Rethinking West Texas energy: Moving away from fracking amid rising concerns

West Texas, a historical hub for the oil and mining industries, supports thousands of jobs and accounts for 16% of the region’s employment. However, the rise of hydraulic fracturing, or ‘fracking,’ introduces substantial environmental risks, particularly concerning the management of produced water.

Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is crucial to West Texas’s energy industry. This method injects a high-pressure mix of water, sand, and chemicals into underground rocks, creating fractures that release trapped oil and natural gas for extraction. While this method has significantly boosted energy production and economic growth in the region, it also poses significant challenges. But what does this mean for mines in West Texas?

The Opportunities and Risks of Hydraulic Fracturing

The region’s rich geological formations make it an ideal candidate for this extraction method, promising substantial economic benefits and abundant energy resources. The potential for economic growth is promising, as fracking operations can significantly boost the region’s economy. However, as these operations have expanded, so have concerns about their environmental and social impacts.

The risks of fracking are not new. In the early 2000s, Midland discovered that its T-Bar Ranch, acquired in 1965 as a drinking water source, was contaminated by a spill of produced water, a byproduct of oil and gas drilling. Elevated levels of chlorides and total dissolved solids were found in several wells at the ranch, indicating produced water contamination. This discovery led Midland into an ongoing multimillion-dollar cleanup effort. Eventually, Midland filed a lawsuit against Heritage Standard, an oil and gas company, alleging that leaks from its storage tanks and waste ponds allowed produced water to seep into the groundwater.

Oil and gas extraction, particularly through fracking, requires substantial quantities of water, sand, and chemicals, some of which are toxic, to extract oil and gas from deep geological formations. Produced water, a mixture of drilling fluids and groundwater, often contains naturally occurring hazardous compounds such as arsenic and carcinogenic organic compounds like benzene, posing serious health risks to both humans and the environment.

At the time of the spill almost two decades ago, Midland had not yet started using water from T-Bar Ranch in its municipal water supply. However, approximately one-third of Midland’s drinking water today comes from this ranch, heightening concerns about potential future spills. This case illustrates the widespread impact of produced water spills in Texas, devastating land, water sources, and property, and posing serious threats to essential groundwater reserves.

The Environmental Impact of Produced Water

The cleanup at the T-Bar Ranch is just one example of how a spill or release of produced water on the surface can impact water and take years — and millions of dollars — to remediate. Unfortunately, this issue extends far beyond isolated incidents. According to a 2022 report, the Permian Basin generates a staggering 3.9 billion barrels of produced water every year, exceeding 168 billion gallons, underscoring the scale of the problem.

Fracking operations typically require between 1.5 million and 16 million gallons of water per well, which is often disposed of in underground injection wells. However, documented cases exist where this water has contaminated aquifers or resurfaced at disposal sites, damaging land with its high saline content for years to come.

In a 2022 paper, researchers at New Mexico State University and the University of Texas at El Paso identified per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and naturally occurring radioactive materials in produced water samples from the Permian Basin. These chemicals are known for their slow environmental breakdown, posing additional challenges to water quality and safety.

Protests from environmentalists and concerned citizens against fracking have been significant over the years. In a notable instance, Denton, a city located about 50 miles northwest of Dallas, passed a local ban in November to prohibit the operation of fracking production rigs within its jurisdiction. This action provoked strong reactions from state officials and industry groups within the oil and gas sector, prompting threats of legal action. In response, Governor Greg Abbott of Texas introduced legislation aimed at preempting local regulatory efforts. This move, seen as a protective measure for the state’s oil and gas enterprises, includes provisions that effectively prohibit municipalities and county governments from imposing restrictions on the siting of drilling equipment and production rigs.

This means fracking can continue in West Texas, promising to sustain and expand the local economy by creating thousands of jobs. However, it also underscores the heightened responsibility of oil and gas companies operating in the region to prioritise environmental stewardship and community wellbeing. This necessitates the adoption of proactive measures and advanced technologies, such as those provided by Minetek, to effectively mitigate the environmental impacts of fracking, particularly concerning water contamination.

By embracing cutting-edge solutions, these companies demonstrate their commitment to sustainability and strengthen their standing with the public. This proactive approach not only aligns with evolving public expectations but also positions them favorably against potential future legislative or regulatory changes that could impose stricter environmental controls.

 

Minetek’s Innovative Water Evaporation Solutions

Minetek Water has pioneered the development of the world’s most cost-effective water evaporation system, specifically designed to manage produced water typically high in Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), salts, grease, and other compounds. Their innovative land-based water evaporator is engineered from the ground up, leveraging fundamental principles of fan engineering and airflow dynamics to efficiently and sustainably evaporate wastewater.

These evaporation units are exceptionally versatile and capable of processing a wide range of water qualities, including pH levels from 2.2 to 12, acidic or caustic water, and water with high TDS and TSS content. Depending on environmental conditions, Minetek’s systems can evaporate up to 50% of spray volume as pure water vapor, with the remaining droplets returning to the feed pond. This process significantly reduces the volume of wastewater that requires disposal or further treatment, contributing to both cost savings and environmental sustainability.

A cornerstone of the technology lies in the patented design of the Minetek system. This design ensures longevity, durability, and optimal performance of the evaporation units across diverse operational environments.

With a proven track record of over 700 successfully completed systems worldwide, Minetek has established itself as a leader in delivering the largest and most efficient water evaporator systems. Their commitment to advancing water management technologies not only addresses critical environmental challenges associated with industries like fracking but also supports sustainable practices that align with evolving global regulatory standards.

As West Texas moves forward in the energy sector’s evolving landscape, the adoption of responsible practices and advanced solutions like those offered by Minetek will be critical in shaping a balanced and sustainable path forward—one that provides continued economic prosperity while preserving the region’s natural resources for generations to come.

If you’re looking to optimise your water management strategies and contribute to a sustainable future, connect with our Water team today to discover how our innovative solutions can meet your needs.

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