The Center of Excellence in Produced Water Management at the University of Wyoming is ascertaining the value of produced waters through resource recovery of minerals and water. Produced water is being viewed as a resource rather than a waste produce of oil and gas production. Samples are being collected from various locations and oil/gas geologic formations throughout Wyoming.  Samples are being analyzed for a wide range of minerals such as rare earth elements, lithium, iodine, and other elements of potential value. Results are used to develop an online database accounting for the types and value of minerals (e.g., metals and rare earth elements) present in representative produced waters. This data is used to determine potential benefits of alternatives to disposal, such as reduced probability of seismic events, commercial mineral value, and reuse of the water resource for further oil and gas development, industry, agriculture, municipal, and environmental flows. Industry can benefit economically and socially by improved operations, lower operating costs, and better overall relationship with the citizenry by initiating resource recovery practices.  Society benefits from improved environmental management and increased economic development by providing a lower cost of operation for industry. Initial analytical results have identified significant concentrations of lithium and trace quantities of rare earth elements. Other locations in the U.S. (e.g., Oklahoma) have demonstrated commercially viable extraction and concentration of iodine. This paper presents the findings and related values for a range of the resources identified in the produced waters, classified by location and geologic formation. The conclusions will include an indication of economic viability of additional resource recovery from these produced waters and the overall potential to reduce the oil and gas industries’ expense and issues associated with produced water management.

Deriving value from produced waters

251st National Meeting (2016)

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