New Water Rules in CO: What it Means for Oil and Gas
The Energy and Carbon Management Commission (ECMC) in Colorado just passed new rules that will require oil and gas companies to reuse double the amount of produced water when developing new wells. Under current policies, oil and gas companies reuse 2% of produced water during oil and gas extraction. The new policies would jump that number up to 4% by 2026.
This may not seem like a very big change – 2% is a small fraction of the total water used, after all – but the process of drilling and fracking a new well can take as much as one million gallons of water or more. Saving 4% across even a few wells can mean tens of thousands of gallons of water that can be reused in other projects. And that number will only go up. The ECMC plans to increase the required percentage of reused produced water per well by increasing intervals, all the way up to 35% by 2038. To stay ahead of these changes, it is important for companies to begin planning immediately.
Challenges and How to Meet the New Standards
Meeting the new standards set by these rules will be a challenge for many companies. In many cases new infrastructure will need to be implemented to meet higher volumes of reused water. Different projects will likely require different levels of water treatment which can vary significantly based on a variety of factors. Meeting these reuse targets may require new filtration systems, advanced chemical treatment programs, and smarter service models—all areas where Fact Water excels.
Opposition groups have pointed out several concerns about the new rules, and discussions will likely continue around water regulations in Colorado. As guidelines and regulations evolve, it is more important than ever for Oil and Gas companies (as well as any organization that utilizes water) to be prepared with water expertise.
How Fact Water Can Help
Overall, the new rules passed by the ECMC will have a significant impact on the way water is handled in fracking and well-digging operations. Fact Water offers equipment, chemistry and services that can meet the new standards and prepare for future changes, including:
(In three columns)
Equipment:
- Filtration systems – Ultrafiltration, Media filters, etc.
- Reverse Osmosis
- Automation and Monitoring tools.
Services:
- Water testing.
- System design and commissioning.
- Ongoing service and optimization to ensure consistent compliance.
Chemistry:
- Antiscalants
- Biocides
- Coagulants and flocculants.
Contact us to evaluate your current setup and see how Fact Water’s equipment, chemistry, and services can help you meet these new requirements.