Traditional and Alternative Water Sources for Unconventional Resource Development Prepared by: David Alleman Dan Arthur, P.E., SPEC ALL Consulting

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1 Traditional and Alternative Water Sources for Unconventional Resource Development Prepared by: David Alleman Dan Arthur, P.E., SPEC ALL Consulting GWREF 2013 Unconventional Oil & Gas Water Management Forum July 9, 2013

2 Fresh Water Supply Concerns Forecasted national increase of 70 million people in next 25 years. Approximately 180 trillion gallons of groundwater have been depleted in the U.S. during the 20 th Century alone. Droughts and the potential impacts of climate change have brought sharp attention to water needs across the U.S. Domestic, industrial, and agricultural users are left to compete for the nation s diminishing freshwater resources. Water use for hydraulic fracturing is drawing public attention In times of drought water for oil and gas development is typically one of the first uses to be restricted

3 Access to Fresh Water Access to fresh water can be limited by: Natural conditions Regional precipitation Groundwater aquifers Droughts High demand Permit limits Water Rights Intra-state Inter-state Suspension of rights during drought Demand for fresh water is only expected to increase

4 Traditional Water Sources Up to now, water for oil and gas typically has been fresh water: Surface waters such as rivers and lakes Groundwater aquifers This water may be obtained through: Private permits and wells Commercial water suppliers Municipalities In an effort to reduce fresh water demands, some operators have begun to explore alternate water sources In some areas, the push to reduce demands on fresh water resources is increasing rapidly Even those who are not planning to pursue alternate water sources would do well to keep track of the options available

5 Potential Alternative Sources Commonly considered alternative sources include: Produced Water Reuse Saline Groundwater Grey water Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW) effluent Industrial wastewater Acid Mine Drainage In some areas, the push to reduce demands on fresh water resources is increasing rapidly Even those who are not planning to pursue alternate water sources would do well to keep track of the options available

6 Benefits of Alternative Sources Reduces demand on fresh water supplies May allow for full capacity operation when conventional water sources become scarce Can reduce costs Can improve community relations Can either supplement or replace fresh water sources

7 Produced Water Reuse Re-use in shale operations Variable - the quantity and quality of produced water can vary greatly from basin to basin, from well to well, and over time from the same well May require treatment Liability concerns may arise when commercial treatment facilities are used

8 Saline Aquifers Saline Aquifers TDS concentrations of 1,000 35,000 mg/l Typically deeper than fresh ground water The quality of water can vary greatly from aquifer to aquifer and from well to well Has the potential to provide stable water supply Production rates largely unknown Large quantities of saline water may be available in many regions throughout the U.S.

9 Water Cycling Saline aquifers water cycling is possible Water is pulled from a saline aquifer then re-injected in the lower portion of the aquifer Dakota aquifer in North Dakota DeBolt aquifer in Canada Bakken Horn River June 2013 ALL Consulting 9

10 POTWs Municipal sewage treatment plants water has typically been treated to remove suspended solids, adjust ph, and to remove organics (nutrients) No treatment or data for TDS generally not a problem The quantity and quality of POTW effluent is fairly consistent Stable, long-term source Organic load can still be fairly high May require treatment to avoid biofouling Some streams are dependent upon these flows Availability limited by size of population centers

11 Acid Mine Drainage Availability is geographically limited Low ph water Mineral content can be difficult to treat Downstream flows may be dependent upon these discharges Primary obstacle is liability

12 Alternate Source Considerations Regional availability Quantity available Water Quality Consistency Treatment required? Proximity/Transportation Liability? Access Permits Water Rights

13 Challenges Data quantity, quality, and availability: Typically very limited data exist Amount and quality of data may vary substantially by location Data for alternative sources is, understandably, limited Use of alternate sources is typically more costly Uncertain regulatory future some sources have few or uncertain regulations regarding use New regulations may make some sources unattractive

14 Summary As fresh water concerns rise, there will be increased emphasis on pursuing alternate water sources Each alternate source presents challenges As energy demands and stresses on fresh water supplies increase, overcoming these challenges will become more feasible Site-specific analysis is necessary to determine if a given alternate water source is feasible for use

15 Contact Information David Alleman Environmental Manager ALL Consulting 1718 S. Cheyenne Ave. Tulsa, OK Citation Information: Alleman, D., ALL Consulting,and Arthur, J.D., ALL Consulting Traditional and Alternative Water Sources for Unconventional Resource Development. Presented at the Ground Water Research and Education Foundation s 2013 Unconventional Oil & Gas Water Management Forum, July 9-11, 2013, Grapevine, TX. June Copyright (c) 2013 ALL Consulting