SUSTAINABLE WATER USE IN OILFIELD OPERATIONS
RE-BLOG OF A PRESENTATION BY KRIS PALKA OF IMAGINEA ENERGY
(February 10, 2016 during the Continuing the Conversation: Water Wisdom II Meeting)
The Issue:
Vision: To have a profitable energy industry that is the most environmentally sustainable on the planet.
Doing the same things as an industry we did when oil was at $100/bbl will no longer work;
The solution? Innovation;
Innovation is about solving a problem with unconventional thinking.
The energy sector has never been more in need of innovation than it is today. In a low-price environment, and with more focus than ever on environmental stewardship, operators are under immense pressure to cut costs and lower carbon emissions in order to stay competitive (Alberta Oil Magazine – April 1, 2016).
Strategies to Reduce Fresh Water Usage in Oilfield Operations
Use recycled produced water;
Use saline water from deep sources;
Seek alternatives to freshwater (ie) waterless or low water content fracturing fluids.
Energized Fracturing Fluids (N2 and CO2) – A Proven Strategy
May conserve up to 80% of the freshwater normally used in a fracture treatment;
May save up to 20% in total cost;
May increase reserve recovery by 15% or more;
Case studies proving the above (Cardium and Montney):
SPE 171583
SPE 175948
SPE 168632