EPA Research Partner Support Story: Advancing the Utilization of Produced Water
Partner: New Mexico Environment Department (NMED), NM Produced Water Research Consortium
Challenge: Off-field use of oil and gas produced water
Resource: Risk characterization and toxicology leadership, technical expertise, modeling and tool development
Project Period: 2020 – 2025
Oil and gas extraction generates large volumes of produced water, presenting supplemental water supply opportunities in the arid regions where extraction activities are concentrated. Concurrently, injection capacity limitations in key production areas impede conventional disposal options and threaten future energy development. Advancing off-field produced water reuse programs is one possible way to mitigate these issues, but some of these programs have the potential to create public health risks. Produced water contains a variety of naturally occurring and anthropogenic contaminants from the source formation and chemicals that are used during the extraction process, creating a complex mixture with unknown levels of human and ecological toxicity. While treatment technologies capable of managing these concerns are emerging throughout the industry, the poorly characterized chemical profile of raw and treated waters has prevented widespread reuse implementation and the development of associated state regulatory programs.
"The collaboration between NMED, EPA’s Office of Research and Development, and the Consortium has been invaluable and has helped ensure that New Mexico’s path forward on reuse of treated produced water will be based in solid scientific research. The work done by EPA ORD on the Risk and Toxicology Working Group will be key for NMED to continue to develop the next phase of regulations.” – New Mexico Environment Department Deputy Secretary John Rhoderick
Recognizing these challenges, the New Mexico Environmental Department (NMED) established the New Mexico Produced Water Research Consortium to facilitate collaborative research and foster interactions that advance the scientific research and technology development necessary to guide statewide regulation of treated produced water uses outside the oil and gas industry. ORD has supported the Consortium from its inception by providing expertise in risk characterization and fit-for-purpose water treatment and use. ORD assisted the Consortium in establishing sample collection, quality control, and analytical workflows to generate robust and defensible scientific data on produced water quality and treatment technology performance. ORD scientists also served as leaders of the Consortium’s Risk and Toxicology Working Group during the critical time of this protocol development. NMED relies on the respected integrity of ORD’s science to inform its ongoing decisions regarding produced water management in the state.
Through the EPA’s collaborative Water Reuse Action Plan, ORD scientists continue to assist New Mexico, Texas, Colorado, and other states seeking to advance the utilization of produced water while protecting public health and environmental resources. ORD also provides ongoing support to EPA’s Office of Water as they develop updated produced water discharge and use regulations.