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Underground rock layers generally contain fluids such as formation water, oil, natural gas or some combination of these fluids. During oil and natural gas production, this naturally occurring formation waterthese fluids can travel through the wellbore and up to the surface. This water is referred to as produced water. The natural formation water and the water injected during the hydraulic fracturing process are collectively referred to as produced water. The salt content, total dissolved solids and overall quality of produced water varies based on geologic basin and specific rock strata, the makeup of which is dependent on whether natural gas or crude oilcrude oil or natural gas is being produced. Produced water generally includes a mixture of water injected during the hydraulic fracturing process, either liquid or gaseous hydrocarbons, native formation water, salts, suspended solids (sand and silt) and very small amounts of other additives that may have been used during completion and production activities. After initial production, the salt content of produced water can vary from slightly higher than that of freshwater to up to 10 times higher than that of seawater.
Produced Water Management
The management of produced water presents many challenges and can pose significant costs to operators. Operators are careful to manage produced water in ways that protect surface and groundwater resources. Whenever possible, operators seek to reduce future demands for freshwater by examining both traditional and innovative approaches to reuse produced water in other drilling and completion processes. Current produced water management techniques include a variety of methods such as underground injection, direct reuse, treatment and reuse (recycling), and evaporation. In Anadarko Basin operations, Chesapeake manages produced water primarily via disposal in permitted underground injection wells.
Underground injection has historically been the primary disposal option for produced water by the oil and natural gas industry. This process uses saltwater disposal wells (SWDs) to return the water underground into porous rock formations similar to those from which it came. These formations are separated from treatable groundwater by thousands of feet of multiple layers of impermeable rock. SWDs are permitted under the Federal Safe Drinking Water Acts, Underground Injection Control Program.
Produced Water Management
The management of produced water presents many challenges and can pose significant costs to operators. Operators are careful to manage produced water in ways that protect surface and groundwater resources. Whenever possible, operators seek to reduce future demands for freshwater by examining both traditional and innovative approaches to reuse or recycle by using in other drilling and completion processes. Current techniques include a variety of methods such as underground injection, direct reuse (no treatment), treatment and reuse and evaporation.
Underground injection has historically been the primary disposal option for produced water by the natural gas and oil industry. This process uses saltwater disposal wells (SWDs) to return the water underground into porous rock formations similar to those from which it came. These formations are separated from treatable groundwater by thousands of feet of multiple layers of impermeable rock. SWDs are permitted under the Federal Safe Drinking Water Acts, Underground Injection Control Program. Underground injection of produced water is not, however, always possible, as suitable injection zones may not be available. In those cases, produced water can be managed through direct reuse (no treatment), simple reuse and recycling (filtration and blending), advanced process recycling (chemical treatment followed by distillation), waste reduction (via evaporation) or processed through industrial water treatment facilities.
Produced Water Management
The management of produced water presents many challenges and can pose significant costs to operators. Operators are careful to manage produced water in ways that protect surface and groundwater resources. Whenever possible, operators seek to reduce future demands for freshwater by examining both traditional and innovative approaches to reuse produced water in other drilling and completion processes. Current produced water management techniques include a variety of methods such as underground injection, direct reuse, treatment and reuse (recycling), and evaporation. In Texas, Chesapeake manages produced water primarily via disposal in permitted underground injection wells.
Underground injection has historically been the primary disposal option for produced water by the oil and natural gas industry. This process uses saltwater disposal wells (SWDs) to return the water underground into porous rock formations similar to those from which it came. These formations are separated from treatable groundwater by thousands of feet of multiple layers of impermeable rock. SWDs are permitted under the Federal Safe Drinking Water Acts, Underground Injection Control Program.
Produced Water Management
The management of produced water presents many challenges and can pose significant costs to operators. Operators are careful to manage produced water in ways that protect surface and groundwater resources. Whenever possible, operators seek to reduce future demands for freshwater by examining both traditional and innovative approaches to reuse or recycle by using in other drilling and completion processes. Current techniques include a variety of methods such as underground injection, direct reuse (no treatment), treatment and reuse and evaporation. In Pennsylvania, Chesapeake manages produced water primarily by reusing it.In the Marcellus Shale, Chesapeake manages produced water primarily by reusing and recycling it. Other management techniques include underground injection and treatment.In West Virginia, Chesapeake manages produced water primarily through reuse and underground injection.
Underground injection has historically been the primary disposal option for produced water by the natural gas and oil industry. This process uses saltwater disposal wells (SWDs) to return the water underground into porous rock formations similar to those from which it came. These formations are separated from treatable groundwater by thousands of feet of multiple layers of impermeable rock. SWDs are permitted under the Federal Safe Drinking Water Acts, Underground Injection Control Program. Underground injection of produced water is not, however, always possible, as suitable injection zones may not be available. In those cases, produced water can be managed through direct reuse (no treatment), simple reuse and recycling (filtration and blending), advanced process recycling (chemical treatment followed by distillation), waste reduction (via evaporation) or processed through industrial water treatment facilities.
Produced Water Management
The management of produced water presents many challenges and can pose significant costs to operators. Operators are careful to manage produced water in ways that protect surface and groundwater resources. Whenever possible, operators seek to reduce future demands for freshwater by examining both traditional and innovative approaches to reuse produced water in other drilling and completion processes. Current produced water management techniques include a variety of methods such as underground injection, direct reuse, treatment and reuse (recycling), and evaporation. In Mississippi Lime operations, Chesapeake manages produced water primarily via disposal in permitted underground injection wells.
Underground injection has historically been the primary disposal option for produced water by the oil and natural gas industry. This process uses saltwater disposal wells (SWDs) to return the water underground into porous rock formations similar to those from which it came. These formations are separated from treatable groundwater by thousands of feet of multiple layers of impermeable rock. SWDs are permitted under the Federal Safe Drinking Water Acts, Underground Injection Control Program.
Produced Water Management
The management of produced water presents many challenges and can pose significant costs to operators. Operators are careful to manage produced water in ways that protect surface and groundwater resources. Whenever possible, operators seek to reduce future demands for freshwater by examining both traditional and innovative approaches to reuse produced water in other drilling and completion processes. Current produced water management techniques include a variety of methods such as underground injection, direct reuse, treatment and reuse (recycling), and evaporation. In Wyoming, Chesapeake manages produced water primarily via disposal in permitted underground injection wells.
Underground injection has historically been the primary disposal option for produced water by the oil and natural gas industry. This process uses saltwater disposal wells (SWDs) to return the water underground into porous rock formations similar to those from which it came. These formations are separated from treatable groundwater by thousands of feet of multiple layers of impermeable rock. SWDs are permitted under the Federal Safe Drinking Water Acts, Underground Injection Control Program.
Produced Water Management
The management of produced water presents many challenges and can pose significant costs to operators. Operators are careful to manage produced water in ways that protect surface and groundwater resources. Whenever possible, operators seek to reduce future demands for freshwater by examining both traditional and innovative approaches to reuse produced water in other drilling and completion processes. Current produced water management techniques include a variety of methods such as underground injection, direct reuse, treatment and reuse (recycling), and evaporation. In Ohio, Chesapeake manages produced water primarily by recycling or reusing as much as possible in our completion operations. Our goal is to reuse 100% of our produced water, but we also use permitted underground injection wells when necessary.
Underground injection has historically been the primary disposal option for produced water by the oil and natural gas industry. This process uses saltwater disposal wells (SWDs) to return the water underground into porous rock formations similar to those from which it came. These formations are separated from treatable groundwater by thousands of feet of multiple layers of impermeable rock. SWDs are permitted under the Federal Safe Drinking Water Acts, Underground Injection Control Program.​​​​​​