to raise additional capital when required and could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition or future results.
OPEC+ policy decisions could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition or future results.
The actions of OPEC+ with respect to oil production cuts can have a significant impact on crude oil prices. On December 5, 2024, OPEC+ announced an extension of its current production cuts through 2026 and will not start implementing output increases until April 2025. Due to the above and other factors, crude oil and natural gas prices experienced increased levels of volatility during 2024, ranging from a low of $66.73 per barrel in September to a high of $87.69 per barrel in April. Further, the volatility in crude oil and natural gas prices could accelerate a transition away from fossil fuels, resulting in reduced demand over the longer term. To what extent these and other external factors (such as government action with respect to climate change regulation) ultimately impact our future business, liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations is highly uncertain and dependent on numerous factors, including future developments, which are not within our control and cannot be accurately predicted.
The failure to successfully integrate acquired assets or operations in the expected time frame or at all may adversely affect our future results.
If we fail to integrate acquired properties and successfully combine our business with the businesses of such acquired properties, the anticipated benefits of such acquisitions may not be realized fully or at all or may take longer to realize than expected. In addition, the actual integration may result in additional and unforeseen expenses, which could reduce the anticipated benefits of such acquisitions.
It is possible that the integration process could result in the loss of key employees, as well as the disruption of our ongoing businesses or inconsistencies in our standards, controls, procedures and policies. Any or all of those occurrences could adversely affect our ability to maintain relationships with customers and employees or to achieve the anticipated benefits of our acquisition activities. Integration efforts will also divert management attention and resources. These integration matters could have an adverse effect on us.
Almost half of our revenues are derived from our operations in the Permian Basin of Texas and New Mexico, making us vulnerable to risks associated with geographic concentration generally and the Permian Basin specifically, including Basin-specific supply and demand factors, regulatory changes and severe weather impacts that could materially and adversely affect our business.
The Permian Basin of Texas and New Mexico is presently our largest operating region, accounting for approximately 48% of our revenue in both 2024 and in 2023. As a result of this concentration, we are vulnerable to risks associated with geographic concentration generally and the Permian Basin specifically. For example, we are disproportionately exposed to the impact in the Permian Basin of regional supply and demand factors, production delays or interruptions, as a result of governmental regulation or otherwise, processing or transportation capacity constraints, severe weather, market limitations, curtailment of production or interruption of the processing or transportation of produced oil and natural gas. Increased consolidation activity has occurred recently in the Permian Basin, which may lead to reductions in capital spending that could have an adverse effect on our business. In addition, the effect of fluctuations on supply and demand may become more pronounced within specific geographic oil and natural gas producing areas such as the Permian Basin, which may cause these conditions to occur with greater frequency or
magnify the effects of these conditions. Due to the concentrated nature of our revenue-generating operations, we could experience any of the same conditions at the same time, resulting in a relatively greater impact on our revenue than they might have on other companies that have more geographically diverse revenue-generating operations.
Weather events that disproportionately impact the Permian Basin will adversely affect our results of operations as compared to our competitors that operate in other basins or that have more geographically diverse operations. Similarly, a significant portion of our current business relates to water and water-related services in the New Mexico portion of the Permian Basin. However, the future availability of, and/or access to, water in New Mexico will be affected by the results of a case, Texas v. New Mexico and Colorado, which is currently stayed pending further order by a special master. To the extent that this lawsuit is adversely decided against New Mexico, the state could, among other things, be required to provide more water downstream to Texas, which could reduce the availability of, and/or access to, water to existing or new water rights holders in New Mexico, resulting in limitations on our ability to obtain or maintain access to water for certain of our customers’ operations in New Mexico. The states reached a water-sharing agreement in 2022, which has been supported by the state of New Mexico, that determines an annual delivery amount for New Mexico and allows the state to accrue debt if it cannot make the annual delivery amount. However, this agreement was opposed by the federal government, and the parties are required to return to mediation in December 2024. The risk of any adverse development could reduce our ability to obtain or maintain access to water for our customers’ operations in the vicinity of our assets in New Mexico and have a corresponding adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
To the extent that the types of basin-specific events discussed above continue to arise or worsen, our operations and those of our customers may be materially and adversely affected.
Restrictions on the ability to procure water or changes in water sourcing or disposal requirements could add costs or decrease the demand for our water-related services.
Our business includes water transfer for use in our customers’ oil and gas E&P activities. Our access to the water we supply may be limited due to prolonged drought or our inability to acquire or maintain water sourcing permits or other rights. In addition, some state and local governmental authorities have begun to monitor or restrict the use of water subject to their jurisdiction for hydraulic fracturing to ensure adequate local water supply. For instance, some states require E&P companies to report certain information regarding the water they use for hydraulic fracturing and to monitor the quality of groundwater surrounding some wells stimulated by hydraulic fracturing. Any such decrease in the availability of water, or demand for water services, could adversely affect our business and results of operations.
The adoption of more stringent trucking legislation or regulations may increase our costs and could have an adverse effect on our liquidity, results of operations, and financial condition.
In connection with the services we provide, we operate as a motor carrier and therefore are subject to regulation by the DOT and analogous state agencies, which govern such activities as the authorization to engage in motor carrier operations and regulatory safety. The trucking industry is subject to possible legislative and regulatory changes that may affect the economics of the industry by requiring changes in operating practices or by changing the demand for common or contract carrier services or the cost of providing truckload services.
Moreover, from time to time, various legislative proposals are introduced, including proposals to increase federal, state or local taxes, including taxes on motor fuels and environmental regulations pertaining to motor vehicles, which may increase our costs, limit our ability to utilize our trucks on schedule, require us to undertake repairs or sales of certain trucks or adversely affect the recruitment of drivers. Management cannot predict whether, or in what form, any increase in such taxes applicable to us will be enacted. We may be required to increase operating expenses or capital expenditures in order to comply with any new laws, regulations or other restrictions. See Part I, Item 1. “Business - Environmental and Occupational Safety and Health Matters” for more discussion on the DOT and associated trucking matters.
The IRA 2022 could accelerate the transition to new energy sources and could impose new costs on our customers’ operations.
In August 2022, IRA 2022 was signed into law and it contains hundreds of billions of dollars in incentives that a could accelerate the transition from the use of fossil fuels to alternative energy sources, which could decrease demand for oil and gas and consequently adversely affect the business of our customers, thereby reducing demand for our services. In addition, the IRA 2022 imposes the first ever federal fee on the emission of GHGs through a methane emission charge. The IRA 2022 amended the Clean Air Act to impose a fee on the emission of methane from sources required to report their GHG emissions to the EPA, including those sources in the onshore petroleum and natural gas production and gathering and boosting source categories. A rule to implement the methane fee was finalized by the EPA in February 2024. However, it is uncertain what actions, if any, the Trump Administration or Congress may take with respect to the methane fee or other provisions of the IRA 2022. The methane emissions charge could increase our customers’ operating costs and adversely affect their businesses, thereby reducing demand for our services.
Additional fuel conservation measures, alternative fuel requirements and increased consumer demand for alternatives to oil and natural gas could reduce demand for oil and natural gas. The increased competitiveness of alternative energy sources, as such sources are developed, supported through government actions, improved and promoted, could reduce demand for hydrocarbons and therefore for our services, which would lead to a reduction in our revenues. The impact of declining demand for oil and natural gas may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, prospects, results of operations and cash flows.
We may be unable to implement price increases or maintain existing prices on our core services.
We periodically seek to increase the prices on our services to offset rising costs and to improve returns on investment for our stockholders. However, we operate in a very competitive industry and as a result, we are not always successful in raising, or maintaining, our existing prices. Additionally, during periods of increased market demand, a significant amount of new service capacity, including new water transfer equipment, fluid hauling trucks and pipelines, may enter the market, which also puts pressure on the pricing of our services and limits our ability to increase prices.
Even when we are able to increase our prices, we may not be able to do so at a rate that is sufficient to offset rising costs, such as those resulting from heightened levels of inflation. In periods of high demand for oilfield services, a tighter labor market may result in higher labor costs. During such periods, our labor costs could increase at a greater rate than our ability to raise prices for our services. Also, we may not be able to successfully increase prices without adversely affecting our activity levels. The inability to maintain our pricing and to increase our pricing as costs increase could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position and results of operations.
We may be subject to claims for personal injury and property damage, which could materially adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
We operate with most of our customers under MSAs. We endeavor to allocate potential liabilities and risks between the parties in the MSAs. Generally, under our MSAs, including those relating to our services, we assume responsibility for, including control and removal of, pollution or contamination that originates above the surface and originates from our equipment or services. Our customers generally assume responsibility for, including control and removal of, all other pollution or contamination that may occur during operations, including that which may result from seepage or any other uncontrolled flow of drilling fluids. We may have liability in such cases if we are negligent or commit willful acts. Generally, our customers also agree to indemnify us against claims arising from their employees’ personal injury or death to the extent that, in the case of our operations, their employees are injured or their properties are damaged by such operations unless resulting from our gross negligence or willful misconduct. Similarly, we generally agree to indemnify our customers for liabilities arising from personal injury to, or death of, any of our employees, unless resulting from gross negligence or willful misconduct of the customer. In addition, our customers generally agree to indemnify us for loss or destruction of customer-owned property or equipment and in turn, we agree to indemnify our customers for loss or destruction of property or equipment we own. Losses due to catastrophic events, such as blowouts, are generally the responsibility of the customer. However, despite this general allocation of risk, we might not succeed in enforcing such contractual allocation, might incur an unforeseen liability falling outside the scope
of such allocation or may be required to enter into an MSA with terms that vary from the above allocations of risk. As a result, we may incur substantial losses, which could materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
We operate in a highly competitive industry, which may intensify as our competitors expand their operations, thereby causing us to lose market share, and which could negatively affect our ability to expand our operations.
The oilfield water management business is highly competitive and includes numerous small companies capable of competing effectively in our markets on a local basis. Some of our larger diversified competitors have a similarly broad geographic scope, as well as greater financial and other resources than us, while others focus on specific basins only and may have locally competitive cost efficiencies as a result. Many of our larger competitors provide a broader base of services on a regional, national or worldwide basis. These companies may have a greater ability to continue oilfield service activities during periods of low commodity prices, to contract for equipment, to secure trained personnel, to secure contracts and permits and to absorb the burden of present and future federal, state, provincial, local and other laws and regulations (as applicable). Any inability to compete effectively with larger companies could have a material adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations. Additionally, there may be new companies that enter our markets, or our existing and potential customers may choose to develop their own water management solutions. Our ability to maintain current revenue and cash flows, and our ability to expand our operations, could be adversely affected by the activities of our competitors and our customers. We may be unable to effectively compete if our competitors substantially increase the resources they devote to the development and marketing of the services that we offer, or substantially decrease the prices at which they offer their services. If our existing and potential customers develop their own water solutions, we may not be able to effectively replace that revenue. All of these competitive pressures could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Our operations involve risks that may increase our operating costs, which could reduce our profitability.
Although we take precautions to enhance the safety of our operations and minimize the risk of disruptions, our operations are subject to hazards inherent in the manufacturing and marketing of chemical and other products. These hazards include chemical spills, pipeline leaks and ruptures, storage tank leaks, discharges or releases of toxic or hazardous substances or gases and other hazards incident to the manufacturing, processing, handling, transportation and storage of hazardous chemicals. We are also potentially subject to other hazards, including natural disasters and severe weather; explosions and fires; transportation problems, including interruptions, spills and leaks; mechanical failures; unscheduled downtimes; labor difficulties; remediation complications; and other risks. Many potential hazards can cause bodily injury and loss of life, severe damage to or destruction of property and equipment and environmental damage, and may result in suspension of operations and the imposition of civil or criminal penalties and liabilities. Furthermore, we are subject to present and future claims with respect to workplace exposure, exposure of contractors on our premises as well as other persons located nearby, workers’ compensation and other matters.
We maintain property, business interruption, products liability, cybersecurity and casualty insurance policies that we believe are in accordance with customary industry practices, as well as insurance policies covering other types of risks, including pollution legal liability insurance, but we are not fully insured against all potential hazards and risks incident to our business. Our operations are subject to hazards inherent in the oil and gas industry, such as, but not limited to, accidents, blowouts, explosions, craterings, fires, oil spills and releases of drilling, completion or fracturing fluids or wastewater into the environment. These conditions can cause: disruption in operations; substantial repair or remediation costs; personal injury or loss of human life; significant damage to or destruction of property, plant and equipment; environmental pollution, including groundwater contamination; impairment or suspension of operations; and substantial revenue loss.
We do not have insurance against all foreseeable risks, either because insurance is not available or because of the high premium costs. The occurrence of an event not fully insured against or the failure of an insurer to meet its insurance obligations could result in substantial losses. Our insurance policies are subject to customary exclusions, deductibles and coverage limits, in accordance with industry standards and practices. As a result of market conditions, premiums and deductibles for certain insurance policies can increase substantially and, in some instances, certain insurance may become unavailable or available only for reduced amounts of coverage. If we were to incur a significant
liability for which we were not fully insured, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and liquidity. Any interruption in our services due to pipeline breakdowns or necessary maintenance or repairs could reduce sales revenues and earnings. In addition, claims for loss of oil and gas production and damage to formations can occur in the well services industry. Litigation arising from a catastrophic occurrence at a location where our equipment and services are being used may result in our being named as a defendant in lawsuits asserting large claims.
In addition, we are subject to various claims and litigation in the ordinary course of business. We are a party to various pending lawsuits and proceedings. For more information, see Part I, Item 3. “Legal Proceedings.”
Delays or restrictions in obtaining permits by us for our operations or by our E&P customers for their operations could impair our business.
Our operations and the operations of our E&P customers in most states require permits from one or more governmental agencies in order to perform drilling and completion activities, secure water rights, construct impoundment tanks and operate pipelines or trucking services. Such permits are typically issued by state agencies, but federal and local governmental permits may also be required. In addition, some of our customers’ drilling and completion activities in the U.S. may take place on federal land or Native American lands, requiring leases and other approvals from the federal government or Native American tribes to conduct such drilling and completion activities. Under certain circumstances, federal agencies may cancel proposed leases for federal lands and refuse to grant or delay required approvals. Moreover, additional rules and regulations on federal lands may impact our customers. For example, the BLM has finalized new rules that limit flaring from well sites on federal lands and add additional methane-related provisions to the permit application process, though these rules have been subject to legal challenge. Any delay or denial of permits faced by our customers may impact demand for our services.
We are implementing a new enterprise resource planning system, and challenges with the implementation of the system may impact our business and operations.
We are in the process of completing a multi-year implementation of a complex new enterprise resource planning system (“ERP”). The ERP implementation has required the integration of the new ERP with multiple information systems and business processes, and has been designed to continue to accurately maintain our books and records and provide timely information to our management team important to maximizing the operating efficiency of the business. Conversion from our old systems to the new ERP may cause inefficiencies until the ERP is stabilized and mature. The implementation of our new ERP will mandate subtle changes to our procedures and controls over financial reporting. If we are unable to adequately implement and maintain procedures and controls relating to our new ERP, our ability to produce timely and accurate financial statements or comply with applicable regulations could be impaired and impact our assessment of the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting. Our Chemical Technologies segment went live with the new ERP in August of 2023 and Water Services and Water Infrastructure went live in February 2025.
We are subject to cybersecurity risks. A cyber incident or systems failure could occur and result in information theft, data corruption, operational disruption and/or financial loss.
Our operations are increasingly dependent on digital technologies and services to conduct certain processing activities. We use these technologies for internal purposes, including data storage, processing and transmissions, as well as in our interactions with customers’ and suppliers’ products, services and technology. Digital technologies are subject to the risk of cybersecurity attacks. A cybersecurity incident could be caused by malicious insiders or third parties using sophisticated, targeted methods to circumvent firewalls, encryption, and other cybersecurity defenses, including hacking, fraud, trickery, or other forms of deception, as well as an unintentional event. Emerging artificial intelligence technologies may improve or expand the capabilities of malicious third parties in a way we cannot predict at this time, including being used to develop new hacking tools, exploit vulnerabilities, obscure malicious activities and increase the difficulty detecting threats. If our systems for protecting against cybersecurity risks prove not to be sufficient, we could be adversely affected by, among other things: loss of or damage to intellectual property, proprietary or confidential information, or customer, supplier, or employee data; interruption of our business operations; and increased costs
required to prevent, respond to, or mitigate cybersecurity attacks. These risks could harm our reputation and our relationships with customers, suppliers, employees and other third parties, and may result in claims against us. These risks could have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Technology advancements in well completion and service technologies, including those involving the replacement of water in fracturing fluid, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
The oilfield services industry is characterized by rapid and significant technological advancements and introductions of new products and services using new technologies. As competitors and others use or develop new technologies or technologies comparable to ours in the future, we may lose market share or be placed at a competitive disadvantage. For example, some oil and gas producers may be developing and utilizing non-water fracturing techniques, including those utilizing propane, carbon dioxide or nitrogen instead of water. Further, we may face competitive pressure to implement or acquire certain new technologies at a substantial cost. Some of our competitors may have greater financial, technical and personnel resources than we do, which may allow them to gain technological advantages or implement new technologies before we can. Additionally, we may be unable to implement new technologies or products at all, on a timely basis or at an acceptable cost. New technology could also make it easier for our customers to vertically integrate their operations or reduce the amount of waste produced in oil and gas drilling and production activities, thereby reducing or eliminating the need for third-party disposal. Limits on our ability to effectively use or implement new technologies may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We may be adversely affected by uncertainty in the global financial markets and a worldwide economic downturn.
Our future results may be impacted by uncertainty caused by a worldwide economic downturn, continued volatility or deterioration in the debt and equity capital markets, inflation, international conflicts, public health crises, deflation or other adverse economic conditions that may negatively affect us or parties with whom we do business resulting in a reduction in our customers’ spending and their non-payment or inability to perform obligations owed to us, such as the failure of customers to honor their commitments or the failure of major suppliers to complete orders. Additionally, credit market conditions may change, slowing our collection efforts as customers may experience increased difficulty in obtaining requisite financing, potentially leading to lost revenue and higher than normal accounts receivable. During times when the gas or crude oil markets weaken, our customers are more likely to experience financial difficulties, including being unable to access debt or equity financing. For example, elevated interest rates may prevent our customers from being able to obtain debt financing at favorable rates, or at all, which could result in a reduction in our customers’ spending for our services. In addition, in the course of our business we hold accounts receivable from our customers. In the event of the financial distress or bankruptcy of a customer, we could lose all or a portion of such outstanding accounts receivable associated with that customer. Further, all or a portion of our contracts could be cancelled at significant expense or loss of expected revenues to us if a customer was to enter into bankruptcy.
The current global economic environment may adversely impact our ability to issue debt, including due to high interest rates as a result of the monetary policy of the Federal Reserve. Any economic uncertainty may cause financial institutions to respond to their borrowers by increasing interest rates, enacting tighter lending standards or refusing to refinance existing debt upon its maturity or on terms similar to the expiring debt. Due to the above-listed factors, we cannot be certain that additional funding will be available if needed and, to the extent required, on acceptable terms.
Seasonal weather conditions and natural disasters could severely disrupt normal operations and harm our business.
Our water solutions operations are located across multiple regions of the U.S. Certain of these areas are adversely affected by seasonal weather conditions, primarily in the winter and spring. During periods of heavy snow, ice or rain, we may be unable to move our equipment between locations, thereby reducing our ability to provide services and generate revenues. Additionally, extended drought conditions in our operating regions could impact our ability to source sufficient water for our customers or increase the cost for such water. As a result, a natural disaster or inclement weather conditions could severely disrupt the normal operation of our business and adversely impact our financial condition and results of operations.
Disruptions in the transportation services of logistics companies transporting wastewater and other oilfield products could have an adverse effect on our results.
In areas where pipeline gathering systems have not yet been developed, we use trucks to transport produced water and other fluids to our wastewater disposal facilities. In recent years, certain states, such as North Dakota, Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and New Mexico and certain state counties have increased enforcement of weight limits on trucks used to transport raw materials on their public roads. It is possible that the states, counties and municipalities in which we operate our business may modify their laws or regulations to further reduce truck weight limits or impose curfews or other restrictions on the use of roadways. Such legislation and regulations and associated enforcement efforts could result in delays, and increased costs, with respect to the transport of produced water to our wastewater disposal facilities, which may either increase our operating costs or reduce the amount of produced water transported to our facilities. Such developments could decrease our operating margins or amounts of produced water and thereby have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.
A significant increase in fuel prices may adversely affect our transportation costs, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.
Fuel is one of our significant operating expenses, and a significant increase in fuel prices could result in increased transportation costs. The price and supply of fuel is unpredictable and fluctuates based on events such as geopolitical developments, supply and demand for oil and gas, actions by oil and gas producers, war and unrest in oil producing countries and regions, regional production patterns and weather concerns. At times we have been able to pass along increases in fuel costs to customers, though we cannot guarantee our ability to do so in the future. Although the average price of fuel declined in 2023 and 2024, fuel prices constantly fluctuate and a significant increase in fuel prices could increase the price of, and therefore reduce demand for, our services, or force us to accept lower margins, both of which could affect our results of operations and financial condition.
Our industry typically experiences a high rate of employee turnover.
We are dependent upon the available labor pool of skilled employees and may not be able to find enough skilled labor to meet our needs, which could have a negative effect on our growth. We are also subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act, which governs such matters as minimum wage, overtime and other working conditions. Our operations require skilled workers who can perform physically demanding work. As a result of our industry volatility, as well as the demanding nature of the work, many workers have left the oilfield services section to pursue employment in different fields. If we are unable to retain or meet the growing demand for skilled technical personnel, our operating results and our ability to execute our growth strategies may be adversely affected.
Risks Related to Customers and Suppliers
Disruptions in production at our chemical manufacturing facilities may have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations and/or financial condition.
Chemical manufacturing facilities in our industry are subject to outages and other disruptions. Serious disruptions at any of our facilities could impair our ability to use our facilities and have a material adverse impact on our revenue and increase our costs and expenses. Unplanned production disruptions may occur for external reasons including natural disasters, weather, disease, world health events, strikes, transportation interruption, government regulation, political or civil unrest or terrorism, or internal reasons, such as fire, unplanned maintenance or other manufacturing problems. Moreover, alternative facilities with sufficient capacity may not be available, may cost substantially more or may take a significant time to increase production or qualify with our customers, any of which could negatively impact our business, results of operations and/or financial condition. Long-term production disruptions may cause our customers to seek alternative supply, which could further adversely affect our profitability.
Additionally, we rely on a number of vendors, suppliers, and in some cases sole-source suppliers, service providers, toll manufacturers and collaborations with other industry participants to provide us with chemicals, feedstocks
and other raw materials, along with energy sources and, in certain cases, facilities that we need to operate our business. If the business of these third parties is disrupted, some of these companies could be forced to reduce their output, shut down their operations or file for bankruptcy protection. If this were to occur, it could adversely affect their ability to provide us with the raw materials, energy sources or facilities that we need, which could materially disrupt our operations, including the production of certain of our chemical products. Moreover, it could be difficult to find replacements for certain of our business partners without incurring significant delays or cost increases. All of these risks could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and liquidity.
While we maintain business recovery plans that are intended to allow us to recover from natural disasters or other events that could disrupt our business, we cannot provide assurances that our plans would fully protect us from the effects of all such disasters or from events that might increase in frequency or intensity due to climate change. In addition, insurance may not adequately compensate us for any losses incurred as a result of natural or other disasters. In areas prone to frequent natural or other disasters, insurance may become increasingly expensive or not available at all.
Unsatisfactory safety performance may negatively affect our E&P customer relationships and, to the extent we fail to retain existing customers or attract new customers, adversely impact our revenues.
Our ability to retain existing E&P customers and attract new business is dependent on many factors, including our ability to demonstrate that we can reliably and safely operate our business and stay current on constantly changing rules, regulations, training and laws. Existing and potential customers consider the safety record of their service providers to be of high importance in their decision to engage third-party services. If one or more accidents were to occur at one of our operating sites, the affected customer may seek to terminate or cancel its use of our facilities or services and may be less likely to continue to use our services, which could cause us to lose substantial revenues. Further, our ability to attract new customers may be impaired if they elect not to purchase our third-party services because they view our safety record as unacceptable. In addition, it is possible that we will experience numerous or particularly severe accidents in the future, causing our safety record to deteriorate. This may be more likely as we continue to grow, if we experience high employee turnover or labor shortage, or add inexperienced personnel. See Part I, Item 1. “Business - Environmental and Occupational Safety and Health Matters” for more discussion on worker safety matters.
Constraints in the supply of equipment used in providing services to our customers and replacement parts for such could affect our ability to execute our growth strategies.
Equipment used in providing services to our customers is normally readily available given our existing quantity of owned, leased and rented equipment. However, market conditions could trigger constraints in the supply chain of certain equipment or replacement parts for such equipment, which could have a material adverse effect on our business. The majority of our risk associated with supply chain constraints occurs in those situations where we have a relationship with a single supplier for a particular equipment set.
Significant price volatility or interruptions in supply of our raw materials for our chemicals business may result in increased costs that we may be unable to pass on to our customers, which could reduce profitability.
We purchase a substantial portion of our raw materials for our chemicals business from third-party suppliers and the cost of these raw materials represents a substantial portion of our operating expenses. The prices of the raw materials that we purchase from third parties are cyclical and volatile. Our supply agreements provide us only limited protection against price volatility because they are entered into either on a short-term basis or are longer-term volume contracts, which provide for market-based pricing renegotiated several times per year. While we attempt to match cost increases with corresponding product price increases, we are not always able to raise product prices immediately or at all. Timing differences between raw material prices, which may change daily, and contractual product prices, which in many cases are negotiated only monthly or less often, have had and may continue to have a negative effect on our cash flow. Any cost increase that we are not able to pass on to our customers could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and liquidity.
There are several raw materials for which there are only a limited number of suppliers or a single supplier. To mitigate potential supply constraints, we enter into supply agreements with particular suppliers, evaluate alternative sources of supply and evaluate alternative technologies to avoid reliance on limited or sole-source suppliers. Where supply relationships are concentrated, particular attention is paid by the parties to ensure strategic intentions are aligned to facilitate long-term planning. If certain of our suppliers are unable to meet their obligations under present supply agreements, we may be forced to pay higher prices to obtain the necessary raw materials from other sources and we may not be able to increase prices for our finished products to recoup the higher raw materials costs. Any interruption in the supply of raw materials could increase our costs or decrease our revenue, which could reduce our cash flow. The inability of a supplier to meet our raw material needs could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
The number of sources for and availability of certain raw materials is also specific to the particular geographical region in which a facility is located. Political and economic instability in the countries from which we purchase our raw material supplies could adversely affect their availability. In addition, if raw materials become unavailable within a geographic area from which they are now sourced, we may not be able to obtain suitable or cost-effective substitutes. The importation of internationally sourced chemicals has, and may continue to, present new and additional challenges, such as increased freight costs, limited container space, and reduced production of certain chemicals. We may also experience higher operating costs, such as energy costs, which could affect our profitability. We may not always be able to increase our selling prices to offset the impact of any higher production costs or reduced production levels, which could reduce our earnings and decrease our liquidity.
Risks Related to Compliance with Regulations
Laws, regulations, executive actions and other regulatory initiatives in the U.S. relating to hydraulic fracturing could increase our costs of doing business and result in additional operating restrictions, delays or cancellations in the drilling and completion of oil and gas wells, or possible restrictions on the performance of hydraulic fracturing that may reduce demand for our services and could have a material adverse effect on our liquidity, results of operations and financial condition.
Although we do not directly engage in hydraulic fracturing, our operations support many of our E&P customers in such activities. The practice continues to be controversial in certain parts of the country, resulting in increased scrutiny and regulation of the hydraulic fracturing process, including by federal and state agencies and local municipalities. See Part I, Item 1. “Business - Environmental and Occupational Safety and Health Matters” for more discussion on these hydraulic fracturing and seismicity matters.
The adoption of any federal, state or local laws or the implementation of regulations or issuance of executive orders regarding hydraulic fracturing activities or leasing activities on federal properties could potentially cause a decrease in the completion of new oil and gas wells and an associated decrease in demand for our services and increased compliance costs and time, which could have a material adverse effect on our liquidity, results of operations, and financial condition.
Our and our E&P customers' operations are subject to a number of risks arising out of the threat of climate change, energy conservation measures or initiatives that stimulate demand for alternative forms of energy, which could result in increased operating and capital costs for our customers, restrictions on drilling for our customers and reduced demand for the products and services we provide.
The issue of climate change continues to attract considerable attention in the U.S. and foreign countries. As a result, numerous proposals have been made and are likely to continue to be made at the international, national, regional and state levels of government to monitor and limit emissions of GHGs as well as to eliminate such future emissions. As a result, our operations as well as the operations of our E&P customers are subject to a series of regulatory, political, litigation and financial risks associated with the production and processing of fossil fuels and emission of GHGs. See Part I, Item 1. “Business - Environmental and Occupational Safety and Health Matters” for more discussion on the threat of climate and restriction of GHG emissions. The adoption and implementation of any international, federal, regional or state legislation, executive actions, regulations or other regulatory initiatives that impose more stringent
standards for GHG emissions from the oil and natural gas sector or otherwise restrict the areas in which this sector may produce oil and natural gas or generate GHG emissions could result in increased compliance costs or costs of consuming fossil fuels. Such legislation, executive actions or regulations could result in increased costs of compliance or costs of consuming, and thereby reduce demand for oil and natural gas, which could reduce demand for our products and services. Additionally, political, financial and litigation risks may result in our customers restricting, delaying or canceling production activities, incurring liability for infrastructure damages as a result of climatic changes, or impairing the ability to continue to operate in an economic manner, which also could reduce demand for our products and services. The occurrence of one or more of these developments could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. Moreover, the increased competitiveness of alternative energy sources (such as wind, solar geothermal, tidal and biofuels) could reduce demand for hydrocarbons, and therefore for our products and services, which would lead to a reduction in our revenues.
Our chemical products are subject to stringent chemical control laws that could result in increased costs on our business.
We are subject to a wide array of laws and regulations governing chemicals, including the regulation of chemical substances and inventories, such as the TSCA. These laws and regulations change frequently and have the potential to limit or ban altogether the types of chemicals we may use in our products, as well as result in increased costs related to testing, storing, and transporting our products prior to providing them to our customers. Any new restrictions on the development of new products or use of existing products, increases in regulation of those products, or disclosure of confidential, competitive information relating to the products could have an adverse effect on our operations and our cost of doing business. Furthermore, governmental, regulatory and societal demands for increasing levels of product safety and environmental protection could result in increased pressure for more stringent regulatory control with respect to the chemical industry. See Part I, Item 1. “Business - Environmental and Occupational Safety and Health Matters” for more discussion on chemical product use and safety.
In the future, we may face increased obligations relating to the closing of our wastewater disposal facilities and may be required to provide an increased level of financial assurance to guarantee that the appropriate closure activities will occur for a wastewater disposal facility.
Our ability to obtain permits to own or operate wastewater disposal facilities generally requires us to establish performance bonds, letters of credit or other forms of financial assurance to address remediation and closure obligations. As we acquire additional wastewater disposal facilities or expand our existing wastewater disposal facilities, these obligations will increase. Additionally, in the future, regulatory agencies may require us to increase the amount of our closure bonds at existing wastewater disposal facilities. Moreover, actual costs could exceed our current expectations, as a result of, among other things, federal, state or local government regulatory action, increased costs charged by service providers that assist in closing wastewater disposal facilities and additional environmental remediation requirements. Increased regulatory requirements regarding our existing or future wastewater disposal facilities, including the requirement to pay increased closure and post-closure costs or to establish increased financial assurance for such activities could substantially increase our operating costs and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
State and federal legislation and regulatory initiatives relating to our disposal operations and seismicity could harm our business.
Our disposal business and the number of SWDs we operate has significantly increased since 2021. This disposal process has been linked to increased induced seismicity events in certain areas of the country, particularly in certain counties in Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, and New Mexico. For example, Texas and Oklahoma have issued rules for wastewater disposal wells that imposed certain permitting and operating restrictions and reporting requirements on disposal wells in proximity to faults. States have also issued orders, from time to time, for certain wells where seismic incidents have occurred to restrict or suspend disposal well operations. Another consequence of seismic events may be lawsuits alleging that disposal well operations have caused damage to neighboring properties or otherwise violated state and federal rules regulating waste disposal. These and other states have begun to consider or adopt laws and regulations
that may restrict or otherwise prohibit oilfield fluid disposal in certain areas or underground disposal wells, and state agencies implementing these requirements may issue orders directing certain wells where seismic incidents have occurred to restrict or suspend disposal well operations or impose standards related to disposal well construction and monitoring. For example, in December 2023 the Texas Railroad Commission suspended the permits of 23 deep disposal wells in a seismic response area in Culberson and Reeves Counties. Any one or more of these developments may result in our having to limit disposal well volumes, disposal rates or locations, or to cease disposal well activities, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. See Part I, Item 1. “Business - Environmental and Occupational Safety and Health Matters” for more discussion on seismic matters.
Changes in U.S. and international trade policies, such as the imposition of tariffs, particularly involving China, may adversely impact our business and operating results.
Though a comprehensive trade agreement was signed in 2020, the U.S. government has previously imposed tariffs affecting certain goods produced in China and the Trump administration has stated an intention to impose tariffs on international goods, including those produced in China. Approximately 9% of the raw material feedstock for our chemicals we produced in 2024 originated in China and were sold to us by our supplier partners. As a result, tariffs incurred by our supplier partners could increase our costs and reduce profitability. Additionally, delays or interruptions in the supply of some chemicals for any reason could impact our ability to generate chemicals revenue. If we are forced to source chemicals currently originating in China from other countries, such compounds might be more expensive, inferior in quality, or take longer to source. If we incur higher costs that we cannot pass on to our customers or if we are unable to adequately replace the chemicals we currently source with chemicals produced elsewhere, our business could be adversely affected.
In addition, to the extent that any U.S. trade policy results in retaliatory tariffs against the U.S., such as the recently announced tariffs from China on U.S. natural gas and crude oil, such developments could have an adverse effect on our customers’ business, and reduce demand for our services, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Changes to applicable tax laws and regulations or exposure to additional tax liabilities could adversely affect our operating results and cash flows.
We are subject to various complex and evolving U.S. federal, state and local tax laws. U.S. federal, state and local tax laws, policies, statutes, rules, regulations or ordinances could be interpreted, changed, modified or applied adversely to us, in each case, possibly with retroactive effect. Any change or modification of current tax laws, any significant variance in our interpretation of current tax laws or a successful challenge of one or more of our tax positions by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service or other tax authorities could increase our future tax liabilities and adversely affect our operating results and cash flows.
We are subject to environmental and occupational health and safety laws and regulations that may expose us to significant liabilities for penalties, damages or costs of remediation or compliance.
Our operations and the operations of our E&P customers are subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations in the U.S. relating to protection of natural resources and the environment, health and safety aspects of our operations and waste management, including the transportation and disposal of waste and other materials. These laws and regulations may take the form of laws, regulations, executive actions and various other legal initiatives and result in the imposition of numerous obligations on our operations and the operations of our customers. See Part I, Item 1. “Business - Environmental and Occupational Safety and Health Matters” for more discussion on these matters. Compliance with these regulations and other regulatory initiatives, or any other new environmental laws, regulations and executive actions could, among other things, require us or our customers to install new or modified emission controls on equipment or processes, incur longer permitting timelines, and incur significantly increased capital or operating expenditures, which costs may be significant. One or more of these developments that impact our customers could reduce demand for our services, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
The Endangered Species Act and Migratory Bird Treaty Act govern both our and our E&P customers’ operations and additional restrictions may be imposed in the future, which constraints could have an adverse impact on our ability to expand some of our existing operations or limit our customers’ ability to develop new oil and gas wells.
The ESA and comparable state laws restrict activities that may affect endangered or threatened species or their habitats. Similar protections are offered to migratory birds under the MBTA. To the degree that species listed under the ESA or similar state laws, or are protected under the MBTA, live in the areas where we or our E&P customers’ operate, both our and our customers’ abilities to conduct or expand operations and construct facilities could be limited or be forced to incur additional material costs. Additionally, the FWS may make determinations on the listing of unlisted species as endangered or threatened under the ESA. See Part I, Item 1. “Business - Environmental and Occupational Safety and Health Matters” for more discussion on ESA and MBTA matters. The designation of previously unidentified endangered or threatened species could indirectly cause us to incur additional costs, cause our or our E&P customers’ operations to become subject to operating restrictions or bans and limit future development activity in affected areas, which developments could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Investor attention to ESG matters may impact our business.
While it remains an ongoing and evolving political, regulatory, social, and financial investment consideration, companies across all industries have faced increased scrutiny from regulators and stakeholders related to their ESG practices in recent years. Companies that do not adapt to or comply with investor or stakeholder expectations and standards, which are evolving, or which are perceived to have not responded appropriately to the growing concern for ESG issues, regardless of whether there is a legal requirement to do so, may suffer from reputational damage and the business, financial condition, and/or stock price of such a company could be materially and adversely affected. Increasing attention to climate change, increasing societal expectations on companies to address climate change, and potential consumer use of substitutes to energy commodities may result in increased costs, reduced demand for our products and services, reduced profits, increased governmental investigations and private litigation against us.
Moreover, many institutional investors have announced plans to transition their portfolios to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions over the next 2-3 decades as part of a commitment to combat climate change. This has resulted, and will likely continue to result, in some (and perhaps a growing number of) institutions removing from their portfolios the shares of companies that do not meet their minimum investment standards. Further, banks and other capital providers are reassessing their capital allocation to our industry or making their participation conditional. This trend towards the divestment or limitation of future investment in companies involved in the development, production, transportation and utilization of fossil fuels, may adversely affect the price of our stock and limit our access to the debt and equity markets for capital to fund our growth. While a number of financial institutions, particularly in the U.S. have recently moderated or even reversed some of these commitments, there remains an active environment for these considerations internationally.
In addition, organizations that provide proxy advisory services to investors on corporate governance and related matters have developed ratings processes for evaluating companies on their approach to ESG matters. Currently, there are no universal standards for such scores or ratings, but the importance of sustainability evaluations is becoming more broadly accepted by investors and shareholders. Such ratings are used by some investors to inform their investment and voting decisions. Additionally, certain investors use these scores to benchmark companies against their peers and if a company is perceived as lagging, these investors may engage with companies to require improved ESG disclosure or performance. Unfavorable ESG ratings may lead to increased negative investor sentiment toward us or our customers and to the diversion of investment to other industries, which could have a negative impact on our stock price and/or our access to and costs of capital.
Risks Related to Our Capital Structure
We may not be able to continue to pay or maintain our cash dividends and the failure to do so may negatively affect our share price.
Since the fourth quarter of 2022, we have paid a quarterly cash dividend on our shares of Class A common stock and SES Holdings, LLC Units (along with Class B Shares). Most recently, in January 2025, we announced a quarterly cash dividend of $0.07 per share. Our ability to pay cash dividends depends on, among other things, our cash flows from operations, our cash requirements, our financial condition, the degree to which we are/or become leveraged, contractual restrictions binding on us, provisions of applicable law and other factors that our board of directors may deem relevant. There can be no assurance that we will generate sufficient cash from continuing operations in the future or have sufficient cash surplus or net profits to pay dividends on our Class A common stock. Our dividend policy is based upon our directors’ current assessment of our business and the environment in which we operate, and that assessment could change based on business development opportunities (which could, for example, increase our need for capital expenditures) or new growth opportunities. All future dividend payments are subject to quarterly review and approval by our board of directors. Our board of directors may, in its discretion, decrease the level of cash dividends or entirely discontinue the payment of cash dividends. A reduction or elimination of cash dividends could negatively affect the market price of our Class A common stock.
If we fail to maintain and enhance an effective system of internal controls, we may not be able to accurately report our financial results or prevent fraud. As a result, current and potential stockholders could lose confidence in our financial reporting, which would harm our business and the trading price of our Class A common stock.
Effective internal controls are necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports, prevent fraud and operate successfully as a public company. We are subject to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (“Sarbanes-Oxley”) and therefore are required to make a formal assessment of the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting for that purpose. We cannot be certain that our efforts to maintain and enhance our internal controls will be successful, that we will be able to maintain adequate controls over our financial processes and reporting in the future or that we will be able to comply with our obligations under Sections 302 and 404 of Sarbanes-Oxley. Any failure to maintain effective internal controls, or difficulties encountered in implementing or improving our internal controls, could harm our operating results or cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations. Ineffective internal controls could also cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information, which would likely have a negative effect on the trading price of our Class A common stock.
We may incur indebtedness or issue additional equity securities to execute our long-term growth strategy, which may reduce our profitability or result in significant dilution to our stockholders.
Constructing and maintaining water infrastructure used in the oil and gas industry requires significant capital. We may require additional capital in the future to develop and construct water sourcing, transfer, recycling and other related infrastructure to execute our growth strategy. For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, we spent $173.2 million, $135.9 million and $71.9 million, respectively, in capital expenditures (excluding expenditures connected with business combinations). Historically, we have financed these investments through cash flows from operations, external borrowings, capital contributions and proceeds from the issuance of equity securities. These sources of capital may not be available to us in the future. If we are unable to fund capital expenditures for any reason, we may not be able to capture available growth opportunities or effectively maintain our existing assets and any such failure could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. If we incur additional indebtedness or issue additional equity securities, our profitability may be reduced and our stockholders may experience significant dilution.
Our Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility subjects us to various financial and other restrictive covenants. These restrictions may limit our operational or financial flexibility and could subject us to potential defaults under our Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility.
Our Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility subjects us to significant financial and other restrictive covenants, including restrictions on our ability to consolidate or merge with other companies, conduct asset sales, incur additional indebtedness, grant liens, issue guarantees, make investments, loans or advances, pay dividends and enter into certain transactions with affiliates.
For additional information regarding our Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility, please read Part II, Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Liquidity and Capital Resources - Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility.”
If we are unable to remain in compliance with the covenants of our Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility, with such non-compliance resulting in an event of default, then the lenders may declare all amounts outstanding under the Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility to be immediately due and payable and exercise other rights and remedies thereunder. Any such acceleration or exercise of rights or remedies thereunder could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
Future sales of our equity securities, or the perception that such sales may occur, may depress our share price, and any additional capital raised through the sale of equity or convertible securities may dilute your ownership in us.
Subject to certain limitations and exceptions, Crestview and its permitted transferees may exchange their SES Holdings LLC Units (together with a corresponding number of shares of Class B common stock) for shares of Class A common stock (on a one-for-one basis, subject to conversion rate adjustments for stock splits, stock dividends and reclassification and other similar transactions) and then sell those shares of Class A common stock. Additionally, we may in the future issue our previously authorized and unissued securities. We are authorized to issue 350 million shares of Class A common stock, 150 million shares of Class B common stock and 50 million shares of preferred stock with such designations, preferences and rights as determined by our board of directors. The potential issuance of such additional shares of equity securities will result in the dilution of the ownership interests of the holders of our Class A common stock and may create downward pressure on the trading price, if any, of our Class A common stock.
In addition, Legacy Owner Holdco, Crestview Partners II SES Investment B, LLC (collectively, the “Registration Rights Holders”), who collectively own approximately 20 million shares of our common stock, are party to a registration rights agreement that provides, among other things, for parties to that agreement to initiate or participate in an underwritten public offering of all or a portion of their shares. The Registration Rights Holders may exercise their rights under such agreement in their sole discretion, and sales pursuant to such rights may be material in amount and occur at any time. The sales of substantial amounts of our Class A common stock or the perception that these sales may occur, could cause the market price of our Class A common stock to decline and impair our ability to raise capital. We also may grant additional registration rights in connection with any future issuance of our capital stock.
We cannot predict the size of future issuances of our Class A common stock or securities convertible into Class A common stock or the effect, if any, that future issuances and sales of shares of our Class A common stock will have on the market price of our Class A common stock. Sales of substantial amounts of our Class A common stock (including shares issued in connection with an acquisition), or the perception that such sales could occur, may adversely affect prevailing market prices of our Class A common stock.
Provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws and Delaware law may discourage a takeover attempt even if a takeover might be beneficial to our stockholders.
Provisions contained in our Fifth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and our Third Amended and Restated Bylaws, which we refer to herein as our “amended and restated certificate of incorporation” and “amended and restated bylaws,” respectively, could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire us. Provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws impose various procedural and other
requirements, which could make it more difficult for stockholders to effect certain corporate actions. For example, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation authorizes our board of directors to determine the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of unissued series of preferred stock without any vote or action by our stockholders. Thus, our board of directors can authorize and issue shares of preferred stock with voting or conversion rights that could adversely affect the voting or other rights of holders of our capital stock. These rights may have the effect of delaying or deterring a change of control of our company. Additionally, our amended and restated bylaws establish limitations on the removal of directors and on the ability of our stockholders to call special meetings and include advance notice requirements for nominations for election to our board of directors and for proposing matters that can be acted upon at stockholder meetings. These provisions could limit the price that certain investors might be willing to pay in the future for shares of our Class A common stock.
In addition, certain change of control events have the effect of accelerating the payment due under our Tax Receivable Agreements (as defined herein), which could be substantial and accordingly serve as a disincentive to a potential acquirer of our company. See “-Risks Related to Our Organizational Structure-In certain cases, payments under the Tax Receivable Agreements may be accelerated and/or significantly exceed the actual benefits, if any, we realize in respect of the tax attributes subject to the Tax Receivable Agreements.”
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation contains a provision renouncing our interest and expectancy in certain corporate opportunities, which could adversely affect our business or prospects.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, we renounce any interest or expectancy in any business opportunity that involves any aspect of the energy business or industry and that may be from time to time presented to any member of (i) Legacy Owner Holdco; Crestview Partners II SES Investment, LLC; any funds, limited partnerships or other investment entities or vehicles managed by Crestview Partners or controlled by Crestview GP; B-29 Investments, LP; Sunray Capital, LP; Proactive Investments, LP and their respective affiliates, other than us (collectively, the “SES Group”); (ii) the other entities (existing and future) that participate in the energy industry and in which the SES Group owns substantial equity interests (the “Portfolio Companies”) or (iii) any director or officer of the corporation who is also an employee, partner, member, manager, officer or director of any member of the SES Group or the Portfolio Companies, including our Chairman, President and CEO, John D. Schmitz, and our Executive Vice President, Business and Regulatory Affairs, Cody Ortowski, even if the opportunity is one that we might reasonably have pursued or had the ability or desire to pursue if granted the opportunity to do so. Mr. Schmitz controls both B-29 Investments, LP and Sunray Capital, LP and is a direct and indirect beneficiary of these provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation further provides that no such person or party shall be liable to us by reason of the fact that such person pursues any such business opportunity or fails to offer any such business opportunity to us.
As a result, any member of the SES Group or the Portfolio Companies or any director or officer of the corporation who is also an employee, partner, member, manager, officer or director of any member of the SES Group or the Portfolio Companies may become aware, from time to time, of certain business opportunities, such as acquisition opportunities, and may direct such opportunities to other businesses in which they have invested, in which case we may not become aware of or otherwise have the ability to pursue such opportunity. Further, such businesses may choose to compete with us for these opportunities. As a result, by renouncing our interest and expectancy in any business opportunity that may be from time to time presented to any member of the SES Group or the Portfolio Companies or any director or officer of the corporation who is also an employee, partner, member, manager, officer or director of any member of the SES Group or the Portfolio Companies, our business or prospects could be adversely affected if attractive business opportunities are procured by such parties for their own benefit rather than for ours. See Part III, Item 13. “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.”
We may issue preferred stock whose terms could adversely affect the voting power or value of our Class A common stock.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation authorizes us to issue, without the approval of our stockholders, one or more classes or series of preferred stock having such designations, preferences, limitations and relative rights, including preferences over our Class A common stock respecting dividends and distributions, as our
board of directors may determine. The terms of one or more classes or series of preferred stock could adversely impact the voting power or value of our Class A common stock. For example, we might grant holders of preferred stock the right to elect some number of our directors in all events or on the happening of specified events or the right to veto specified transactions. Similarly, the repurchase or redemption rights or liquidation preferences we might assign to holders of preferred stock could affect the residual value of the Class A common stock.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation designates the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware as the sole and exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by our stockholders, which could limit our stockholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers, employees or agents.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of our directors, officers, employees or agents to us or our stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against us or any director or officer or other employee or agent of ours arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or our amended and restated bylaws, or (iv) any action asserting a claim against us or any director or officer or other employee or agent of ours that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine, in each such case subject to such Court of Chancery having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants therein.
The exclusive forum provision would not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Securities Act or the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction. To the extent that any such claims may be based upon federal law claims, Section 27 of the Exchange Act creates exclusive federal jurisdiction over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations thereunder. Furthermore, Section 22 of the Securities Act creates concurrent jurisdiction for federal and state courts over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder.
The enforceability of similar choice of forum provisions in other companies’ certificates of incorporation or similar governing documents has been challenged in legal proceedings, and it is possible that a court could find the choice of forum provisions contained in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to be inapplicable or unenforceable, including with respect to claims arising under the U.S. federal securities laws.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of our capital stock will be deemed to have notice of, and consented to, the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation described in the preceding sentence. This choice of forum provision may limit a stockholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or our directors, officers, employees or agents, which may discourage such lawsuits against us and such persons. Alternatively, if a court were to find these provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation inapplicable to, or unenforceable in respect of, one or more of the specified types of actions or proceedings, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such matters in other jurisdictions, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Risks Related to Our Organizational Structure
We are a holding company. Our sole material asset consists of SES Holdings LLC Units, and accordingly, we are dependent upon distributions and payments from SES Holdings to pay taxes, pay dividends, make payments under the Tax Receivable Agreements and cover our corporate and other overhead expenses.
We are a holding company and have no material assets other than our equity interest in SES Holdings. We have no independent means of generating revenue. To the extent SES Holdings has available cash, we intend to cause SES Holdings to make (i) generally pro rata distributions to its unitholders, including us, in an amount at least sufficient to allow us to pay our taxes, pay dividends and to make payments under the Tax Receivable Agreements that we entered
into in connection with our restructuring at the Select 144A Offering and any subsequent tax receivable agreements that we may enter into in connection with future acquisitions and (ii) non-pro rata payments to us to reimburse us for our corporate and other overhead expenses. We will be limited, however, in our ability to cause SES Holdings and its subsidiaries to make these and other distributions or payments to us due to certain limitations, including the restrictions under our Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility and the cash requirements and financial condition of SES Holdings. To the extent that we need funds and SES Holdings or its subsidiaries are restricted from making such distributions or payments under applicable law or regulations or under the terms of their financing arrangements or are otherwise unable to provide such funds, our liquidity and financial condition could be adversely affected.
We will be required to make payments under the Tax Receivable Agreements for certain tax benefits we may claim, and the amounts of such payments could be significant.
In connection with our restructuring at the Select 144A Offering, we entered into the Tax Receivable Agreements with certain affiliates of the then-holders of SES Holdings LLC Units (each such person and any permitted transferee thereof, a “TRA Holder,” and together, the “TRA Holders”) which generally provide for the payment by us to the TRA Holders of 85% of the net cash savings, if any, in U.S. federal, state and local income and franchise tax that we actually realize (computed using simplifying assumptions to address the impact of state and local taxes) or are deemed to realize in certain circumstances as a result of certain tax basis increases, net operating losses available to us as a result of certain reorganization transactions entered into in connection with the Select 144A Offering, and certain tax benefits attributable to imputed interest. We will retain the benefit of the remaining 15% of these cash savings.
The term of each Tax Receivable Agreement commenced upon the completion of the Select 144A Offering and will continue until all tax benefits that are subject to such Tax Receivable Agreement have been utilized or expired, unless we exercise our right to terminate the Tax Receivable Agreements (or the Tax Receivable Agreements are terminated due to other circumstances, including our breach of a material obligation thereunder or certain mergers or other changes of control) and we make the termination payment specified in the Tax Receivable Agreements. In addition, payments we make under the Tax Receivable Agreements will be increased by any interest accrued from the due date (without extensions) of the corresponding tax return. We commenced payments under the Tax Receivable Agreements in 2024. In the event that the Tax Receivable Agreements are not terminated and we have sufficient taxable income to utilize all of the tax benefits subject to the Tax Receivable Agreements, the payments due under the Tax Receivable Agreement entered into with Legacy Owner Holdco and Crestview GP continue until the benefits of the last exchange of SES Holdings LLC Units are realized or expire, and the payments due under the Tax Receivable Agreement entered into with certain Legacy Owners continue until the benefits of the exchanges are realized or expire.
The payment obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreements are our obligations and not obligations of SES Holdings, and we expect that the payments we will be required to make under the Tax Receivable Agreements will be substantial. Estimating the amount and timing of payments that may become due under the Tax Receivable Agreements is by its nature imprecise. For purposes of the Tax Receivable Agreements, cash savings in tax generally will be calculated by comparing our actual tax liability (using the actual applicable U.S. federal income tax rate and an assumed combined state and local income and franchise tax rate) to the amount we would have been required to pay had we not been able to utilize any of the tax benefits subject to the Tax Receivable Agreements. The amounts payable, as well as the timing of any payments, under the Tax Receivable Agreements are dependent upon future events and significant assumptions, including the timing of the exchanges of SES Holdings LLC Units, the market price of our Class A common stock at the time of each exchange (since such market price will determine the amount of tax basis increases resulting from the exchange), the extent to which such exchanges are taxable transactions, the amount of the exchanging unitholder’s tax basis in its SES Holdings LLC Units at the time of the relevant exchange, the depreciation and amortization periods that apply to the increase in tax basis, the amount of net operating losses available to us as a result of reorganization transactions entered into in connection with the Select 144A Offering, the amount and timing of taxable income we generate in the future, the U.S. federal income tax rate then applicable, and the portion of our payments under the Tax Receivable Agreements that constitute imputed interest or give rise to depreciable or amortizable tax basis.
Certain of the TRA Holders’ rights under the Tax Receivable Agreements are transferable in connection with a permitted transfer of SES Holdings LLC Units or if the TRA Holder no longer holds SES Holdings LLC Units. The
payments under the Tax Receivable Agreements are not conditioned upon the continued ownership interest in either SES Holdings or us of any holder of rights under the Tax Receivable Agreements. See Part III, Item 13. “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.”
In certain cases, payments under the Tax Receivable Agreements may be accelerated and/or significantly exceed the actual benefits, if any, we realize in respect of the tax attributes subject to the Tax Receivable Agreements.
If we elect to terminate the Tax Receivable Agreements early or they are terminated early due to our failure to honor a material obligation thereunder or due to certain mergers, asset sales, other forms of business combinations or other changes of control, our obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreements would accelerate and we would be required to make an immediate payment equal to the present value of the anticipated future payments to be made by us under the Tax Receivable Agreements (determined by applying a discount rate of the lesser of 6.50% per annum, compounded annually, or the 12-month term SOFR published by CME Group Benchmark Administration plus 171.513 basis points; and such payment is expected to be substantial. The discount rate used as of December 31, 2024 was 5.95%. The calculation of anticipated future payments will be based upon certain assumptions and deemed events set forth in the Tax Receivable Agreements, including (i) the assumption that we have sufficient taxable income to fully utilize the tax benefits covered by the Tax Receivable Agreements, (ii) the assumption that any SES Holdings LLC Units (other than those held by us) outstanding on the termination date are exchanged on the termination date and (iii) certain loss or credit carryovers will be utilized in the taxable year that includes the termination date. Any early termination payment may be made significantly in advance of the actual realization, if any, of the future tax benefits to which the termination payment relates.
As a result of either an early termination or a “change of control” (as defined in the Tax Receivable Agreements, as amended), we could be required to make payments under the Tax Receivable Agreements that exceed our actual cash tax savings under the Tax Receivable Agreements. In these situations, our obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreements could have a substantial negative impact on our liquidity and could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing certain mergers, asset sales or other forms of business combinations or changes of control. For example, if the Tax Receivable Agreements were terminated on December 31, 2024, the estimated termination payments would have been approximately $78.1 million (calculated using a 5.95% discount rate, applied against an undiscounted liability of approximately $111.2 million, based upon the last reported closing sale price of our Class A common stock on December 31, 2024) in the aggregate. The foregoing number is merely an estimate and the actual payment could differ materially. There can be no assurance that we will be able to finance our obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreements.
Payments under the Tax Receivable Agreements will be based on the tax reporting positions that we will determine. The TRA Holders will not reimburse us for any payments previously made under the Tax Receivable Agreements if any tax benefits that have given rise to payments under the Tax Receivable Agreements are subsequently disallowed, except that excess payments made to the TRA Holders will be netted against payments that would otherwise be made to the TRA Holders, if any, after our determination of such excess. As a result, in such circumstances, we could make payments that are greater than our actual cash tax savings, if any, and may not be able to recoup those payments, which could adversely affect our liquidity. See Part III, Item 13. “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.”
If SES Holdings were to become a publicly-traded partnership taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, we and SES Holdings might be subject to potentially significant tax inefficiencies, and we would not be able to recover payments previously made by us under the Tax Receivable Agreements even if the corresponding tax benefits were subsequently determined to have been unavailable due to such status.
We intend to operate such that SES Holdings does not become a publicly-traded partnership taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. A “publicly-traded partnership” is a partnership, the interests of which are traded on an established securities market or are readily tradeable on a secondary market or the substantial equivalent thereof. Under certain circumstances, exchanges of SES Holdings LLC Units for shares of our Class A common stock or cash pursuant to the Eighth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of SES Holdings (the “SES Holdings LLC Agreement”) or other transfers of SES Holdings LLC Units could cause SES Holdings to be treated as a
publicly-traded partnership. Applicable U.S. Treasury regulations provide for certain safe harbors from treatment as a publicly-traded partnership, and we intend to operate such that exchanges or other transfers of SES Holdings LLC Units qualify for one or more such safe harbors. For example, we intend to limit the number of unitholders of SES Holdings and Legacy Owner Holdco, and the SES Holdings LLC Agreement provides for limitations on the ability of unitholders of SES Holdings to transfer their SES Holdings LLC Units and will provide us, as managing member of SES Holdings, with the right to impose restrictions (in addition to those already in place) on the ability of unitholders of SES Holdings to exchange their SES Holdings LLC Units pursuant to the SES Holdings LLC Agreement to the extent we believe it is necessary to ensure that SES Holdings will continue to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If SES Holdings were to become a publicly-traded partnership, significant tax inefficiencies might result for us and for SES Holdings. In addition, we may not be able to realize tax benefits covered under the Tax Receivable Agreements, and we would not be able to recover any payments previously made by us under the Tax Receivable Agreements, even if the corresponding tax benefits (including any claimed increase in the tax basis of SES Holdings’ assets) were subsequently determined to have been unavailable.
Our ability to use certain of our current and future net operating loss carryforwards may be limited and could adversely affect our operating results and cash flows.
As of December 31, 2024, we had approximately $167.3 million of tax-affected U.S. federal net operating loss carryforwards (“NOLs”), $87.8 million of which we expect to expire unused beginning in 2031 due to limitations under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). As of December 31, 2024, we also had approximately $15.9 million of tax-affected state NOLs, $6.9 million of which we expect to expire unused and the remaining $9.0 million of which we expect to expire beginning in 2025, and tax-affected non-U.S. NOLs of approximately $1.4 million, which we expect to expire beginning in 2035. Utilization of these NOLs (which include historic NOLs of Rockwater Energy Solutions Inc. (“Rockwater”), Nuverra Environmental Solutions Inc. (“Nuverra”), and Buckhorn Disposal ND, Inc. (“Buckhorn”)) depends on many factors, including our future income, which cannot be assured. In addition, Section 382 of the Code generally imposes an annual limitation on the amount of NOLs that may be used to offset taxable income when a corporation has undergone an “ownership change” (as determined under Section 382 of the Code). An ownership change generally occurs if one or more stockholders (or groups of stockholders) who are each deemed to own at least 5% of the relevant corporation’s stock change their ownership by more than 50 percentage points over their lowest ownership percentage within a rolling three-year period. In the event that an ownership change has occurred, or were to occur, utilization of the relevant corporation’s NOLs would be subject to an annual limitation under Section 382 of the Code, determined by multiplying the value of the relevant corporation’s stock at the time of the ownership change by the applicable long-term tax-exempt rate as defined in Section 382 of the Code, and potentially increased for certain gains recognized within five years after the ownership change to the extent of certain net built-in gains at the time of the ownership change. Any unused annual limitation may be carried over to later years until they expire. Limitations similar to those applicable under Section 382 of the Code apply for U.S. state and non-U.S. income tax purposes.
While we do not believe that the acquisitions of Rockwater, Nuverra or Buckhorn resulted in an ownership change under Section 382 of the Code with respect to us, future issuances, sales and/or exchanges of our stock (including in connection with an exercise of the Exchange Right or other transactions beyond our control), taken together with prior transactions with respect to our stock, could cause us to undergo an ownership change. As a result, we cannot assure you that we will not undergo an ownership change in the future. We believe that the acquisitions of Rockwater, Nuverra and Buckhorn resulted in ownership changes with respect to each of Rockwater, Nuverra and Buckhorn, respectively. Accordingly, as described above, some or all of our U.S. federal or state or non-U.S. NOLs could expire before they can be used. In addition, future ownership changes or changes to the U.S. tax laws could limit our ability to utilize our NOLs. To the extent we are not able to offset our future income with our NOLs, this would adversely affect our operating results and cash flows.
General Risks
We may not be able to finance future growth of our operations or future acquisitions, which could adversely affect our operations and financial position.
The successful execution of our growth strategy depends on our ability to generate sufficient cash flows and our access to capital, both of which are impacted by numerous factors beyond our control, including financial, business, economic and other factors, such as volatility in commodity prices, inflationary pressures and associated monetary policy and pressure from competitors. There have been recent increases in the cost of capital and interest rates, which may affect future borrowings and impact the financial benefit we may receive. If we are unable to generate sufficient cash flows or obtain additional capital on favorable terms or at all, we may be unable to continue growing our business, conduct necessary corporate activities, take advantage of business opportunities that arise or engage in activities that may be in our long-term best interest, which may adversely impact our ability to sustain or improve our current level of profitability.
The growth of our business through acquisitions may expose us to various risks, including those relating to difficulties in identifying suitable, accretive acquisition opportunities and integrating businesses, assets and personnel, as well as difficulties in obtaining financing for targeted acquisitions and the potential for increased leverage or debt service requirements.
As a component of our business strategy, we intend to pursue selected, accretive acquisitions of complementary assets, businesses and technologies. Acquisitions involve numerous risks, including: unanticipated costs and assumption of liabilities and exposure to unforeseen liabilities of the acquired business, including but not limited to environmental liabilities and plug and abandonment obligations; difficulties in integrating the operations and assets of the acquired business and the acquired personnel; limitations on our ability to properly assess and maintain an effective internal control environment over an acquired business; potential losses of key employees and customers of the acquired business; risks of entering markets in which we have limited prior experience; and increases in our expenses and working capital requirements.
In evaluating acquisitions, we generally prepare one or more financial cases based on a number of business, industry, economic, legal, regulatory and other assumptions applicable to the proposed transaction. Although we expect a reasonable basis will exist for those assumptions, the assumptions will generally involve current estimates of future conditions. Realization of many of the assumptions will be beyond our control. Moreover, the uncertainty and risk of inaccuracy associated with any financial projection will increase with the length of the forecasted period. Some acquisitions may not be accretive in the near term and will be accretive in the long-term only if we are able to timely and effectively integrate the underlying assets and such assets perform at or near the levels anticipated in our acquisition projections.
In addition, we may not have sufficient capital resources to complete any additional acquisitions. We may incur substantial indebtedness to finance future acquisitions and also may issue equity, debt or convertible securities in connection with such acquisitions. Debt service requirements could represent a significant burden on our results of operations and financial condition and the issuance of additional equity or convertible securities could be dilutive to our existing stockholders. Furthermore, we may not be able to obtain additional financing on satisfactory terms, or at all. Even if we have access to the necessary capital, we may be unable to continue to identify suitable acquisition opportunities, negotiate acceptable terms or successfully acquire identified targets.
We may be required to take write-downs of the carrying values of our long-lived assets and finite-lived intangible assets.
We evaluate our long-lived assets, such as property and equipment, and finite-lived intangible assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying value may not be recoverable. Recoverability is measured by a comparison of their carrying amount to the estimated undiscounted cash flows to be generated by those assets. Based on specific market factors and circumstances at the time of prospective impairment reviews and the continuing evaluation of development plans, economics and other factors, we may be required to write
down the carrying value of our long-lived and finite-lived intangible assets. For the year ended December 31, 2023, we recorded $11.1 million and $1.5 million of abandonment charges to write down the carrying value of our definite-lived intangible assets and long-lived assets, respectively.
We may be required to take a write-down of the carrying value of goodwill.
As of December 31, 2024, our goodwill balance was $18.2 million. When applicable, we conduct our annual goodwill impairment assessment during the fourth quarter of each year, or more frequently if an event or circumstance indicates that the carrying value of a reporting unit may exceed the fair value. When possible impairment is indicated, we value the implied goodwill to compare it with the carrying amount of goodwill. If the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds its implied fair value, an impairment charge is recorded. The fair value of goodwill is based on estimates and assumptions applied by us such as revenue growth rates, operating margins, weighted-average costs of capital, market multiples, and future market conditions and as affected by numerous factors, including the general economic environment and levels of exploration and production activity of oil and gas companies, our financial performance and trends, and our strategies and business plans, among others. As a result of this annual impairment assessment, we may be required to write down the carrying value of goodwill.

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ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.

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ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
We lease space for our principal executive offices in Houston and Gainesville, Texas and we also lease local office space in the regions in which we operate. Additionally, we own and lease numerous storage facilities, trucking facilities and sales and administrative offices throughout the geographic areas in which we operate. In connection with our Chemical Technologies segment, we own two primary manufacturing facilities in Texas, and we lease three primary regional distribution centers through which we provide products to our customers in all major U.S. shale basins. Our leased properties are subject to various lease terms and expirations.
We believe all the properties that we currently occupy are suitable for their intended uses. We believe that our current facilities are sufficient to conduct our operations. However, we continue to evaluate the purchase or lease of additional properties or the sale or consolidation of our properties, as our business requires.
The following table shows our active leased and owned properties categorized by segment as of December 31, 2024:
Classification
Water Infrastructure
Water Services
Chemical Technologies
Corporate & Other
Total
Leased
Owned
-

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ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
We are not currently a party to any legal proceedings that, if determined adversely against us, individually or in the aggregate, would have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. We are, however, named defendants in certain lawsuits, investigations and claims arising in the ordinary course of conducting our business, including certain environmental claims and employee-related matters, and we expect that we will be named defendants in similar lawsuits, investigations and claims in the future. While the outcome of these lawsuits, investigations and claims cannot be predicted with certainty, we do not expect these matters to have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations, cash flows or financial condition. We have not assumed any liabilities arising out of these existing lawsuits, investigations and claims.

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ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
PART II

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ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Our Class A common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) under the ticker symbol “WTTR.” As of February 17, 2025, there were 152 stockholders of record of our Class A common stock.
Dividend Policy
The Company’s board of directors initiated a dividend program in 2022 under which the Company intends to pay regular quarterly dividends, which commenced with the first payment of a quarterly cash dividend of $0.05 per share of Class A common stock on November 17, 2022 (along with a comparable distribution of $0.05 per unit for holders of units of SES Holdings, LLC who also hold an equal number of shares of Class B common stock). The Company paid quarterly dividends at the same rate through the third quarter of 2023, then the board of directors increased the quarterly dividend paid on November 17, 2023 to $0.06 per share of Class A common stock (along with a comparable distribution of $0.06 per unit to the unitholders of SES Holdings, LLC). The Company paid quarterly dividends at the same rate through the third quarter of 2024, then the board of directors increased the quarterly dividend paid on November 15, 2024 to $0.07 per share of Class A common stock (along with a comparable distribution of $0.07 per unit to the unitholders of SES Holdings, LLC). The Company most recently announced a quarterly dividend of $0.07 per share on January 23, 2025 to be paid on February 14, 2025 to holders of record as of the close of business on February 4, 2025. Our future dividend policy is within the discretion of our board of directors, and all future dividend payments are subject to quarterly review and approval by our board of directors, and will depend upon then-existing conditions, including our results of operations and financial condition, capital requirements, business prospects, statutory and contractual
restrictions on our ability to pay dividends, including restrictions contained in our Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility and other factors our board of directors may deem relevant.
Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans
The Company maintains the Select Water Solutions, Inc. 2024 Equity Incentive Plan (as amended, the “2024 Plan”) and the Select Energy Services, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "ESPP”). The 2024 Plan was adopted on March 25, 2024. The ESPP was approved by our stockholders on May 4, 2018. On November 3, 2022, our board of directors approved an amendment to the ESPP, which suspended all offerings on or after December 1, 2022. Our board of directors reserves the right to recommence offerings pursuant to its discretion and the terms of the ESPP. See “Note 12-Equity-Based Compensation” for a description of our equity compensation plans.
The following table provides information about our Class A common stock that may be issued under our equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2024.
Plan Category
Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights
Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights(1)
Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a))(2)
(a)
(b)
(c)
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders
1,030,595
$19.89
8,783,179
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders
-
-
-
Total
1,030,595
$19.89
8,783,179
(1)
Only stock options have an exercise price.
(2)
Reflects the total number of shares of Class A common stock (i) subject to outstanding rights under the ESPP and (ii) remaining available for issuance under the 2024 Plan and the ESPP. For the avoidance of doubt, while shares of Class A common stock technically remain available for issuance under the ESPP, the Company does not currently have an offering period open with respect to the ESPP. Shares remaining available under the 2024 Plan may be issued other than with respect to options, warrants or rights.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Total Number of Shares
Maximum Dollar Value of
Total Number of
Weighted-Average Price
Purchased as Part of Publicly
Shares that May Yet be Purchased
Period
Shares Purchased
Paid Per Share(1)
Announced Plans or Programs
Under the Plans or Programs(2)
October 1, 2024 to October 31, 2024
2,648
$10.59
-
$21,177,432
November 1, 2024 to November 30, 2024
125,566
$12.65
-
$21,177,432
December 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024
10,471
$14.21
-
$21,177,432
(1)
The average price paid per share includes commissions.
(2)
On March 21, 2023, our board of directors authorized a share repurchase program of up to $50 million of outstanding shares of Class A common stock. This new authorization was in addition to the $5.1 million remaining outstanding under our previous $25 million authorization, as of March 21, 2023. On November 8, 2023, our board of directors authorized a share repurchase program of up to $25 million of outstanding shares of Class A common stock. This new authorization was in addition to the $7.5 million
remaining outstanding under our previous authorization, as of November 8, 2023. As of December 31, 2024, approximately $21.2 remains outstanding under our prior authorizations, in the aggregate. Repurchases under the share repurchase program may be made at any time or from time to time, without prior notice, in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions at prevailing market prices, or such other means as will comply with applicable state and federal securities laws and regulations, including the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including Rule 10b5-1 and, to the extent practicable or advisable, Rule 10b-18 thereunder, and consistent with the Company’s contractual limitations and other requirements.
STOCK PERFORMANCE GRAPH
The following performance graph and related information shall not be deemed “soliciting material” or to be “filed” with the SEC, nor shall the information be incorporated by reference into any future filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates it by reference into such filing.
Set forth below is a line graph comparing the cumulative total stockholder return for the Company’s Class A common stock, based on the market price of the Class A common stock and assuming reinvestment of dividends, with the cumulative total stockholder return of companies with the New York Stock Exchange Market Value Index (the Company’s broad equity market index) and the Philadelphia Stock Exchange Oil Service Sector Index for the period commencing on December 31, 2019 and ending on December 31, 2024. The stock price performance included in this graph is not necessarily indicative of future stock price performance.

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
ITEM 6. RESERVED

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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto in Part II, Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data”. This discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements based on our current expectations that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors as described under “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors.” We assume no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements.
Overview
We are a leading provider of sustainable water-management solutions to the energy industry in the U.S. As a leader in the water solutions industry, we place the utmost importance on safe, environmentally responsible management of oilfield water throughout the lifecycle of a well. Additionally, we believe that responsibly managing water resources through our operations to help conserve and protect the environment in the communities in which we operate is paramount to our continued success.
In many regions of the country, there has been growing concern about the volumes of water required for new oil and gas well completions, as well as volumes of water injected into subterranean zones where seismicity can be triggered. Working with our customers and local communities, we strive to be an industry leader in the development of sustainable cost-effective alternatives to fresh water. Specifically, we offer solutions through our infrastructure networks that enable our E&P customers to gather, treat and reuse produced water, thereby reducing the demand for freshwater while also reducing the volumes of saltwater that must be disposed by injection. In many areas, we have also acquired sources of non-potable water, such as brackish water or municipal or industrial effluent. Through our expertise in chemical technologies and our FluidMatch™ design solutions, we provide water profiling and fluid assessment services for our customers to support the optimization of their fluid systems, enabling the economic use of these alternative sources. We also work with our E&P customers to lower their emissions through methane combustion technology, and reduce the environmental footprint of their operations through the use of temporary hose and permanent pipeline systems, which are supported by extensive monitoring and automation technology solutions that provide safer and more efficient water resource management. These solutions significantly reduce the demand for trucking operations, thereby reducing gasoline and diesel exhaust emissions, increasing safety and decreasing traffic congestion in nearby communities.
Recent Trends and Outlook
During 2024, Select executed six strategic business combinations totaling $148.1 million, and eight asset acquisitions totaling $14.6 million, enhancing current and future water infrastructure capabilities. The Trinity Acquisition added strategic saltwater disposal wells and pipelines in the Permian Basin. The Iron Mountain Acquisition and the Tri-State Acquisition strengthened fluids and solids treatment and disposal assets in the Haynesville region. The Buckhorn Acquisition expanded solids management services by adding landfills in North Dakota and Montana. The Bobcat Acquisition enhanced disposal operations and provided comprehensive produced water solutions in the Marcellus/Utica region. Finally, the Rockies Infrastructure Acquisition improved water disposal operations in that region. These strategic acquisitions collectively position Select for future growth and operational efficiency in the water infrastructure segment.
Select is prioritizing investments in water infrastructure projects, which often bring a more predictable and steady revenue stream through long-term contracts and production-related operations. These investments typically produce higher gross margins and also foster stronger partnerships with customers, as Select becomes an integral partner
in ensuring well productivity for ongoing customer production over the life of a well. Our focus is on integrated solutions that enhance contracted infrastructure projects with logistics services and chemical solutions, and expanding the value we provide to our customers. Our approach, historically and during the year ended December 31, 2024, has been to streamline operations and offer a more comprehensive and valuable overall package to customers that is built around optimizing the entire water lifecycle as such integrated solutions drive revenue growth and enhance overall value to clients.
The armed conflict between Ukraine and Russia continued into 2024, as well as ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, including heightened tensions with Iran. As a result of the Russian invasion of the Ukraine, the U.S., the United Kingdom, the member states of the European Union and other public and private actors have imposed severe sanctions on Russian financial institutions, businesses and individuals. In the Middle East, various conflicts have resulted in increased hostilities and instability in oil and gas producing regions in the Middle East as well as in key adjacent shipping lanes and supply chains, including elevated tensions with Iran, a major oil producer.
The Russia-Ukraine conflict, and the resulting sanctions and concerns regarding global energy security, has contributed to, and conflicts in the Middle East may contribute to, increases and volatility in the prices for oil and natural gas. Such volatility, coupled with an increased cost of capital, due, in part to elevated rates of inflation and interest rates, may lead to a more difficult investing and planning environment for us and our customers. The ultimate geopolitical and macroeconomic consequences of these conflicts and associated sanctions and/or international responses cannot be predicted, and such events, or any further hostilities elsewhere, could severely impact the world economy and may adversely affect our financial condition. An end to these conflicts and an easing or elimination of the related sanctions and/or international response could result in a significant fall in commodity prices as hydrocarbons become more readily accessible in global markets, which could have an adverse effect on our customers, and therefore adversely affect our
customers’ demand for our services. An intensification of that conflict could also have an adverse effect on our customers and their demand for our services.
In addition, since 2021, OPEC+ countries instituted production cuts (as well as voluntary production cuts), which currently cut output by 5.86 million barrels/day in the aggregate. In December 2024, OPEC+ announced an extension of such production cuts through the end of 2026. OPEC+ may, at its discretion, continue to decrease, or increase, production, which will continue to impact crude oil and natural gas price volatility. The actions of OPEC+ countries with respect to oil production levels and announcements of potential changes in such levels, including agreement on and compliance with production targets, may result in volatility in the industry in which we and our customers operate. The average price of West Texas Intermediate (“WTI”) crude oil remained relatively flat in 2024 versus 2023, primarily due to sluggish demand and relatively high production outside of OPEC+ countries, offset by OPEC+ production cuts. During the year ended December 31, 2024, the average spot price of WTI crude oil was $76.63 versus an average price of $77.58 for the year ended December 31, 2023. While WTI price levels marginally declined during 2024 relative to 2023, these WTI price levels remain supportive of our customers’ drilling and completion programs in the major shale basins. The average Henry Hub natural gas spot price during the year ended December 31, 2024, was $2.19 versus an average of $2.53 for the year ended December 31, 2023. Henry Hub natural gas price levels in 2024 have declined relative to 2023 and have negatively impacted activity levels in the natural gas basins though prices did see a recovery in the second half of 2024 relative to the first half of the year.
Additionally, increased inflation in recent years has resulted in higher interest rates and increased cost of capital for Select and for our customers. As costs of capital has increased, many of our customers have demonstrated their resolve to manage their capital spending within budgets and cash flow from operations and increase redemptions of debt and/or returns of capital to investors. Additionally, consolidation among our customers, such as the consolidation of E&P companies in the Permian Basin, can disrupt our market in the near term and the resulting demand for our services. Overall however, even though commodity prices have moderated recently, the financial health of the oil and gas industry is in a generally healthy position overall, including many of our customers specifically, as reflected in revenues and earnings, debt metrics, recent capital raises, and equity valuations.
In addition, global macroeconomic developments, such as the development or change in international trade policies, including the imposition of tariffs, may adversely affect our ability to source raw materials and the demand for our services. While we have positioned ourselves to largely not be reliant on any sole supplier and believe we would be
able to find alternative sources for our raw materials, any trading disruption (such as tariffs, product restrictions, etc.) in the trading relationships between the U.S. and other nations may adversely impact our business. For example, on February 1, 2025, the White House issued three executive orders directing the U.S. to impose an increase of the duty on imports from Canada, Mexico and China and empowering the U.S. president to raise the tariffs further should any country retaliate. On February 3, 2025, the prospective tariffs on Canada and Mexico were deferred for 30 days, though the execution of these tariff increases remain possible beyond the current short-term reprieve. The 10% additional tariff on all imports from China went into effect, and on February 4, 2025 China retaliated with various levels of tariffs on certain products imported from the U.S., including a 10% tariff on crude oil and a 15% tariff on liquified natural gas. The continuation, expansion or worsening of these tariffs may adversely affect the industry in which we operate and reduce demand for our services.
When one customer acquires another, drilling and completions activity levels may decrease overall, but acquisitions can lead to larger blocks of consolidated development and production acreage, which can increase the demand for our longer-term integrated full water lifecycle solutions. This consolidation may streamline operations, as Select can offer integrated solutions to clients with larger water volumes to manage in certain areas. The Company’s position in the market may strengthen, as it becomes an essential partner for long-term production integrity in larger, more comprehensive water projects. However, it also means Select must meet the changing needs and structures of these consolidated entities to maintain and grow these relationships. While customers involved in acquisitions may initially slow activity to focus on integration and portfolio management, we believe we are well-positioned to meet the increased responsibilities of overall water management, including water reuse, recycling, transmitting and balancing across customers and regions, and ultimately disposal, for these larger customers and blocks of contiguous acreage.
While the financial health of the broader oil and gas industry has shown improvement as compared to prior periods, central bank policy actions and associated liquidity risks and other factors may negatively impact the value of our equity and that of our customers, and may reduce our and their ability to access liquidity in the bank and capital markets or result in capital being available on less favorable terms, which could negatively affect our financial condition and that of our customers.
From an operational standpoint, many of the recent trends still apply to ongoing unconventional oil and gas development. The continued trend towards multi-well pad development and simultaneous well completions, executed within a limited time frame, combined with service price inflation and elevated interest rates, has increased the overall intensity, complexity and cost of well completions, while increasing fracturing efficiency and the use of lower-cost in-basin sand has decreased total costs for our customers. However, we note the continued efficiency gains in the well completions process can limit the days we spend on the wellsite and, therefore, negatively impact the total revenue opportunity for certain of our services utilizing day-rate pricing models.
This multi-well pad development, combined with upstream acreage consolidation and corporate mergers as well as the growing trends around the recycling and reuse applications of produced water provides a significant opportunity for companies like us that can deliver increasingly complex solutions for our E&P customers across large swathes of acreage through our regional infrastructure networks, delivering solutions for the full completion and production lifecycle of wells. While these trends have advanced the most in the Permian Basin to date, they are emerging in other basins as well and Select has recently performed recycling projects in the Haynesville, Rockies and South Texas regions as well.
The increased reuse of produced water requires additional chemical treatment solutions. We have a dedicated team of specialists focused every day on developing and deploying innovative water treatment and reuse services for our customers. Our FluidMatch™ design solutions enable our customers to economically use these alternative sources to optimize their fluid systems by providing water profiling and fluid assessment services working towards real-time. This trend also supports more complex “on-the-fly” solutions that treat, proportion, and blend various streams of water and chemicals at the wellsite. This complexity favors service companies that are able to provide advanced technology solutions. Ultimately, we intend to play an important role in the advancement of water and chemical solutions that are designed to meet the sustainability goals of key stakeholders.
Our water logistics, treatment, and chemical application expertise, in combination with advanced technology solutions, are applicable to other industries beyond oil and gas. We are working to further commercialize our services in other businesses and industries through our industrial solutions group.
Our Segments
Our services are offered through three reportable segments: (i) Water Infrastructure; (ii) Water Services; and (iii) Chemical Technologies.
● Water Infrastructure. The Water Infrastructure segment consists of the Company’s fixed infrastructure assets, including operations associated with our water distribution pipeline infrastructure, our water recycling solutions, and our produced water pipeline gathering systems and SWDs, as well as solids management facilities, primarily serving E&P companies.
● Water Services. The Water Services segment consists of the Company’s services businesses, including water sourcing, water transfer, flowback and well testing, fluids hauling, water monitoring, water containment and water network automation, primarily serving E&P companies. Additionally, this segment includes the operations of our accommodations and rentals business.
● Chemical Technologies. The Chemical Technologies segment provides technical solutions, products and expertise related to chemical applications in the oil and gas industry. We develop, manufacture, manage logistics and provide a full suite of chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing, stimulation, cementing and well completions for customers ranging from pressure pumpers to major integrated and independent oil and gas producers. This segment also utilizes its chemical experience and lab testing capabilities to customize tailored water treatment solutions designed to optimize the fracturing fluid system in conjunction with the quality of water used in well completions.
How We Generate Revenue
We currently generate most of our revenue through our water-management services associated with well completions as well as ongoing produced water management, provided through our Water Infrastructure and Water Services segments. Most of this revenue is realized through customer agreements with fixed pricing terms and is recognized when delivery of services is provided, generally at our customers’ sites. While we have some long-term pricing arrangements, particularly in our Water Infrastructure segment, most of our water and water-related services are priced based on prevailing market conditions, giving due consideration to the customer’s specific requirements.
We also generate revenue by providing completion and specialty chemicals through our Chemical Technologies segment. We invoice the majority of our Chemical Technologies customers for services provided based on the quantity of chemicals used or pursuant to short-term contracts as customer needs arise.
Costs of Conducting Our Business
The principal expenses involved in conducting our business are labor costs, vehicle and equipment costs (including depreciation, rental, repair and maintenance and leasing costs), raw materials and water sourcing costs and fuel costs. Our fixed costs are relatively low. Most of the costs of serving our customers are variable, i.e., they are incurred only when we provide water and water-related services, or chemicals and chemical-related services to our customers.
Labor costs associated with our employees and contract labor comprise the largest portion of our costs of doing business. We incurred labor and labor-related costs of $530.7 million, $554.4 million and $476.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The majority of our recurring labor costs are variable and dependent on the market environment and are incurred only while we are providing our operational services. We also incur costs to employ personnel to ensure safe operations, sell and supervise our services and perform maintenance on our assets, which is not directly tied to our level of business activity. Additionally, we incur selling, general and
administrative costs for compensation of our administrative personnel at our field sites and in our operational and corporate headquarters, as well as for third-party support, licensing and services.
We incur significant vehicle and equipment costs in connection with the services we provide, including depreciation, repairs and maintenance, rental and leasing costs. We incurred vehicle and equipment costs of $312.9 million, $318.9 million and $266.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
We incur raw material costs in manufacturing our chemical products, as well as for water that we source for our customers. We incurred raw material costs of $242.7 million, $299.9 million and $300.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
We incur variable transportation costs associated with our service lines, predominately fuel and freight. We incurred fuel and freight costs of $83.4 million, $115.6 million and $118.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Variability in fuel prices impact our transportation costs, which affect the results of our operations.
How We Evaluate Our Operations
We use a variety of operational and financial metrics to assess our performance. Among other measures, management considers each of the following:
● Revenue;
● Gross Profit;
● Gross Margins;
● EBITDA;
● Adjusted EBITDA;
● Cash Flows; and
● Free Cash Flow.
Revenue
We analyze our revenue and assess our performance by comparing actual monthly revenue to our internal projections and across periods. We also assess incremental changes in revenue compared to incremental changes in direct operating costs and selling, general and administrative expenses across our reportable segments to identify potential areas for improvement, as well as to determine whether segment performance is meeting management’s expectations.
Gross Profit
To measure our financial performance, we analyze our gross profit, which we define as revenues less direct operating expenses (including depreciation, amortization and accretion expenses). We believe gross profit provides insight into profitability and the true operating performance of our assets. We also compare gross profit to prior periods and across segments to identify trends as well as underperforming segments.
Gross Margins
Gross margins provide an important gauge of how effective we are at converting revenue into profits. This metric works in tandem with gross profit to ensure that we do not seek to increase gross profit at the expense of lower
margins, nor pursue higher gross margins at the expense of declining gross profits. We track gross margins by segment and service line and compare them across prior periods and across segments and service lines to identify trends as well as underperforming segments.
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA
We view EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as important indicators of performance. We define EBITDA as net income/(loss), plus interest expense, income taxes, and depreciation, amortization and accretion. We define Adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA plus/(minus) loss/(income) from discontinued operations, plus any impairment and abandonment charges or asset write-offs pursuant to accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (“GAAP”), plus non-cash losses on the sale of assets or subsidiaries, non-recurring compensation expense, non-cash compensation expense, and non-recurring or unusual expenses or charges, including severance expenses, transaction costs, or facilities-related exit and disposal-related expenditures, plus/(minus) foreign currency losses/(gains), plus/(minus) losses/(gains) on unconsolidated entities and plus tax receivable agreements expense less bargain purchase gains from business combinations. The adjustments to EBITDA are generally consistent with such adjustments described in our Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility. See “-Comparison of Non-GAAP Financial Measures-EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA” for more information and a reconciliation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to net income, the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP.
Cash Flows and Free Cash Flow
We define free cash flow as net cash provided by (used in) operating activities less purchases of property and equipment, plus proceeds received from sale of property and equipment. Our board of directors and executive management team use free cash flow to assess our liquidity and ability to repay maturing debt, fund operations and make additional investments. We believe free cash flow provides useful information to investors because it is an important indicator of our liquidity, including our ability to reduce net debt, make strategic investments, pay dividends and distributions and repurchase common stock. Our measure of free cash flow may not be directly comparable to similar measures reported by other companies. Furthermore, free cash flow is not a substitute for, or more meaningful than, net cash provided by (used in) operating activities nor any other measure prescribed by GAAP, and there are limitations to using non-GAAP measures such as free cash flow. Accordingly, free cash flow should not be considered a measure of the income generated by our business or discretionary cash available to it to invest in the growth of our business.
Factors Affecting the Comparability of Our Results of Operations to Our Historical Results of Operations
Our future results of operations may not be comparable to our historical results of operations for the periods presented, primarily for the reasons described below and those described in “-Recent Trends and Outlook” above.
Acquisition Activity
As described above, we continuously evaluate potential investments, particularly in water infrastructure and other water-related services and technology. To the extent we consummate acquisitions, any incremental revenues or expenses from such transactions are not included in our historical results of operations.
Between January 2023 and December 2024, we completed six business combinations and approximately fourteen asset acquisitions. Our historical financial statements for periods prior to the respective date each acquisition was completed do not include the results of operations of that acquisition. See “-Recent Developments” and “Note 3-Acquisitions” for a description of these transactions.
Results of Operations
The following table sets forth our results of operations, including revenue by segment, for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to the year ended December 31, 2023. The results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to the year ended December 31, 2022 is set forth in Part II, Item 7 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 under the caption “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”
Year Ended December 31, 2024 Compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2023
Year ended December 31,
Change
Dollars
Percentage
(in thousands)
Revenue
Water Infrastructure
$
290,900
$
229,970
$
60,930
26.5
%
Water Services
901,657
1,032,896
(131,239)
(12.7)
%
Chemical Technologies
259,518
322,487
(62,969)
(19.5)
%
Total revenue
1,452,075
1,585,353
(133,278)
(8.4)
%
Costs of revenue
Water Infrastructure
137,573
138,191
(618)
(0.4)
%
Water Services
720,876
814,609
(93,733)
(11.5)
%
Chemical Technologies
220,617
262,078
(41,461)
(15.8)
%
Depreciation, amortization and accretion
153,543
138,813
14,730
10.6
%
Total costs of revenue
1,232,609
1,353,691
(121,082)
(8.9)
%
Gross profit
219,466
231,662
(12,196)
(5.3)
%
Operating expenses
Selling, general and administrative
159,978
155,548
4,430
2.8
%
Depreciation and amortization
3,404
2,276
1,128
49.6
%
Impairments and abandonments
1,237
12,607
(11,370)
NM
Lease abandonment costs
NM
Total operating expenses
164,977
170,473
(5,496)
(3.2)
%
Income from operations
54,489
61,189
(6,700)
(10.9)
%
Other income (expense)
Gain (loss) on sales of property and equipment and divestitures, net
3,255
(210)
3,465
NM
Interest expense, net
(6,965)
(4,393)
(2,572)
58.5
%
Tax receivable agreements expense
(836)
(38,187)
37,351
NM
Other
(573)
2,424
(2,997)
NM
Income before income tax (expense) benefit and equity in losses of unconsolidated entities
49,370
20,823
28,547
137.1
%
Income tax (expense) benefit
(13,568)
60,196
(73,764)
(122.5)
%
Equity in losses of unconsolidated entities
(352)
(1,800)
1,448
NM
Net income
$
35,450
$
79,219
$
(43,769)
(55.3)
%
Revenue
Our revenue decreased $133.3 million, or 8.4%, to $1.45 billion for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to $1.59 billion for the year ended December 31, 2023. The decrease was composed of a $131.2 million decrease in Water Services revenue and a $63.0 million decrease in Chemical Technologies revenue partially offset by a $60.9 million increase in Water Infrastructure revenue. The net $133.3 million decrease was driven primarily by macroeconomic factors stemming from lower frac crew deployments and associated price reductions impacted by
competitor price cuts. Included in the increases in Water Infrastructure were incremental revenue contributions from our 2024 acquisitions. For the year ended December 31, 2024, our Water Infrastructure, Water Services and Chemical Technologies revenues constituted 20.0%, 62.1% and 17.9% of our total revenue, respectively, compared to 14.5%, 65.2% and 20.3%, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2023. The revenue changes by reportable segment are as follows:
Water Infrastructure. Revenue increased by $60.9 million, or 26.5%, to $290.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to $230.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. The increase was primarily driven by additional revenue from acquisitions, which contributed to higher disposal and landfill revenue earned during 2024, and organic growth in our recycling business line, offset by lower pipeline distribution volumes.
Water Services. Revenue decreased $131.2 million, or 12.7%, to $901.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to $1.0 billion for the year ended December 31, 2023. The decrease in revenues was primarily attributable to lower customer activity levels primarily driven by macroeconomic factors stemming from lower frac crew deployments and associated price reductions impacted by competitor price cuts. The decrease impacted all Water Services business lines, except for a slight increase in Water Sourcing revenue, which experienced modest growth during the year.
Chemical Technologies. Revenue decreased $63.0 million, or 19.5%, to $259.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to $322.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. The decrease in revenues was primarily driven by macroeconomic factors stemming from lower frac crew deployments and associated price reductions impacted by competitor price cuts.
Costs of Revenue
Costs of revenue decreased $121.1 million, or 8.9%, to $1.2 billion for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to $1.4 billion for the year ended December 31, 2023. The decrease was primarily composed of a $0.6 million decrease in Water Infrastructure costs, a $93.7 million decrease in Water Services costs and a $41.5 million decrease in Chemical Technologies costs reflecting the lower revenue-producing activity discussed above, partially offset by an increase of $14.7 million in depreciation, amortization and accretion.
Water Infrastructure. Costs of revenue decreased $0.6 million, or 0.4%, to $137.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to $138.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. Cost of revenue as a percent of revenue decreased to 47.3% from 60.1%, due primarily to the growth in high margin recycling revenue and an increase in disposal margin impacted by the margin accretive contributions of acquired disposal operations, improved operational throughput and execution, as well as higher skim oil sales, partially offset by a decline in high-margin pipeline revenue.
Water Services. Costs of revenue decreased $93.7 million, or 11.5%, to $720.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to $814.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. Cost of revenue as a percent of revenue increased to 80.0% from 78.9% primarily driven by lower Water Containment margins and reduced Accommodation & Rentals margins, both affected by decreased revenue stemming from macroeconomic conditions. Additionally, the decrease was impacted by lower Fluids Hauling margins due to macroeconomic conditions and price reductions. These declines were partially offset by improved Water Transfer and Flowback margins, both benefiting from effective cost controls, as well as higher Water Sourcing margins, benefiting from effective cost controls and increased revenue.
Chemical Technologies. Costs of revenue decreased $41.5 million, or 15.8%, to $220.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to $262.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. Cost of revenue as a percent of revenue increased to 85.0% from 81.3% primarily driven by higher absorption costs in our manufacturing facilities due to lower volumes as well as modest price reductions stemming from macroeconomic factors.
Depreciation amortization and accretion. Depreciation, amortization and accretion expense increased $14.7 million, or 10.6%, to $153.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to $138.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 primarily due to a higher fixed asset base resulting from recent acquisitions as well as investments made into fixed infrastructure projects.
Gross Profit
Gross profit was $219.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to $231.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. The decrease was due primarily to lower revenue and gross profit in our Water Services and Chemical Technologies segments, partially offset by higher revenue and gross profit in our Water Infrastructure segment. Gross profit increased by $61.5 million in our Water Infrastructure segment, decreased by $37.5 million in our Water Services segment and decreased by $21.5 million in our Chemical Technologies segment. Also contributing to the decrease in gross profit was a $14.7 million increase in depreciation, amortization and accretion expense. Gross margin as a percentage of revenue was 15.1% and 14.6% during the years ended December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $4.4 million, or 2.8%, to $160.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to $155.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. The increase was due primarily to a $11.7 million increase in incentive and equity-based compensation cost, $4.9 million in higher wages, associated payroll taxes and employer 401(k) match contributions, $3.2 million in higher legal and professional fees, $0.9 million in higher research and development costs, $0.6 million in higher information technology costs and $0.6 million in severance expense partially offset by $10.5 million in lower transaction and rebranding costs, a $5.1 million decrease in credit loss expense, $0.8 million in lower vehicle lease costs and $1.1million from a combination of other expenses.
Impairments and Abandonments
For the years ended December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, we recorded $1.2 million and $1.4 million of abandonment that was primarily attributable to abandoned property and equipment, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2023, we recorded $11.1 million of trademark abandonment in the Chemical Technologies segment as well as $0.1 million of impairment in our Water Services segment to write-off the remaining value of a cost-method investment.
Net Interest Expense
Net interest expense increased by $2.6 million, or 58.5%, to $7.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to $4.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 due primarily to higher average borrowing on our Prior Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility partially offset by interest income on cash balances.
Tax Receivable Agreements Expense
As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, we determined that we were in a position to reasonably estimate the amount of the liability associated with the Tax Receivable Agreements and determined that future payment under the terms of the Tax Receivable Agreements were probable, and therefore recorded expense of $0.8 million and $38.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Income Tax Expense
For the years ended December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, we recorded $13.6 million in income tax expense and $60.2 million in income tax benefit, respectively. The benefit in 2023 was due to a release of a portion of the valuation allowance on our deferred tax assets at the end of 2023.
Net Income
Net Income decreased by $43.8 million, to a net income of $35.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to $79.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, driven primarily by a $73.8 million income tax expense increase partially offset by a $37.4 million decrease in tax receivable agreements expense. Also impacting the
decrease was lower gross profit and higher selling, general and administrative expenses partially offset by the trademark abandonment during the year ended December 31, 2023.
Comparison of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Our board of directors, management and investors use EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to assess our financial performance because it allows them to compare our operating performance on a consistent basis across periods by removing the effects of our capital structure (such as varying levels of interest expense), asset base (such as depreciation, amortization and accretion) and items outside the control of our management team. We present EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA because we believe they provide useful information regarding the factors and trends affecting our business in addition to measures calculated under GAAP.
Note Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not financial measures presented in accordance with GAAP. We believe that the presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures will provide useful information to investors in assessing our financial performance and results of operations. Net income is the GAAP measure most directly comparable to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA. Our non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered as alternatives to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. Each of these non-GAAP financial measures has important limitations as an analytical tool due to the exclusion of some but not all items that affect the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. One should not consider EBITDA or Adjusted EBITDA in isolation or as substitutes for an analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Because EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA may be defined differently by other companies in our industry, our definitions of these non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies, thereby diminishing their utility.
The following table sets forth our reconciliation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to our net (loss) income, which is the most directly comparable GAAP measure, for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023.
Year ended December 31,
Net income
$
35,450
$
79,219
Interest expense, net
6,965
4,393
Income tax expense (benefit)
13,568
(60,196)
Depreciation, amortization and accretion
156,947
141,089
EBITDA
212,930
164,505
Tax receivable agreements expense
38,187
Non-cash compensation expenses
26,358
17,369
Non-recurring severance expenses(1)
-
Non-cash loss on sale of assets or subsidiaries(2)
3,609
3,350
Transaction and rebranding costs(3)
10,038
20,447
Lease abandonment costs
Impairments and abandonments
1,237
12,607
Equity in losses of unconsolidated entities
1,800
Other(4)
2,029
Adjusted EBITDA
$
258,395
$
258,313
(1) For the year ended December 31, 2024, these costs related to severance costs associated with our former CFO.
(2) For all periods presented, the losses were primarily due to sales of real estate and underutilized or obsolete property and equipment.
(3) For all periods presented, these costs were primarily legal-related due diligence costs and rebranding costs as well as costs related to certain acquired subsidiaries.
(4) The majority of amounts for the year ended December 31, 2024 relate to the settlement of sales tax audits with respect to acquired entities.
EBITDA was $212.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to $164.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. The $48.4 million increase in EBITDA was driven primarily by $38.2 million in tax receivable agreements expense in 2023 compared to $0.8 million in 2024, a $2.5 million increase in gross profit and an $11.4 million decrease in impairments and abandonments partially offset by a $4.4 million increase in selling, general and administrative expense. Adjusted EBITDA was $258.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to $258.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Overview
Our primary sources of liquidity are cash on hand, borrowing capacity under the Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility, cash flows from operations and proceeds from the sale of excess property and equipment. Our primary uses of capital have been to fund current operations, maintain our asset base, implement technological advancements, make capital expenditures to support organic growth, fund acquisitions and minority investments, pay dividends and distributions, make payments under the Tax Receivable Agreements, and when appropriate, repurchase shares of Class A common stock in the open market. Depending on available opportunities, market conditions and other factors, we may also issue debt and equity securities, in the future, if needed.
As of December 31, 2024, we had $85.0 million in outstanding borrowings. We prioritize sustained positive free cash flow and a strong balance sheet, and evaluate potential acquisitions and investments in the context of those priorities, in addition to the economics of the opportunity. We believe this approach provides us with additional flexibility to evaluate larger investments as well as improved resilience in a sustained downturn versus many of our peers.
Based on our current cash and cash equivalents balance, operating cash flow, available borrowings under our Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility and the ongoing actions discussed above, we believe that we will be able to maintain sufficient liquidity to satisfy our obligations and remain in compliance with our existing debt covenants through the next twelve months and beyond, prior to giving effect to any future financing that may occur.
We intend to finance most of our capital expenditures, contractual obligations and working capital needs with cash on hand, cash generated from operations and borrowings under our Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility. For a discussion of the Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility, see “-Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility” below. Although we cannot provide any assurance, we believe that our current cash balance, operating cash flow and available borrowings under our Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility will be sufficient to fund our operations for at least the next twelve months.
During the fourth quarter of 2022, we initiated a quarterly dividend and distribution program of $0.05 per share and $0.05 per unit for holders of Class A and Class B shares, respectively. We paid quarterly dividends at the same rate through the third quarter of 2023, then the board of directors increased the quarterly dividend paid on November 17, 2023 to $0.06 per share and $0.06 per unit for holders of Class A and Class B shares, respectively. We paid quarterly dividends at the same rate through the third quarter of 2024, then the board of directors increased the quarterly dividend paid on November 15, 2024 to $0.07 per share and $0.07 per unit for holders of Class A and Class B shares, respectively. This program resulted in a financing outflow of $29.7 million and $24.9 million during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. This quarterly dividend program is expected to continue into 2025 and beyond. All future dividend payments are subject to quarterly review and approval by our board of directors.
As of December 31, 2024, cash and cash equivalents totaled $20.0 million and we had approximately $114.8 million of available borrowing capacity under our Prior Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility. As of December 31, 2024, the borrowing base under the Prior Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility was $218.8 million, we had $85.0 million in outstanding borrowings, and outstanding letters of credit totaled $19.0 million. As of February 17, 2025, we had $250.0 million in outstanding indebtedness, the borrowing base for the Revolving Credit Facility (as defined below) under the Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility was $231.2 million, the borrowing base for the Term Loan (as defined below)
under the Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility was $426.3 million, the outstanding letters of credit totaled $19.9 million, and the available borrowing capacity under the Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility was $211.3 million.
In 2022, our trade accounts receivable experienced a notable surge, rising from $232.8 million to $430.0 million. This increase was attributed to multiple factors, including the growth in our revenue, the addition of receivables from acquired entities, and the complexities encountered during the integration of these acquisitions. During 2023, in parallel with integration efforts related to previously acquired companies, we implemented enhancements to our billing and collection processes, yielding tangible benefits, with continued strong collections throughout 2024. These improvements resulted in a more efficient management of our working capital, thereby augmenting our generation of cash. This increased cash flow provides us with greater flexibility to reinvest in our business or return capital to our shareholders.
As of December 31, 2024, we had no material off-balance sheet arrangements. As such, we are not exposed to any material financing, liquidity, market or credit risk that could arise if we had engaged in such financing arrangements.
Our contractual obligations include, among other things, our Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility and operating leases. Refer to “Note 6-Leases” for operating lease obligations as of December 31, 2024 and “Note 10-Debt” for an update to our Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility as of December 31, 2024.
Cash Flows
The following table summarizes our cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023. The summary of our cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 is set forth in Part II, Item 7 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 under the caption “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”
Cash Flow Changes Between the Years Ended December 31, 2024 and 2023
Year ended December 31,
Change
Dollars
Percentage
(in thousands)
Net cash provided by operating activities
$
234,886
$
285,355
$
(50,469)
(17.7)
%
Net cash used in investing activities
(318,623)
(137,168)
(181,455)
(132.3)
%
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
46,641
(98,423)
145,064
147.4
%
Subtotal
(37,096)
49,764
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
(9)
(3)
(6)
NM
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
$
(37,105)
$
49,761
Operating Activities. Net cash provided by operating activities was $234.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to $285.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. The $50.5 million decrease is comprised of a $45.8 million reduction in converting working capital to cash and a decrease of $4.7 million of net income combined with non-cash adjustments.
Investing Activities. Net cash used in investing activities was $318.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to $137.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. The $181.5 million increase in net cash used in investing activities was due primarily to an increase of $143.6 million spent for acquisitions net of cash received, a $37.3 million increase in purchases of property and equipment and a $1.1 million decrease in proceeds received from sales of property and equipment.
Financing Activities. Net cash provided by financing activities was $46.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to net cash used in financing activities of $98.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. The $145.1 million increase in net cash provided by financing activities was due primarily to borrowings net of debt repayments increasing $101.0 million and a $53.9 million decrease in repurchases of shares of Class A common
stock partially offset by $4.4 million of cash received from noncontrolling interest holders net of payments during the year ended December 31, 2023, $4.8 million increase in dividends and distributions paid and $0.5 million paid with respect to tax receivable agreements during the year ended December 31, 2024.
Free Cash Flow
The following table summarizes our free cash flow for the periods indicated:
Year ended December 31,
(in thousands)
Net cash provided by operating activities
$
234,886
$
285,355
Purchase of property and equipment
(173,153)
(135,866)
Proceeds received from sale of property and equipment
15,809
16,891
Free cash flow
$
77,542
$
166,380
Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility
On January 24, 2025 (the “Closing Date”), SES Holdings, LLC (“SES Holdings”), a subsidiary of the Company, Select Water Solutions, LLC, a subsidiary of SES Holdings (the “Select LLC”), Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, issuing lender and swingline lender (the “Administrative Agent”), and the other lenders party thereto, entered into that certain sustainability-linked senior secured credit facility (the “Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility”), which initially provides for $300.0 million in revolving commitments (the “Revolving Credit Facility”) and $250.0 million in term commitments (the “Term Loan Facility”), in each case, subject to a borrowing base. The Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility also has a sublimit of $50.0 million for letters of credit and a sublimit of $30.0 million for swingline loans. Subject to obtaining commitments from existing or new lenders, Select LLC has the option to increase the maximum amount under the sustainability-linked senior secured credit facility by (i) $150.0 million for additional revolving commitments and (ii) $50.0 million for additional term commitments, in each case, during the first four years following the Closing Date. As of the Closing Date, (i) there were no borrowings outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility and approximately $20 million of letters of credit issued and outstanding thereunder and (ii) the Term Loan Facility was fully funded. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meaning ascribed to them in the Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility.
The Borrowing Base for the Revolving Credit Facility is calculated as the sum of (i) 90% of the Eligible Investment Grade Billed Receivables, plus (ii) 85% of the Eligible Billed Receivables (other than Eligible Investment Grade Billed Receivables), plus (iii) the lesser of (a) 75% of the amount of Eligible Unbilled Receivables and (b) an amount equal to 40% of the Borrowing Base, plus (iv) the least of (x) the product of 70% multiplied by the value of Eligible Inventory at such time, (y) the product of 85% multiplied by the Net Recovery Percentage identified in the most recent Acceptable Appraisal of Inventory, multiplied by the value of Eligible Inventory at such time and (z) an amount equal to 30% of the Borrowing Base, minus (v) the aggregate amount of Reserves, if any, established by the Administrative Agent from time to time. As of the Closing Date, the Borrowing Base under the Revolving Credit Facility was $219.0 million. The Borrowing Base is thereafter calculated on a monthly basis (or if an Increased Reporting Period is in effect as described in the Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility, on a weekly basis) pursuant to a borrowing base certificate delivered by Select LLC to the Administrative Agent.
The Term Advance Borrowing Base for the Term Loan Facility is calculated as the lesser of (i) the product of 100% multiplied by the Net Book Value of all M&E and (ii) the product of 65% multiplied by the NOLV-IP of the Term Advance Collateral. As of the Closing Date, the Term Advance Borrowing Base under the Term Loan Facility was $426.27 million. The Term Advance Borrowing Base is thereafter only subject to reporting and redetermination during the period commencing after the date that excess availability is less than the greater of (a) 25% of the lesser of (1) the aggregate revolving commitments and (2) the then-effective borrowing base (such lesser amount, the “Borrowing Limit”) and (b) $30.0 million for three or more consecutive business days and ending on the first date that excess availability has equaled or exceeded the greater of (1) 25% of the Borrowing Limit and (2) $30.0 million for 30 consecutive days.
Borrowings under the Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility bear interest, at Select LLC’s election, at either Term SOFR (subject to a zero percent floor) or the Base Rate (“Base Rate” being equal to the greater of (a) the Prime Rate for such day; (b) the Federal Funds Rate for such day, plus 0.50%; or (c) Term SOFR for a one month Interest Period as of such day, plus 1.0%), in each case plus an applicable margin. The applicable margin for Term SOFR loans under the Term Loan Facility ranges from 3.00% to 3.50% and the applicable margin for Base Rate loans under the Term Facility ranges from 2.00% to 2.50%, in each case, depending on Select LLC’s average excess availability under the Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility. Additionally, the applicable margin for Term SOFR loans under the Revolving Credit Facility ranges from 1.50% to 2.00% and the applicable margin for Base Rate loans under the Revolving Credit Facility ranges from 0.50% to 1.00%, in each case, depending on Select LLC’s average excess availability under the Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility. Until March 31, 2025, the applicable margin will be (i) 3.25% for Term SOFR loans under the Term Loan Facility, (ii) 2.25% for Base Rate loans under the Term Loan Facility, (iii) 1.75% for Term SOFR loans under the Revolving Credit Facility, and (iv) 0.75% for Base Rate loans under the Revolving Credit Facility. Interest is payable monthly in arrears for Base Rate loans and, for Term SOFR loans, at the end of each applicable Interest Period, which may be one month or three months at Select LLC’s election. A commitment fee accrues on the unused commitments under the Revolving Credit Facility at either 0.25% per annum or 0.375% per annum depending on Select LLC’s average utilization of the Revolving Credit Facility in the preceding calendar month and is payable monthly in arrears. Until February 28, 2025, the commitment fee rate is 0.375% per annum. The Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility is scheduled to mature on the fifth anniversary of the Closing Date or the earlier termination in full of the Commitments.
Under the Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility, the interest rate margin and the facility fee rates are also subject to annual adjustments based on the Select LLC’s performance of specified sustainability target thresholds with respect to (i) total recordable incident rate, as the Employee Health and Safety Metric, and (ii) barrels of recycled produced water recycled at facilities of the Credit Parties, as the Water Stewardship Metric, in each case, subject to limited assurance verification by a qualified independent external reviewer. The adjustment for the interest rate margin is a range of plus and minus 5.00 basis points and the adjustment for the commitment fee rate is a range of plus and minus 1.00 basis point, subject to the mechanics under the Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility. As of the Closing Date, the margin adjustment in effect is a reduction of 5.00 basis points and the commitment fee adjustment in effect is a reduction of 1.00 basis point.
The obligations under the Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility are guaranteed by SES Holdings and certain subsidiaries of SES Holdings and Select LLC and secured by a security interest in substantially all of the personal property assets of SES Holdings, Select LLC and their domestic subsidiaries that are guarantors.
The Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility contains certain customary representations and warranties, affirmative and negative covenants and events of default. If an event of default occurs and is continuing, the lenders may declare all amounts outstanding under the Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility to be immediately due and payable.
In addition, the Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility restricts SES Holdings’ and Select LLC’s ability to make distributions on, or redeem or repurchase, its equity interests, except for certain distributions, including distributions of cash so long as, both at the time of the distribution and after giving effect to the distribution, no default or event of default exists under the Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility or would result from the making of such distribution and (a) the fixed charge coverage ratio of SES Holdings is equal to or greater than 1.0 to 1.0 on a pro forma basis, (b) the leverage ratio of SES Holdings is not greater than 3.5 to 1.0 on a pro forma basis, (c) excess availability at all times during the preceding 30 consecutive days, on a pro forma basis and after giving effect to such distribution, is not less than the greater of (1) 20% of the Borrowing Limit and (2) $27.0 million. Additionally, the Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility generally permits Select LLC to make distributions required under its existing tax receivable agreements, subject to certain limitations.
The Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility also requires SES Holdings to maintain (i) a fixed charge coverage ratio of at least 1.0 to 1.0 and (ii) a leverage ratio of not more than 3.5 to 1.0, in each case, as of the last day of any fiscal quarter.
Beginning with the first full quarter ending after the first anniversary of the closing date, the Term Loan Facility will amortize in quarterly installments equal to $15.625 million (subject to reduction of such amount on account of certain prepayments). Upon the repayment in full of the Term Loan Facility, certain terms of the Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility will be automatically adjusted (including the conditions to the making of cash distributions and the financial maintenance covenants) and the Term Advance Collateral will be released as Collateral, in each case, as described in the Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility.
Certain lenders party to the Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility and their respective affiliates have from time to time performed, and may in the future perform, various financial advisory, commercial banking and investment banking services for the Company and its affiliates in the ordinary course of business for which they have received and would receive customary compensation. In addition, in the ordinary course of their various business activities, such parties and their respective affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers, and such investments and securities activities may involve the Company’s securities and/or instruments.
In connection with the entry into the Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility, the obligations of SES Holdings and Select LLC under the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of March 17, 2022, by and among Select LLC, SES Holdings, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, and the lenders party thereto (the “Prior Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility”) were repaid in full and the Previous Credit Facility was terminated on the Closing Date.
Refer to “Note 10-Debt” and “Note 19-Subsequent Events” for further discussion of the Prior Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility and the Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures about any contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Our critical accounting policies are described below to provide a better understanding of how we develop our assumptions and judgments about future events and related estimations and how they can impact our financial statements. The following accounting policies involve critical accounting estimates because they are dependent on our judgment and assumptions about matters that are inherently uncertain.
We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions we believe to be reasonable according to the current facts and circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Estimates and assumptions about future events and their effects are subject to uncertainty and, accordingly, these estimates may change as new events occur, as more experience is acquired, as additional information is obtained, and as the business environment in which we operate changes. We believe the current assumptions, judgments and estimates used to determine amounts reflected in our consolidated financial statements are appropriate, however, actual results may differ under different conditions. This discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes included in this Annual Report.
Goodwill and other intangible assets: The purchase price of acquired businesses is allocated to its identifiable assets and liabilities based upon estimated fair values as of the acquisition date. Goodwill and other intangible assets are initially recorded at their fair values. Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price of acquisitions over the fair value of the net assets acquired in a business combination. Goodwill and other intangible assets not subject to amortization are tested for impairment annually or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired. Intangible assets with finite useful lives are amortized either on a straight-line basis over the asset’s estimated useful life or on a basis that reflects the pattern in which the economic benefits of the intangible assets are realized.
Impairment of goodwill, long-lived assets and intangible assets: Long-lived assets, such as property and equipment and finite-lived intangible assets, are evaluated for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying value may not be recoverable. Recoverability is measured by a comparison of their carrying amount to the estimated undiscounted cash flows to be generated by those assets. If the undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying amount, we record impairment losses for the excess of their carrying value over the estimated fair value. Fair value is determined, in part, by the estimated cash flows to be generated by those assets. Our cash flow estimates are based upon, among other things, historical results adjusted to reflect our best estimate of future market rates, utilization levels, and operating performance. Development of future cash flows also requires management to make assumptions and to apply judgment, including the timing of future expected cash flows, using the appropriate discount rates and determining salvage values. The estimate of fair value represents our best estimates of these factors based on current industry trends and reference to market transactions and is subject to variability. Assets are generally grouped at the lowest level of identifiable cash flows. We operate within the oilfield service industry, and the cyclical nature of the oil and gas industry that we serve and our estimates of the period over which future cash flows will be generated, as well as the predictability of these cash flows, can have a significant impact on the estimated fair value of these assets and, in periods of prolonged down cycles, may result in impairment charges. Changes to our key assumptions related to future performance, market conditions and other economic factors could adversely affect our impairment valuation.
We conduct our annual goodwill impairment tests in the fourth quarter of each year, and whenever impairment indicators arise, by examining relevant events and circumstances which could have a negative impact on its goodwill such as macroeconomic conditions, industry and market conditions, cost factors that have a negative effect on earnings and cash flows, overall financial performance, acquisitions and divestitures and other relevant entity-specific events. If a qualitative assessment indicates that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, we are required to perform a quantitative impairment test for goodwill comparing the reporting unit’s carrying value to its fair value. Our reporting units are based on our organizational and reporting structure. In determining fair values for the reporting units, we rely primarily on the income and market approaches for valuation. In the income approach, we discount predicted future cash flows using a weighted-average cost of capital calculation based on publicly-traded peer companies. In the market approach, valuation multiples are developed from both publicly-traded peer companies as well as other company transactions. The cost approach, when used, considers replacement cost as the primary indicator of value.
If the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value, goodwill impairment is calculated by subtracting the fair value of the reporting unit from the carrying value. Application of the goodwill impairment test requires judgment, including the identification of reporting units, allocation of assets (including goodwill) and liabilities to reporting units and determining the fair value. The determination of reporting unit fair value relies upon certain estimates and assumptions that are complex and are affected by numerous factors, including the general economic environment and levels of E&P activity of oil and gas companies, our financial performance and trends and our strategies and business plans, among others. Unanticipated changes, including immaterial revisions, to these assumptions, could result in a provision for impairment in a future period. Given the nature of these evaluations and their application to specific assets and time frames, it is not possible to reasonably quantify the impact of changes in these assumptions.
Retentions: We assume risk of loss through deductibles and self-insured retentions, up to certain levels for losses related to general liability, workers’ compensation and employer’s liability, vehicle liability, and health insurance. Our exposure (i.e., the self-insured retention or deductible) per occurrence is $1.0 million for general liability, $1.0 million for workers’ compensation and employer’s liability, $2.0 million for auto liability and $0.4 million for health insurance. We also have an excess loss policy over these coverages with a limit of $100.0 million in the aggregate. Management reviews its estimates of reported and unreported claims and provides for losses through reserves. We use actuarial estimates to record our liability for future periods. If the number of claims or the costs associated with those claims were to increase significantly over our estimates, additional charges to earnings could be necessary to cover required payments. As of December 31, 2024, we estimate the range of exposure to be from $18.9 million to $22.8 million and have recorded liabilities of $20.0 million, which represents management’s best estimate of probable loss related to workers’ compensation and employer’s liability, and auto liability. Additionally, as of December 31, 2024, accrued health insurance and accrued general liabilities were $4.4 million and $2.2 million, respectively.
Tax Receivable Agreements: We intend to fund any obligation under the Tax Receivable Agreements with cash from operations or borrowings under our Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility. With respect to obligations under each of our Tax Receivable Agreements (except in cases where we elect to terminate the Tax Receivable Agreements early, the Tax Receivable Agreements are terminated early due to certain mergers or other changes of control or we have available cash but fail to make payments when due), generally we may elect to defer payments due under the Tax Receivable Agreements if we do not have available cash to satisfy our payment obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreements or if our contractual obligations limit our ability to make these payments. Any such deferred payments under the Tax Receivable Agreements generally will accrue interest.
We account for any amounts payable under the Tax Receivable Agreements in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 450, Contingencies. For a discussion regarding an acceleration of the amounts payable under the Tax Receivable Agreements if we elect to terminate the Tax Receivable Agreements early or they are terminated early due to our failure to honor a material obligation thereunder or due to certain mergers, asset sales, other forms of business combinations or other changes of control and the potential impact of such an acceleration and the potential impact of such acceleration, please read Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors - Risks Related to Our Organizational Structure. In certain cases, payments under the Tax Receivable Agreements may be accelerated and/or significantly exceed the actual benefits, if any, we realize in respect of the tax attributes subject to the Tax Receivable Agreements.
We have assessed the amount of any liability under the Tax Receivable Agreements required under the provisions of ASC 450 in connection with preparing the consolidated financial statements. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, we determined that we were in a position to reasonably estimate an amount of liability associated with the Tax Receivable Agreements and determined that future payments under the terms of the Tax Receivable Agreements were probable, and therefore recorded liabilities of $38.5 million and $38.2 million, respectively. The projection of future taxable income and utilization of tax attributes associated with the Tax Receivable Agreements involve estimates which require significant judgment. The amount of the Company’s actual taxable income, passage of future legislation, or consummation of significant transactions in the future may significantly impact the liability related to the Tax Receivable Agreements.
Realizability of Deferred Tax Assets: We establish valuation allowances when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amounts more likely than not to be realized. Deferred income tax assets are evaluated quarterly to determine if valuation allowances are required or should be adjusted. The ability to realize deferred tax assets depends on the ability to generate sufficient taxable income within the carryback or carryforward periods provided for in the tax law for each applicable tax jurisdiction. The assessment regarding whether a valuation allowance is required or should be adjusted is based on an evaluation of possible sources of taxable income and also considers all available positive and negative evidence factors. Our accounting for the realization of deferred tax assets incorporates, amongst other factors, our best estimate of future events. Changes in our current estimates, due to unanticipated market conditions, governmental legislative actions or events, could have a material effect on our ability to utilize deferred tax assets. As of December 31, 2024, valuation allowances against deferred tax assets were $105.4 million. See “Note 15-Income Taxes” for additional information.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Refer to “Note 2-Significant Accounting Policies” for recent accounting pronouncements.

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ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
The demand, pricing and terms for oilfield services provided by us are largely dependent upon the level of drilling and completion activity in the U.S. oil and gas industry as well as the level of oil and gas production. The level of drilling and completion activity is influenced by numerous factors over which we have no control, including, but not limited to: the supply of and demand for oil and gas; war, armed conflicts, economic sanctions and other constraints to global trade and economic growth; current price levels as well as expectations about future prices of oil and gas, including announcements and actions taken by the members of OPEC+ with respect to oil production levels; the magnitude and timing of capital spending by our customers; the cost of exploring for, developing, producing and delivering oil and gas; the extent to which our E&P customers choose to drill and complete new wells to offset decline
from their existing wells; the extent to which our E&P customers choose to invest to grow production; discoveries of new oil and gas reserves; available storage capacity and pipeline and other transportation capacity; weather conditions; domestic and worldwide economic conditions; instability in oil-producing countries; environmental regulations; technical advances in alternative forms of energy (e.g., wind and solar electricity, electric vehicles) that encourage substitution for or displacement of oil and gas consumption in end-use markets; the price and availability of alternative fuels; the ability of oil and gas producers to raise equity capital and debt financing; global health events; merger and acquisition activity and consolidation in our industry, and other factors.
Any combination of these factors that results in sustained low oil and gas prices and, therefore, lower capital spending and / or reduced drilling and completion activity by our customers, would likely have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Interest Rate Risk
As of December 31, 2024, we had $85.0 million in outstanding borrowings and $114.8 million of available borrowing capacity under our Prior Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility. As of February 17, 2025, we had $250.0 million in outstanding indebtedness and $211.3 million of available borrowing capacity under our Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility. Interest is calculated under the terms of our Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility based on our selection, from time to time, of one of the index rates available to us plus an applicable margin that varies based on certain factors. We do not currently have or intend to enter into any derivative arrangements to protect against fluctuations in interest rates applicable to our outstanding indebtedness.

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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
The report of our independent registered public accounting firm and our consolidated financial statements and supplementary data are included in this Annual Report beginning on page.

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ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.

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ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our chief executive officer ("CEO") (principal executive officer) and chief financial officer ("CFO") (principal financial officer), as appropriate, to allow for timely decisions regarding required disclosure. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well-designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, and management is required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.
As required by SEC Rule 13a-15(b), we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our CEO and CFO, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2024. Based on their evaluation, the Company's CEO and CFO have concluded that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures were effective at a reasonable level of assurance as of December 31, 2024.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Internal control over financial reporting is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) promulgated under the Exchange Act as a process designed by, or under the supervision of, our principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, and effected by our board of directors, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Under the supervision and with the participation of management, including the CEO and CFO, the Company conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in “Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013)” issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). Based on this assessment, our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2024. Grant Thornton LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, audited the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f)) during the quarter ended December 31, 2024 which materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Board of Directors and Stockholders
Select Water Solutions, Inc.
Opinion on internal control over financial reporting
We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of Select Water
Solutions, Inc. (a Delaware corporation) and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2024, based on criteria established in the 2013 Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024, based on criteria established in the 2013 Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by COSO.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”), the consolidated financial statements of the Company as of and for the year ended December 31, 2024, and our report dated February 19, 2025 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements.
Basis for opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and limitations of internal control over financial reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ GRANT THORNTON LLP
Dallas, Texas
February 19, 2025

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ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 9B.
Other Information
Disclosure of 10b5-1 plans
John D. Schmitz, our President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman of the Board, entered into a pre-arranged stock trading plan on November 11, 2024 for shares indirectly held by him through B-29 Investments, LP, an entity which he controls. Mr. Schmitz’s plan provides for sale of up to 400,000 shares of the Company’s common stock between February 11, 2025 and February 12, 2026. The trading plan was entered into during an open insider trading window and is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense of Rule 10b5-1(c) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Company’s policies regarding transactions in the Company’s securities.
Form 10-K Summary - AV Farms
On February 14, 2025, Select Water Solutions, Inc. (the “Company”) entered into a new partnership arrangement through AV Farms, LP, a newly-formed Delaware limited partnership (“AV Farms”), pursuant to a limited partnership agreement (the “LPA”) by and among Select Water Reuse, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (“SWR”), C&A Rollover Company, LLC, (“C&A”), an affiliate of C&A Holding Company, Inc., and Geneses Water, L.P., (“Geneses”), an affiliate of Geneses Investment Management, LLC, as limited partners, and AV Farms Management, LLC, a newly formed Colorado limited liability company, as the general partner (the “General Partner”), effective as of February 28, 2025. Concurrently with the formation of AV Farms, SWR also entered into a limited liability company agreement of the General Partner, with C&A and Geneses Investment Management, LLC as members. The General Partner will manage the day-to-day management and operations of AV Farms.
AV Farms was formed to consolidate and commercialize one of the largest water holdings and storage portfolios in Colorado with plans to partner with municipal, industrial and agricultural customers. AV Farms has consolidated from across ten discrete contributing entities approximately 16,300 water shares, including 7,054 shares in the Fort Lyon Canal Company, 5,324 shares in the Lower Arkansas Water Management Association, and 3,911 shares in the Lamar Canal Company, equivalent to approximately 16,300 acre-feet of annual consumptive use, as well as real property, reservoir storage assets, and reservoir storage options. The first phase of investment is expected to be followed with further expansion in both water rights and reservoir storage capacity, along with the continued connectivity of these water shares to communities and customers.
Initially, SWR and Geneses have agreed to contribute $62 million and $42 million, respectively, in capital contributions to AV Farms. Additionally, C&A has agreed to contribute membership interests in various limited liability companies, in lieu of capital contributions, which in turn own interests in real property, water shares, and storage rights valued at approximately $71 million. SWR expects to ratably increase its ownership position in AV Farms through the contribution of approximately an additional $84 million over a three-year period to support any additional water rights acquisitions and infrastructure buildout requirements.
Currently, each of SWR, C&A and Geneses owns approximately 35%, 40% and 25%, respectively, of AV Farms and 25%, 50% and 25%, respectively, of the General Partner.
Beginning on February 29, 2028, and continuing for the succeeding 24 months thereafter, SWR has a call option, and each of C&A and Geneses has a put option, in either event, to cause SWR to acquire C&A’s and Geneses’ respective interests in AV Farms. Such options allow for the payment of up to 20% of the purchase price in shares of Common Stock of the Company, at the discretion of the Company, which shares will be valued at the average closing price for the ten trading days prior to the date of exercise of such option. At this time, it is not reasonably possible to calculate the number of shares of the Company that might be issuable at the time of any option exercise. The issuance of common stock to C&A and Geneses will not be registered under the Securities Act and will be issued in reliance on the exemption from registration requirements thereof provided by, among other available exemptions, Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act as a transaction by an issuer not involving a public offering. If SWR determines in good faith that it cannot fund the payment of the put option, it can force a sale of AV Farm’s assets to cover such put obligation, with any remaining proceeds after such payment being distributed in accordance with the LPA. The Company guarantees these obligations under the LPA but is not otherwise a party to the LPA. Additionally, prior to the beginning of the option
period, in the event that the General Partner seeks to approve a sale of all or substantially all of the assets or units in AV Farms to a third party, SWR has a right of first refusal to consummate such sale for its own account on the same terms and conditions. In the event SWR acquires the interests of AV Farms, it will also acquire the membership units held by C&A and Geneses in the General Partner.

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ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
ITEM 10.DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Select Water Solutions, Inc. has adopted insider trading policies and procedures applicable to our directors, officers, and employees, that we believe are reasonably designed to promote compliance with insider trading laws, rules, and regulations, and the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange. Our insider trading policy, among other things, (i) prohibits our employees and related persons and entities from trading in securities of Select Water Solutions, Inc. and certain other companies while in possession of material, non-public information, (ii) prohibits our employees from disclosing material, non-public information of Select Water Solutions, Inc., or another publicly traded company, to others who may trade on the basis of that information, and (iii) requires that certain designated individuals and roles of the Company only transact in Select Water Solutions, Inc. securities during an open window period, subject to limited exceptions. A copy of our insider trading policy is filed as Exhibit 19.1 to this Form 10-K. All other information required in response to this Item 10 will be set forth in our definitive proxy statement for the 2025 annual meeting of stockholders and is incorporated herein by reference.

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ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
ITEM 11.EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The information required in response to this Item 11 will be set forth in our definitive proxy statement for the 2025 annual meeting of stockholders and is incorporated herein by reference.

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ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
ITEM 12.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The information required in response to this Item 12 will be set forth in our definitive proxy statement for the 2025 annual meeting of stockholders and is incorporated herein by reference.

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ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
ITEM 13.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
The information required in response to this Item 13 will be set forth in our definitive proxy statement for the 2025 annual meeting of stockholders and is incorporated herein by reference.

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ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
ITEM 14.PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
The information required in response to this Item 14 will be set forth in our definitive proxy statement for the 2025 annual meeting of stockholders and is incorporated herein by reference.
PART IV

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ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
ITEM 15.EXHIBIT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a)(1) and (a)(2) Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedules
Our consolidated financial statements are incorporated under Part II, Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Annual Report. For a listing of these statements and accompanying notes, see “Index to Financial Statements” on Page of this Annual Report.
(a)(3) Exhibits
The exhibits required to be filed or furnished under Item 15 of this Annual Report are set forth below in the Exhibit Index included within this Annual Report.
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
Number
Description
3.1
Fifth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Select Water Solutions, Inc. dated as of May 8, 2023 (incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit 3.1 to Select Water Solutions, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed May 8, 2023 (File No. 001-38066)).
3.2
Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of Select Water Solutions, Inc. dated as of May 8, 2023 (incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit 3.2 to Select Water Solutions, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed May 8, 2023 (File No. 001-38066)).
4.1
Form of Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit 4.1 to Select Energy Services, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed March 2, 2017 (Registration No. 333-216404)).
4.2
Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreements, dated as of July 18, 2017, by and among Select Energy Services, Inc., SES Legacy Holdings, LLC, Crestview Partners II SES Investment B, LLC, SCF-VI, L.P., SCF-VII, L.P., SCF-VII(A), L.P. and WDC Aggregate LLC (incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit 4.1 to Select Energy Services, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed July 19, 2017 (File No. 001-38066)).
4.3
Description of Securities Registered Under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit 4.3 to Select Water Solutions, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed February 21, 2024 (File No. 001-38066)).
10.1
Credit Agreement, dated as of January 24, 2025, by and among Select Water Solutions, LLC, SES Holdings, LLC, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, and the lenders named therein (incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit 10.1 to Select Water Solutions, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed January 29, 2025 (File No. 001-38066)).
†10.2
Select Energy Services, Inc. 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit 10.3 to Select Energy Services, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, dated March 2, 2017 (Registration No. 333-216404)).
†10.3
First Amendment to Select Energy Services, Inc. 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit 10.2 to Select Energy Services, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed August 11, 2017 (File No. 001-38066)).
†10.4
Second Amendment to Select Energy Services, Inc. 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit 10.1 to Select Energy Services, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed May 14, 2020 (File No. 001-38066)).
†10.5
Form of Indemnification Agreement (incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit 10.4 to Select Energy Services, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, dated March 2, 2017 (Registration No. 333-216404)).
10.6
Tax Receivable Agreement, dated December 19, 2016, by and among Select Energy Services, Inc., SES Legacy Holdings, LLC and Crestview Partners II GP, L.P. (incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit 10.5 to Select Energy Services, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, dated March 2, 2017 (Registration No. 333-216404)).
10.7
Amendment No. 1 to Tax Receivable Agreement, dated July 18, 2017, by and among Select Energy Services, Inc., SES Legacy Holdings, LLC and Crestview Partners II GP, L.P. (incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit 10.3 to Select Energy Services, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed August 11, 2017 (File No. 001-38066)).
10.8
Tax Receivable Agreement, dated December 19, 2016, by and among Select Energy Services, Inc., Crestview Partners II SES Investment B, LLC and Crestview Partners II GP, L.P. (incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit 10.6 to Select Energy Services, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, dated March 2, 2017 (Registration No. 333-216404)).
10.9
Amendment No. 1 to Tax Receivable Agreement, dated July 18, 2017, by and among Select Energy Services, Inc., Crestview Partners II SES Investment B, LLC and Crestview Partners II GP, L.P. (incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit 10.4 to Select Energy Services, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed August 11, 2017 (File No. 001-38066)).
10.10
Eighth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of SES Holdings, LLC (incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit 10.9 to Select Energy Services, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, dated March 2, 2017 (Registration No. 333-216404)).
10.11
Amendment No. 1 to Eighth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of SES Holdings, LLC. (incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit 10.10 to Select Energy Services, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed March 1, 2019 (File No. 001-38066)).
†10.12
Form of Stock Option Agreement under the Select Energy Services, Inc. 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit 10.10 to Select Energy Services, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, dated March 2, 2017 (Registration No. 333-216404)).
†10.13
Form of Restricted Stock Grant Notice and Restricted Stock Agreement under the Select Energy Services, Inc. 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit 10.13 to Select Energy Services, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed March 1, 2019 (File No. 001-38066)).
†10.14
Form of Stock Option Agreement for John Schmitz under the Select Energy Services, Inc. 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit 10.15 to Select Energy Services, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed March 1, 2019 (File No. 001-38066)).
†10.15
Select Energy Services, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan (incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit 4.3 to Select Energy Services, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form S-8, filed February 1, 2018 (Registration No. 333-222816)).
†10.16
First Amendment to the Select Energy Services, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan (incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit 10.22 to Select Energy Services Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed February 22, 2023 (File No. 001-38066)).
†10.17
Employment Agreement between Nick Swyka and Select Energy Services, LLC, dated March 1, 2019 (incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit 10.23 to Select Energy Services, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed March 1, 2019 (File No. 001-38066)).
†10.18
Separation Agreement and General Release of Claims by and between Select Water Solutions, Inc. and Nicholas Swyka (incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit 10.1 to Select Water Solutions, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed May 1, 2024 (File No. 001-38066)).
†10.19
Form of Letter Agreement (incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit 10.2 to Select Energy Services, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed May 14, 2020 (File No. 001-38066)).
†10.20
Form of Performance Share Unit Grant Notice and Performance Share Unit Agreement - Adjusted Free Cash Flow - under the Select Energy Services, Inc. 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit 10.2 to Select Energy Services, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed May 6, 2020 (File No. 001-38066)).
†10.21
Form of Performance Share Unit Grant Notice and Performance Share Unit Agreement - Return on Assets - under the Select Energy Services, Inc. 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit 10.3 to Select Energy Services, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed May 6, 2020 (File No. 001-38066)).
†10.22
Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between Michael Skarke and Select Energy Services, LLC, dated March 1, 2021 (incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit 10.2 to Select Energy Services, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed March 5, 2021 (File No. 001-38066)).
†10.23
Letter Agreement between Michael Skarke and Select Energy Services, Inc., dated March 1, 2021 (incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit 10.3 to Select Energy Services, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed March 5, 2021 (File No. 001-38066)).
†10.24
Form of Performance Share Unit Grant Notice and Performance Share Unit Agreement - Return on Assets - under the Select Energy Services, Inc. 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit 10.5 to Select Energy Services, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed May 5, 2021 (File No. 001-38066)).
†10.25
Form of Performance Share Unit Grant Notice and Performance Share Unit Agreement - Adjusted EBITDA under the Select Energy Services, Inc. 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit 10.1 to Select Energy Services, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed August 4, 2021 (File No. 001-38066)).
*†10.26
Form of 2024 Restricted Stock Grant Notice and Restricted Stock Agreement under the Select Energy Services, Inc. 2016 Equity Incentive Plan.
*†10.27
Form of 2024 Performance Share Unit Grant Notice and Performance Share Unit Agreement under the Select Energy Services, Inc. 2016 Equity Incentive Plan.
†10.28
Employment Agreement between John D. Schmitz and Select Energy Services, LLC, dated May 5, 2023 (incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit 10.1 to Select Water Solutions, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed May 8, 2023 (File No. 001-38066)).
10.29
Amendment No. 2 to Tax Receivable Agreement, dated June 23, 2023, by and among Select Energy Services, Inc., SES Legacy Holdings, LLC, Crestview Partners II SES Investment, LLC, Sunray Capital, LP and B-29 Investments LP (incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit 10.2 to Select Water Solutions, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed August 3, 2023 (File No. 001-38066)).
10.30
Amendment No. 2 to Tax Receivable Agreement, dated June 23, 2023, by and among Select Energy Services, Inc. and Crestview Partners II SES Investment B, LLC (incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit 10.3 to Select Water Solutions, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed August 3, 2023 (File No. 001-38066)).
†10.31
Select Water Solutions, Inc. 2024 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit 99.1 to Select Water Solutions, Inc.’s Registration on Form S-8, filed May 28, 2024) (File No. 333-279758).
*†10.32
Form of Restricted Stock Grant Notice and Restricted Stock Agreement under the Select Water Solutions, Inc. 2024 Equity Incentive Plan.
*†10.33
Form of Performance Share Unit Grant Notice and Performance Share Unit Agreement under the Select Water Solutions, Inc. 2024 Equity Incentive Plan.
*19.1
Select Water Solutions, Inc. Insider Trading Policy.
*21.1
List of subsidiaries of Select Water Solutions, Inc.
*23.1
Consent of Grant Thornton LLP.
*31.1
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a).
*31.2
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a).
*32.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, furnished herewith.
*32.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, furnished herewith.
97.1
Select Water Solutions, Inc. Clawback Policy (incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit 97.1 to Select Water Solutions, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed February 21, 2024 (File No. 001-38066).
*101
Interactive Data Files
*101.INS
iXBRL Instance Document.
*101.SCH
iXBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.
*101.CAL
iXBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.
*101.DEF
iXBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.
*101.LAB
iXBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.
*101.PRE
iXBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.
*101
The following materials from Select Water Solutions, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 formatted in iXBRL (Inline eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets; (ii) Consolidated Statements of Operations; (iii) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss); (iv) Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity; (v) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows; and (vi) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101).
*
Filed or furnished with this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
†
Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.