ANALYSIS OF PRODUCED WATER FROM THE UTICA POINT PLEASANT SHALE

Produced water from shale plays across the country has emerged as a major environmental concern as increased domestic oil and gas production has increased the demand for Class II disposal wells and subsequent increased occurrence of induced seismicity associated with waste water injection. The Utica Point Pleasant has developed into a major natural gas shale play located primarily in eastern Ohio and it is considered a mature shale play as it enters its sixth year of production. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Oil and Gas Resource Management (ODNR DOGRM) is the regulatory agency for oil and gas production in the state of Ohio. ODNR DOGRM provides annual production reports of natural gas, oil and produced water for 2011 and 2012 and quarterly production reports starting in 2013 and current through the third quarter 2016. Since 2011 the Utica Point Pleasant has produced nearly thirty-six million barrels of water from a total 1520 wells.

This study investigates produced water reported through the third quarter of 2016 with a focus on seventy-five wells distributed across thirteen eastern Ohio Counties. Preliminary findings demonstrate a close correspondence between natural gas and water production with a mean percent water production decline of ninety percent in the first one year of production for wells placed into production prior to 2014. The decline rate slows considerably to a mean percent water production decline of fifty-six percent in the first year for wells placed in production after the first quarter of 2014. This marked change in produced water volumes is the likely combination of improved completion/stimulation methods and a general move to core production areas of Belmont, Guernsey and Monroe Counties in the southern portion of the play.

Analysis of produced water decline provides a meaningful predictive tool for future demand of Class II disposal wells and produced water recycling methods. Reduced drilling activity beginning in early 2015 produced a temporary reduction in the need for Class II disposal as less water is produced and pad-to-pad water recycling/reuse initiatives have become more prevalent. However recent increased drilling activity, if sustained, is likely to produce increased demand for class 2 injection facilities and water recycling.