Simplified illustration of a coal-bed methane production well. From Rice and Nuccio, 2000. Click on image to enlarge.
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The Energy Resources Program (ERP) conducts studies on water co-produced during oil and gas production. This includes water from conventional and unconventional oil and gas activities. Conventional oil and gas comes from fields that occur in stratigraphic or structural traps where a water-hydrocarbon interface forms and the fields have discrete boundaries. Most historical oil and gas production comes form such fields. Unconventional oil and gas occurs in broadly disseminated or continuous form in host formations over distances of tens of miles. Natural gas produced from coalbeds (coalbed methane) in the San Juan Basin of New Mexico and the Powder River Basin of Wyoming and Montana, and gas in the Cretaceous sandstones of western Colorado are examples of unconventional production. Much current exploration and production, especially in the western U.S., is for unconventional gas resources. Click to learn more about current produced waters studies>>
ERP produced water studies will help decision makers and stakeholders to:
- Evaluate effects of produced water releases at national, regional and local scales
- Develop techniques that will enable land managers and environmental officials to better assess the extent of produced water and hydrocarbon releases to soils, shallow ground water, and surface waters
- Correctly distinguish between natural and anthropogenic salts in soils, ground water, and surface water
- Develop cost-effective remedies for affected sites.
- Establish appropriate policies and regulations
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U.S. Department of the Interior |
U.S. Geological Survey
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