RII Track-2 FEC: Improving Water Management, Treatment and Recovery in Oil and Gas Production

该项目将开展研究，开发用于非常规油气生产中用于能源利用的水的管理、处理和回收的改进方法。它将包括来自堪萨斯州和西弗吉尼亚州大学的10名研究人员，他们在能源和水处理技术、自然资源管理和水生生态学方面具有专业知识。在美国，包括堪萨斯州和西弗吉尼亚州，非常规油气已经成为一个越来越重要的产业，这促使人们努力将相关的环境影响降到最低。这为跨区域合作提供了机会，并有可能产生更广泛的国家影响。这个项目吗?S的工作重点是在油气开采过程中尽量减少淡水的使用和废水的产生，对采出水进行有益的再利用和安全处置，以及了解油气勘探对水生生态系统的影响。研究重点与发展更可持续的能源和水系统的国家优先事项一致。该项目还将支持各种早期职业教师的招聘和发展，并将在参与机构开发以水和能源系统为重点的职业课程。该研究团队将进行几项与非常规油气生产中水的使用相关的研究。聚电解质稳定的二氧化碳泡沫将作为替代水力压裂液进行研究，以减少石油和天然气生产对淡水资源的需求。将研究一种改进的储层压力管理方法，平衡深层含水层产出水注入和盐水提取，目的是减少诱发地震活动。将研究有效处理采出水的新方法，以便回用和/或安全处置。要研究的处理方法包括去除结垢阳离子的多电解质复合物，使用流态化好氧颗粒生物降解有机污染物，以及使用微生物脱盐电池去除有机物。最后，将研究石油和天然气生产对水生生态系统的影响，以了解这些生态系统维持发展的能力。

Non-technical DescriptionThis project will conduct research to develop improved approaches for the management, treatment, and recovery of water used in unconventional oil and gas production for energy use. It will include ten researchers from universities in Kansas and West Virginia with expertise in energy and water treatment technologies, natural resources management, and aquatic ecology. Unconventional oil and gas has become an increasingly significant industry in the United States, including in Kansas and West Virginia, motivating efforts to minimize the associated environmental impacts. This provides an opportunity for cross-regional collaborations with the potential for broader national impacts. The project?s work will focus on minimizing freshwater use and wastewater production in oil and gas recovery, the treatment of produced water for beneficial reuse and safe disposal, and understanding the impacts of oil and gas exploration on aquatic ecosystems. The research focus aligns with national priorities to develop more sustainable energy and water systems. The project will also support the recruitments and development of diverse early-career faculty and will develop career-focused curriculum in water and energy systems at the participating institutions.Technical Description The research team will conduct several studies related to the use of water in unconventional oil and gas production. Polyelectrolyte-stabilized carbon dioxide foams will be examined as alternative hydraulic fracturing fluids that will reduce the demand for freshwater resources in oil and gas production. An improved approach for reservoir pressure management will be examined that balances deep-aquifer produced water injection with brine withdrawals, with the goal of reducing induced seismicity. New methods will be investigated to effectively treat produced water for reuse and/or safe disposal. Treatments methods to be studied include polyelectrolyte complexes to remove scale-forming cations, biodegradation of organic contaminants using fluidized aerobic granules, and removal of organics using microbial desalination cells. Finally, the impacts of oil and gas production on aquatic ecosystems will be studied to understand the capacity of these ecosystems to sustain development.