Alex Ortiz’s Post

Missouri Department of Natural Resources Announces Plans to Plug More Than 200 Abandoned Oil Wells in Missouri While many don't think of Missouri as an oil producing state, several western border counties south of Kansas City historically have had some wells with oils that have been difficult to extract. Many of these wells have been abandoned as oil prices have fluctuated and economics and marginal production rates have made it difficult for small companies to turn a profit. MDNR recently announced they are investigating and plugging more than 200 of these abandoned wells, using funds from a grant by the U.S. Department of Interior. #MDNR #DGLS #oilfields https://lnkd.in/gUGy5Bqm  

Dave Messler absolutely hits the nail on the head with his latest article for OilPrice.com, "What Tips the Balance in the Permian?" Beneficial reuse HAS to be part of produced water management moving forward. We can't handle the volume with recycling (direct reuse) alone, and subsurface injection is not a sustainable option. Jerri Pohl New Mexico Produced Water Research Consortium Rusty S. Texas Produced Water Consortium Steve Coffee Produced Water Society Michael Dyson Infinity Water Solutions #energy #water #midstream #environment "With about 5,000 new wells being drilled in the Permian on an annual basis, the industry can then absorb about 6.5 mm BoWPD into its fracturing operations. That still leaves about 12.5 mm BoWPD that must be disposed of, shifted to other locations by pipeline or truck, or treated to a standard where it could be used in agriculture.Reinjection has been historically attractive to operators because it is the least expensive method to deal with produced brine that is in excess of what the industry can absorb. The increasing seismicity now seen in the Permian is going to require new solutions for much of this brine. As noted in the WSJ article, the Texas Rail Road Commission-TRC following a 5.4 magnitude earthquake in Reeves County, imposed injection restrictions in the area. In addition to increased seismicity, there are legitimate concerns about over-pressured disposal wells breaking down seals in older wells, allowing hydrocarbons to leak into and contaminate adjacent freshwater aquifers." https://lnkd.in/grD5BG4v

On the matter of ESG Risks, they loom larger where regulation, enforcement and accountability is lacking. Where a precious resource, such as groundwater, is involved, the risk is even more pressing in drought prone areas. A systems view is necessary to understand the nature of the risk. Case in point: Abandoned wells in the Texas Permian Basin are exploding like geysers of contaminated salty water that put local ecosystems, groundwater and cattle ranches at risk. Ownership and responsibility is hard to pinpoint for the many undocumented wells in Texas. The state Texas Railroad Commission has regulatory oversight of the oil and gas sector, but when it comes to plugging wells responsibility is not clear. In a 2023 paper, scientists said leaking wells in the Permian Basin were a growing threat to water sources and human health. Across the US there are an estimated 310,000 to 800,000 undocumented wells, according to the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission. A large unknown risk to watch and analyze. #oilandgaswells #riskmitigation #groundwater #permianbasin https://lnkd.in/ekQc5mYZ

📣📣 This sounds like years of government contracts to clean up Red Devil Mine. "The plan approved by the BLM includes evacuation of contaminated materials from Red Devil Creek and downstream areas of the Kuskokwim River, consolidation and safe storage of evacuated materials, long-term maintenance of that storage facility and long-term monitoring of groundwater and river sediments. The total cost for capital needs and operations is about $40 million, according to the BLM’s decision. The money is to be provided by the federal government, Claggett said. The work should last 30 years." ➡️ Full story here Alaska Beacon: https://lnkd.in/grY2nQ38 #governmentcontracting #AlaskaAPEX #Alaska #govcon #apexaccelerator #federalcontracting #remediation #smallbusiness

Implementing a consistent maintenance program is key to maximizing the operational and performance efficiency of the Aqua-Guardian™ Catch Basin Insert. Ensure long-term water quality and system reliability with regular maintenance. Learn more about our maintenance recommendations and best practices. https://lnkd.in/gmauGVX #stormwater #civilengineering #waterquality #aquashield #greeninfrastructure

Innovation will pave the path to the sustainable future of water in the #Permian.   Midland Mayor Lori Blong, spoke recently about the implementation of technology to improve the quality of subterraneous water in the region for municipal and agricultural use. Locals continue to experience the effects of fracking in the Permian Basin as seen by a huge leap in seismicity and the continued degradation in the quality of groundwater sources.   These challenges are caused in part by fracking itself, but are greatly exacerbated by the huge volumes of hyper-saline brine water (called produced water) that flow from the well and require disposal. The majority of this water is re-injected into Saltwater Disposal Wells (SWDs) which are widely regarded as the culprit of most groundwater contamination in the area.   Pivotal Fluid Solutions takes a proactive approach to the Permian water crisis: treating and reducing volumes of produced water and returning it to beneficial reuse before it can cause environmental damage. Cleaner and sustainable oilfield operations is the long term answer to many of the challenges we are experiencing.   Visit www.pivotalfluids.com to see how we treat and reclaim value from produced water.   Full article from Ben Shaffer of the Midland Reporter-Telegram: https://lnkd.in/g-x5vykf  

"The final #rule released Thursday represents a seismic shift in the #management of roughly 245 million acres of public property — about one-tenth of the nation’s #land mass. It is expected to draw praise from #and legal challenges from #fossilfuel #industrygroups and Republican officials, some of whom have lambasted the move as a “land grab.” Interior’s Bureau of Land Management, known as the nation’s largest landlord, has long offered #leases to #oilandgas companies, #mining firms and #ranchers. Now, for the first time, the nearly 80-year-old agency will auction off “#restoration leases” and “#mitigation leases” to entities with plans to restore or #conserve #publiclands. “Today’s final rule helps restore balance to our #publiclands as we continue using the best-available science to restore #habitats, guide strategic and #responsibledevelopment, and sustain our public lands for generations to come,” Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said in a statement..." #BLM #landmanagement #publiclands https://lnkd.in/gQpTi8eh

South Dakota Lawmakers Push for Black Hills Pipeline Study "The feasibility study is the first step in a two-step process to get congressional approval for a project like this," said Cheryl Chapman, executive director of the Western Dakota Regional Water System. Read it here ▶ https://lnkd.in/gUz2krkq #pipelinejournal #pipelinenews #pipelineindustry #pipeline #USA #SouthDakota

Cave Creek Water Reclamation Plant plays a crucial role in preserving Phoenix's water supply, now and for the future. Phoenix Water will start rehabilitation on the Cave Creek Reclamation Plant to renovate the plant and establish water purification capabilities using Advanced Water Purification, a proven technology currently used in California, Texas, and Singapore. After the renovation and obtaining the necessary permits from ADEQ (expected in 2026), the state-of-the-art purification facility will incorporate advanced treatment techniques such as Reverse Osmosis (RO) and Ultraviolet Advanced Oxidation Processes (UV AOP). This cutting-edge plant has the potential to yield a remarkable 6.7 million gallons of clean, drinkable water per day, catering to the needs of approximately 25,000 households on a yearly basis. Initially, the purified water will be directed towards local aquifers to replenish valuable groundwater sources. It may come as a surprise to many residents that Phoenix Water leads the way in water recycling and reuse. The department has one of the most extensive reclaimed water systems in the United States. Reclaimed water, also known as effluent water, currently serves numerous purposes, including irrigation for non-edible crops and industrial cooling for Palo Verde Nuclear Power Plant. Every year, the Wastewater Treatment Plants produce a staggering 60 billion gallons of treated wastewater (effluent). #PhoenixWater #Phoenix https://lnkd.in/g8YbbpUR

Last week’s barge collision with the main thoroughfare to Pelican Island has certainly shook up South Texas. Luckily no injuries were reported and the estimated 200 residents on the island were safely evacuated for investigators and clean up efforts to quickly begin. Despite what many may say, the oil and gas industry truly values environmental protection as much as it values its contributions to the economy. It is for that reason that safety precautions are essential to operations onshore, offshore, in transit, in production, and every step in between. In unfortunate circumstances like last week’s collision, oil and gas implements emergency protocols to limit the damage and impact to the surrounding area and inhabitants. Oilspillprevention.org describes these protocols: “In urban environments, spill response strategies place primary emphasis on protecting human health and restoring usability to the site of the spill as quickly as possible. Since the "urban" banner can encompass everything from paved surfaces to forests and parks, the specific response must be tailored to the affected ecosystem. In these environments, recovery of spilled oil is a top priority, as it can leach into groundwater or enter rivers and streams as run-off. Because used oil should never be flushed into the sewage system, oil recycling plans are of the utmost importance. Berms and trenches can be used to contain the spill. In some cases, the spilled area can be flooded to "float" the oil, or move it to the water’s surface, as it is typically lighter than water, to allow for recovery. Vacuums, skimmers, shoreline cleaning agents, and sorbents may also be used, along with bioremediation. Earth-moving equipment can recover contaminated soil for disposal.” Our thoughts and prayers are with the businesses and residents of Pelican Island during this time. #industryexpert #oilandgas #texasoil #pelicanisland #galvestontx #texanshelpingtexans