by Dan Arthur
ALL Consulting has supported the Produced Water Society for a couple decades now. I remember my first talk was presenting details of water volumes required for high-volume well completions and related flowback volumes by shale play. This was before we developed FracFocus with the Ground Water Protection Council, Chesapeake Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory, Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission, and others.
Today, the issues have evolved and we’re facing new challenges in managing water from every angle! Anyway, congratulations to Oliver Seekins for participating in the Produced Water Society meeting and thank you Schuyler Wight for giving Oliver a tour of some major problems facing West Texas. The combination of historic practices and the substantial evolution of activity in areas such as the Permian Basin have created some real issues that only exemplify my passion for helping to address these issues, but also stress the significance of how we all move forward. The list is long, but at least to help some of the issues move forward, I’m hopeful that the concept of well plugging/re-plugging for purposes of reducing methane emissions, protecting groundwater and restoring sites will gain momentum. Many ranchers have large numbers of orphan wells on their properties that need to be addressed (beyond what state/federal funds will ever cover) and many operators have marginal and non-producing (Idle) wells that need attention. These issues will need addressed for not only managing water issues, but ultimately to allow for things like carbon sequestration.
from Oliver Seekins
This week, I had the privilege of speaking at the Produced Water Society conference in Midland, Texas. It was a profound experience that extended beyond the conference itself.
During my time in Midland, I had the opportunity to connect with a local landowner who graciously showed me around Lake Boehmer—a produced water lake formed from a leaking well—and a sinkhole believed to be the result of a failed attempt at plugging an orphaned well. Listening to his concerns firsthand was a powerful reminder of the environmental impacts tied to our industry.
While these challenges can feel overwhelming, I’m encouraged by the industry’s commitment to addressing these issues head-on. From innovative solutions to responsible practices, there is a collective effort to mitigate environmental impacts and enhance operational prudence.
For landowners, operators, or midstream companies grappling with orphaned wells, technical permitting struggles, or regulatory hurdles, don’t hesitate to reach out to ALL Consulting. We’re here to support you in navigating and resolving these critical issues.
Let’s continue working together to ensure a more sustainable and responsible industry. 🌍💧
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