Oilfield Water Weekly

We are excited to announce that WaterBridge will be the Ranch Water Reception Sponsor at the 3rd Annual Oilfield Water Industry Update conference in Houston this October 15th.

In addition to WaterBridge’s outstanding leadership in managing oilfield water, we understand that some folks on their team have perfected a ‘ranch water drink’ recipe in their spare time. So we’ll be getting them in touch with the reception’s bar tender to provide some tips! Special thanks to WaterBridge for signing on early to support the premier produced water event of Fall 2021. Their sponsorship makes the conference’s exciting water-themed reception possible for industry leaders, and it will be a networking opportunity you don’t want to miss….

A variety of additional sponsorship opportunities are still available for this event, but don’t delay on signing up if you are interested in reaching oilfield water leaders in October, because the space we have at the Houstonian for this event is smaller than what we had in Frisco last month (i.e. opportunities to participate are limited). Check out what’s still available here


News Digest

Wastewater Problem Could Cap U.S. Shale Growth

The problem is the disposal of wastewater, and it is not going away.

Unsustainable Growth Rate In Permian Seismicity

The Permian Basin is on pace to double the earthquakes observed in 2020, an unsustainable growth rate. The wastewater disposal problem is not going away and will limit the future of operators if not managed.

Odessa American: Earthquakes bumfuzzle officials

Shake, Rattle and Roll" was a fun record by Bill Haley & His Comets in 1954, but the notion is anything but entertaining for Permian Basin residents distressed by the increasingly severe earthquakes that are jarring the region with disturbing regularity.

Palate Cleanser: How Produced Water Can Make a Positive Environmental Impact

The upstream oil and gas industry generates large quantities of produced water during exploration and production. We’re talking about 3 to 15 barrels of water for every barrel of oil.

Texas Water Bills

A comprehensive resource on water-related legislation in Texas... Here is a list of some of the more significant bills that either are new law today or that will become new law on September 1 or even later (see HB 531).

Water Identified As A Constraint In Simulfrac Adoption

A new report lists water transfer and disposal as one of the challenges operators have to solve for when adopting simulfracs. This also has implications for water reuse in frac...

WATER TALENT POOL: Seawolf Management Update

Tim McWilliams was promoted to Executive Vice President, Chief Commercial Officer at Seawolf Water...

Ranch Water Drama: The Story We Brought You Last Week Goes Mainstream This Week....

In last week's edition of the oilfield water weekly digest, we covered the Antina Ranch / Ashley Watt / Chevron backstory that Bloomberg turned into a mainstream news story yesterday. Big implications for water and tail risk in E&P here as Bloomberg writes: "ranchers and regulators are contending with uncontrolled leaks from thousands of abandoned oil and gas sites that could render some land “functionally uninhabitable.

Ranch Water Drama: The Podcast

Great deal of talk about water and water pollution risk in this podcast if you want to get deeper into this saga... Ashley Watt talks ranching, old wells, and water at length on this podcast...

Governor signs law creating produced water consortium

Among the bills just signed by Gov. Abbott was SB 601, which creates the Texas Produced Water Consortium at Texas Tech Consortium.

TXOGA applauds law creating Texas Produced Water Consortium

Todd Staples, president of the Texas Oil & Gas Association, issued a statement after Governor Abbott signed SB 601, which creates the Texas Produced Water Consortium at Texas Tech University to study the beneficial use of produced water specifically focusing on the economics, technology and impact on environmental and public health.

The Sierra Club’s Take on the New Texas Produced Water Consortium

"This bill might seem kind of niche, so you might have some reasonable questions: What is produced water anyway? What is this “consortium” business and why did Texas want one? Who’s going to be included? Let’s get into it."

Former Texas Driller Shifts Focus to Plugging Old Wells...

A long-time investor in oil and gas companies is now betting on cleaning the mess they leave behind.

...But Not Everyone Is Happy About It

Yikes... "Sanchez bankrupted multiple companies in a short period of time. When it comes to writing long term insurance on plugging oil wells, he is most definitely the wrong man."

The Little Hedge Fund Taking Down Big Oil

On the day the little investment firm Engine No. 1 would learn the outcome of its proxy battle at Exxon Mobil, its office in San Francisco still didn’t have furniture.

Congressional Dems Open Another Front In Their War On Oil And Gas

As detailed in a new report from Rice University’s Baker Institute, the language would reclassify returned water from oilfield drilling operations as a “hazardous waste” under the provisions of the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). From the Baker Institute report:

WaterBridge Joins The 3rd Annual Oilfield Water Industry Update Conference As 'Ranch Water Reception' Sponsor

Special thanks to WaterBridge for signing on early to support the premier produced water event of Fall 2021. See you there!

A Study In Discipline [Operator Spotlight]

Check out Devon's drilling and completions program with hard data...

Drought Conditions Improve, Statewide Reservoir Storage Back to Normal, and Hotter- and Wetter-Than-Normal Conditions Expected

Rains continued to dampen drought across much of the state. Statewide reservoir storage is back up to normal (since 1990) conditions.

TXDOT: Permian Water damage forces road closure on highway 1053 (Imperial Highway)

The Fort Stockton Police Department issued a warning on its Facebook page Friday evening. The department reported the closure was due to a sinkhole that had caved in on the highway.

Moderate mag. 4.4 earthquake - Culberson County, Texas,

Moderate mag. 4.4 earthquake - Culberson County, Texas, 53 mi south of Carlsbad, Eddy County, New Mexico, USA, on 25 Jun 4:30 am (GMT -5) - 5 days ago

2.6 magnitude earthquake in West Texas

A 2.6 magnitude earthquake shook the areas of West Texas.

Study warns Texas must address future of groundwater policy

Long-term water security is essential for the future of Texas, and the state acutely needs a common law system that can balance world-scale agricultural activity, industrial development and urban growth while also protecting private property rights, according to new research from Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and Texas State University’s The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment.

Work begins on a $490 million project to help fill North Texas’ water demand. The new lake still may not be enough...

In the southeast corner of Fannin County, signs welcome visitors to Ladonia, a small town set among horse stables and cattle ranches with a population just over 600 people. “Small town, big future,” they say.

Permian rig count jumps 80 percent compared to one year ago

Drilling activity continued to hold steady even as oil prices rose to their highest level in 2 1/2 years.

Rig Count Takes A Rare Breather On Its Long Hike Upwards

US land rig count was down 2 units last week. We aren’t reading too much into it, but it is worth noting because it’s not been common lately. As this chart shows...

Houston-based oil and gas wastewater company expands operations, addressing seismic concerns

Oil and gas wastewater operations in the Permian Basin continued to grow alongside and upswing in production as the nation and world recovered from COVID-19.

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Detailed Agenda

Monday - May 5, 2025 | Pre-Conference

Start TimeDescription
2:00 pm

Tuesday - May 6, 2025 | Conference Day 1

Start TimeDescription
8:00 am
in the Exhibit Hall

Wednesday - May 8, 2025 | Conference Day 2

Start TimeDescription
10:00 am

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