July 30, 2014 5:15 PM

In Texas Energy Report: Texas paves way in oilfield water recycling, spreads the word

In D.C., Tintera shares which energy /water policies can help

WASHINGTON DC – More than 60 people attended an off-the-record briefing on sustainable water management in the oil & gas industry at the Atlantic Council on Monday, signaling the high level of interest around the best practices of managing and recycling water in the red-hot sector of hydraulic fracturing operations.

Geologist John Tintera, former executive director of the Texas Railroad Commission and a current principal of Sebree & Tintera, presented the Atlantic Council white paper, which he called the result of state and federal stakeholder input to provide a summary of potential best practices in water recycling that can apply both in the national and international arenas. Tintera is also the president of the recently formed Texas Water Recycling Association.

Few topics are more volatile in Texas than water rights, even when it comes to the profitable oil & gas boom. Texas has talked rights of capture and groundwater districts, regional planning efforts and junior water rights, not to mention a $2 billion state-wide water plan approved by voters that still hangs in the balance.

Now the energy industry has added a new level of complexity: a desire to use brackish water in that layer below the groundwater table. Tintera also argues that recycling and re-using produced water during hydraulic fracturing (fracking) operations will take pressure off freshwater suppliers, be more ecologically sensible and reduce the use of controversial wastewater disposal wells. The latter have stirred public fears that they might have prompted a series of earthquakes in the northern Texas town of Azle and elsewhere.

The rest of the story can be found in our sister publication, Texas Energy Report.

By Kimberly Reeves