Thursday, February 25, 2010

Recycling Frack in Flower Mound Water Is A Viable Option


Many North Texas residents are concerned about the environmental and health hazards associated with Gas Drilling especially as it relates to toxic waste water management and disposal. 
 You should know that there are viable alternatives to Centralized Collection Facilities that the Town of Flower Mound needs to consider.   
For instance, Devon Energy an oil and gas operator in North Texas recycles frack water at a cost of about  $4.43 per barrel, which includes transportation and disposal of the concentrate (20 percent of the fluid that could not be recycled). Devon ends up with a net disposal cost for water of $3.35 per barrel, as compared to an estimated $2 to $2.50 per barrel for typical water disposal into an injection well. 
While it is slightly more expensive to recycle water, isn't this cost worth protecting our environment and the safety of our neighborhoods? 
We as a community need to continue to reinforce this message to our town's leadership.

See full article here: http://www.fwbog.com/index.php?page=article&article=18

7 comments:

Chris T said...

While there is a lot of interest in trying to develop low cost recycling systems. The truth is, they are still very expensive. As you point out in your comparison, for a net disposal cost of recycled water at $3.35 as compared to $2.00 a barrel, that's an increase in production cost of 68%. I don't know about your company, but if you were buying paper from someone, for X, and the next guy comes in and said I will sell you recycled paper for 68% more, which one do you think your boss is going to buy? What you are talking about here is on a typical load the difference is for a 28k Barrel load @ 3.35 net would be 93,800.00 That same load 28K @ 2.00 would be 56,000.00 So you can see clearly it's very expensive. Just imagine that your company was out of the blue, mandated to cover an operating expense that went up almost 70%? Just an observation.

Chris T said...

PS, I like your new blogsite. Looks like you have been putting some work into it.

Unknown said...

FM "OG" - If you can also also provide the overall picture of Gross profit/ Net Profit for a Gas well (with Recycling & without Recycling)the argument of increase in costs will make more sense. I am pretty sure even with recycling the the gas company is making huge profits (after giving royalties).
..And sometimes costs are immaterial for safety, health and good practices reasons.

Chris T said...

Alok, are cost inmaterial at your company?

TRob said...

Cost management is important in every business, no one can argue with that.

As Flower Mound residents, Williams' cost of doing business in our town is immaterial to most of us. Most Flower Mound residents don't own stock or any interest in the company.

However, the well being of our families and property values is very important.

Our point here is, that we're not trying to drive Williams out of business. We do, however, feel it is important that if they do operate in our town they do so responsibly by taking every precaution to help protect all residents and preserve our environment.

Devon Energy's model gives me the impression that Williams could also operate responsibly in our town and still make a profit.

p.s. Thanks for the feedback on the blog page...

studioarthouse said...

in conversations and debates on this topic, the highest increase in cost to the oil and gas companies stated was 5% with an average increase in cost more like 3%. this came from tom hayden who has researched this option personally, from a williams environmental rep who was at the lantana town hall meeting, as well as a representative from a company called ecosphere technologies, who offers the recycling service onsite. they also have a chemical free alternative to traditional fracking fluid that breaks down harmful compounds underground before they escape along with the produced water. i was very impressed with their programs. http://www.ecospheretech.com/

Chris T said...

I am familiar with ecospheretech which some of their processes requires an open pit process. Wouldn't be legal in Flower Mound. Not trying to be a jerk, but these 5% and 3% increases are really more like 18% to 30%. You have to remember, someone is trying to sell something. As far as a chemical free fracking fluid, it depends on the rock that you are fracking. There has been some fracking done with Co2 gas.

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