Water Leaders from Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado Work Together at Energy Conference!
Cybersecdn– The Permian Basin Water in Energy Conference convened over 500 professionals at Midland’s Bush Convention Center, creating a vital platform for stakeholders to address the pressing challenges of produced water management in the region. With the Permian Basin alone generating approximately 11 million barrels of produced water daily, the conference served as a critical nexus for dialogue and collaboration among industry experts, policymakers, and researchers.
Sessions organized by the University of Texas Permian Basin facilitated discussions on innovative strategies for responsible water use within the oil and gas sector. Central to these discussions was the recognition of produced water not merely as a waste product but as a potential resource for energy production and other industrial applications. Leaders from Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado highlighted the importance of cross-border collaboration in developing comprehensive solutions to the complex challenges posed by produced water management.
James Kenney, cabinet secretary for the New Mexico Environment Department, emphasized the transformative potential of viewing produced water as a valuable asset rather than a liability. He underscored the need for innovative approaches to harness the energy potential and extract valuable elements from oilfield wastewater. Such initiatives could not only mitigate environmental impacts but also contribute to energy sustainability and economic growth in the region.
Key insights from the conference underscored the leadership roles of New Mexico and Texas in producing water research and regulatory frameworks. New Mexico’s 2019 Produced Water Act, authored by Jennifer Bradfute, has been hailed as a landmark legislation providing a clear regulatory pathway for produced water management. Texas, on the other hand, has prioritized pilot projects to explore the feasibility of various reuse options, albeit facing challenges in developing robust regulatory frameworks for beneficial reuse.
The newly launched Colorado Produced Water Consortium aims to leverage the collective experiences of Texas and New Mexico, focusing on policy development informed by rigorous research. By fostering collaboration among states and stakeholders, the consortium seeks to bridge regulatory gaps and facilitate the responsible management of produced water across the region.
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The Permian Basin Water in Energy Conference highlighted the imperative of collaboration and innovation in addressing the complex challenges of produced water management. By harnessing the collective expertise and resources of industry, academia, and government agencies, stakeholders are poised to develop sustainable solutions that safeguard water resources while supporting the continued growth and prosperity of the energy sector.
