EVALUATING NON-POTABLE WATER USAGE FOR OIL AND GAS PURPOSES IN THE DENVER-JULESBURG AND PERMIAN BASINS

Oil and gas company water usage is currently an area of extreme concern in the water stressed Western United States. 87% of the wells in Permian Basin are being drilled in areas of high or extreme water stress. Using recycled produced water or groundwater that does not meet the USDW drinking water standards for oil and gas purposes could assist in relieving both water stress and tension between oil and gas companies and the public. However, non-USDW drinking water (TDS over 10,000 ppm), has the potential to react with formation water causing mineral precipitation, reducing the permeability of the producing formation. To evaluate the potential of non-potable water usage in the Permian Basin available groundwater chemistry data was compiled into a database. Data was collected from the NETL-run NATCARB database, the USGS Produced Water Database, and the Texas Railroad Commission. The created database went through a system of quality assurance and control for pH, TDS, depth and charge balance. Data was separated into units based on the descriptions given by the various sources. Eleven units with more than 50 data points were chosen for further statistical analysis to classify the formation waters of the Permian Basin. These units include: Canyon, Clear Fork, Delaware Mountain, Devonian, Ellenburger, Glorieta, Grayburg, San Andres, Strawn, Wolfcamp and Yates. Geochemical modeling is currently being undertaken to evaluate the mixing of these waters with the goal of making initial conclusions about the potential of using non-potable water for oil and gas purposes in the Permian Basin.