Water Testing | Russell T. Rudy Energy LLC
The management of formation brine (salt water produced with oil and/or gas) has been an issue for the energy industry since inception. The problem only became more acute with the shale revolution, when ever larger volumes of water were used in hydraulic fracturing. This flow back water from fracking now had to be managed as well. Traditionally, these fluids had been collected and injected into vacant formations. However, in the last few years, there is emerging evidence that the fluids injected into disposal wells were a cause of seismic events in Oklahoma and North Texas. Concurrently, the water quality aspects of the industry’s water management processes were coming under intense scrutiny from environmentalists and the EPA.
A critical step in managing waste water, whether for purification, recycling, or disposal, is testing to determine the properties of the fluid. Up until now water samples had to be collected and sent to lab for analysis. This was expensive and time consuming as it could take up to ten days to get results back. Now, “Rigzone” reports that Water Lens, LLC, has developed a device that enables operators to test on site and get results back in ten minutes.
After several years of research and development, the Water Lens system was offered commercially. In spite of the downturn in the oil industry, the process is already being used in the Eagle Ford (South Texas), Marcellus (Pennsylvania) and Permian (West Texas) shale plays as well as the Middle East. The system has gained acceptance by a wide range of operators and service companies.
Timely, accurate data is an essential element in improving waste water management, and this appears to be a major step in the right direction.
To read the article in its entirety, please go to http://www.rigzone.com/news/oil_gas/a/147894/ .
Russell T. Rudy Energy, LLC buys oil, gas and mineral interests nationwide. Please call (800-880-0940), or write (info@rudyenergy.com ) to let us know if you agree, disagree or would just like to comment on this, or any of our posts.
