Shale Gas Operations: Mixing Oil and Water

Water is an important component in shale gas operations. Fresh water is transported to sites for drilling and completion activities. Saline or brackish water—known as produced water—occurs naturally in rocks and is extracted from the well along with oil and/or natural gas. Produced water is typically transported away from sites for discharge or recycling/reuse.

Fresh water comes in, and produced water goes out.

But that’s where things can get tricky. This article explains the engineering services associated with two shale gas operations: one that brought in fresh water and another that took out produced water. Click on the image below to read the article in its entirety.