Water Recycling in Barnett Shale and Ft. Worth Basin
Recent projections from the United States Geological Survey estimate natural gas reserves in the Barnett Shale at more than 26.2 tcf. Today there are thousands of productive wells, with many new wells coming online every month. The richness of these gas resources is a force of economic growth in dozens of counties throughout the region.
Energy companies exploring the Barnett Shale have amassed knowledge of the area's complex shale formations and its unique challenges to gas extraction. Early attempts to drill in the thick, nearly impermeable shale with convention technology were unsuccessful, and producers turned instead to the practice of shale fracturing with fresh water. Each company is exploring different approaches to the fracturing of wells, based on well characteristics, available resources and other factors.
A Proactive Approach to Unique Water Challenges
The fracturing process uses an average of 2 to 5 million gallons of fresh water per well. During the process, the injected water takes on oil, metals, salts and other unwanted byproducts. Energy producers are evaluating and testing new technologies to treat this water, which is supplied largely from municipal and surface water reservoirs, so that it can be reused for ongoing drilling operations.
With successful recycling of these ‘frac flowback' waters, producers can conserve valuable water assets and eliminate significant costs associated with hauling water to offsite treatment plants and maintaining disposal wells.
With the growth potential of natural gas exploration in the Barnett Shale and Ft. Worth Basin, proactive steps by energy companies will have a long-term benefit for the industry and the environment.
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