Quantities of water associated with oil and gas development
Work within this task of the Oil and Gas Waters Project focuses on quantifying the water used during hydrocarbon development and the water produced along with oil and gas.
Introduction
Hydraulic fracturing is an integral part of oil and gas development in many areas, and water use for this purpose has increased considerably in the last decade. Water produced from petroleum reservoirs includes hydraulic fracturing water that flows back to the surface (“flowback water”) as well as water that naturally exists in the reservoir (“formation water”). Produced water quantities vary substantially in both time and place (locally and between different petroleum producing areas), and the produced water can represent a resource or a waste product needing disposal.
We provide assessments of these water quantities (water used and produced), as well as the proppant (typically sand) used for hydraulic fracturing, based directly on geology-based USGS oil and gas assessments. In addition, we conduct related studies of water quantities used for hydraulic fracturing and water produced with oil and gas.
Completed Assessments of Water and Proppant Quantities Associated with Petroleum Production
We have developed a methodology for assessing quantities of water and proppant injection, and water production associated with development of continuous petroleum accumulations. This approach builds directly from USGS oil and gas assessments. There are currently 2 water and proppant assessments completed with additional assessments currently under way:
Bakken and Three Forks Formations Assessment
Eagle Ford Group Assessment
Below are other science projects associated with this project task.
Oil and Gas Waters Project
Geophysical mapping of produced water in near-surface environments
Hydraulic Fracturing
Characterization and Reuse of Oil and Gas Waters
Below are publications associated with this project task.
How quickly do oil and gas wells “Water Out”? Quantifying and contrasting water production trends
Examining water and proppant demand, and produced water production, associated with petroleum resource development in the Eagle Ford Group, Texas
Method for compiling temporally and spatially aggregated data on hydraulic fracturing—Treatments and wells
Assessment of water and proppant quantities associated with petroleum production from the Bakken and Three Forks Formations, Williston Basin Province, Montana and North Dakota, 2016
Data cleaning methodology for monthly water-to-oil and water-to-gas production ratios in continuous resource assessments
Methodology for assessing quantities of water and proppant injection, and water production associated with development of continuous petroleum accumulations
Hydraulic fracturing water use variability in the United States and potential environmental implications
A framework for assessing water and proppant use and flowback water extraction associated with development of continuous petroleum resources
U.S. Geological Survey National Produced Waters Geochemical Database (ver. 3.0, December 2023) Viewer
The U.S. Geological Survey National Produced Waters Geochemical Database Viewer (ver. 3.0) provides access to an updated compilation of geochemical and related information for water from oil and gas wells in the United States. The information includes identification and location information, well descriptions, dates, rock properties, physical properties of the water, organic chemistry and more.
Work within this task of the Oil and Gas Waters Project focuses on quantifying the water used during hydrocarbon development and the water produced along with oil and gas.
Introduction
Hydraulic fracturing is an integral part of oil and gas development in many areas, and water use for this purpose has increased considerably in the last decade. Water produced from petroleum reservoirs includes hydraulic fracturing water that flows back to the surface (“flowback water”) as well as water that naturally exists in the reservoir (“formation water”). Produced water quantities vary substantially in both time and place (locally and between different petroleum producing areas), and the produced water can represent a resource or a waste product needing disposal.
We provide assessments of these water quantities (water used and produced), as well as the proppant (typically sand) used for hydraulic fracturing, based directly on geology-based USGS oil and gas assessments. In addition, we conduct related studies of water quantities used for hydraulic fracturing and water produced with oil and gas.
Completed Assessments of Water and Proppant Quantities Associated with Petroleum Production
We have developed a methodology for assessing quantities of water and proppant injection, and water production associated with development of continuous petroleum accumulations. This approach builds directly from USGS oil and gas assessments. There are currently 2 water and proppant assessments completed with additional assessments currently under way:
Bakken and Three Forks Formations Assessment
Eagle Ford Group Assessment
Below are other science projects associated with this project task.
Oil and Gas Waters Project
Geophysical mapping of produced water in near-surface environments
Hydraulic Fracturing
Characterization and Reuse of Oil and Gas Waters
Below are publications associated with this project task.
How quickly do oil and gas wells “Water Out”? Quantifying and contrasting water production trends
Examining water and proppant demand, and produced water production, associated with petroleum resource development in the Eagle Ford Group, Texas
Method for compiling temporally and spatially aggregated data on hydraulic fracturing—Treatments and wells
Assessment of water and proppant quantities associated with petroleum production from the Bakken and Three Forks Formations, Williston Basin Province, Montana and North Dakota, 2016
Data cleaning methodology for monthly water-to-oil and water-to-gas production ratios in continuous resource assessments
Methodology for assessing quantities of water and proppant injection, and water production associated with development of continuous petroleum accumulations
Hydraulic fracturing water use variability in the United States and potential environmental implications
A framework for assessing water and proppant use and flowback water extraction associated with development of continuous petroleum resources
U.S. Geological Survey National Produced Waters Geochemical Database (ver. 3.0, December 2023) Viewer
The U.S. Geological Survey National Produced Waters Geochemical Database Viewer (ver. 3.0) provides access to an updated compilation of geochemical and related information for water from oil and gas wells in the United States. The information includes identification and location information, well descriptions, dates, rock properties, physical properties of the water, organic chemistry and more.