THE OTHER AND ORIGINAL PRODUCED WATER ISSUE

Kerry L. Sublette*
University of Tulsa
Dept. of Chemical Engineering
600 S. College Ave.
Tulsa, OK 74104
Voice: 918-631-3085
Fax: 918-631-3268
E-mail: kerry-sublette@utulsa.edu

J. Berton Fisher
Exponent, Inc.
Tulsa, OK

Twenty to thirty billion barrels of produced water are generated by the oil and gas industry every year. Produced water or brine co-produced with crude oil is often very high in salinity. Although the industry now re-injects most produced water, large amounts of salt enter the environment through leaks and spills. For example, in Oklahoma over 28,000 tons of salt were released from 1993-2002. This salt has the potential of negatively impacting natural resources such as topsoil and drinking and irrigation water. The principal cause of leaks and spills of brine is corrosion of an aging infrastructure. However, the economic dynamics of the oil and gas industry do not encourage small producers to do preventive maintenance. Incentives are needed to encourage small producers to be proactive in preventing spills and correctly remediating spills when they occur. A proactive stance among independent producers will both strengthen the domestic industry and protect natural resources.