Oil fracking operations drill long, horizontal wells, by pumping large amounts of pressurized water to fracture the bedrock. But, the water pumped into fracking wells does not remain underground, much of it comes to the surface with the oil. Needless to say, that water is contaminated. Common contaminants in fracking water include salts dissolved from the rock, chemicals used in drilling, and naturally occurring radioactive radon.
Much of the contaminated water has been pumped into deep underground wells; however, in some parts of the country, this has caused earthquakes. Increasingly, frackers are reusing the water they use for fracking.
This wastewater should be treated and purified before it is released back into the environment. However, The EPA generally prohibits the release of fracking water into lakes, rivers, streams, or municipal wastewater treatment plants. But, in some areas, the water can be recycled for agricultural use.
This creates a dilemma for fracking companies since the mobile and remote nature of fracking makes the establishment of a permanent wastewater treatment facility problematic.
Fortunately, fracking operations can rent mobile wastewater treatment systems. These mobile systems can be calibrated to remove the specific chemicals and other contaminants used at a specific well. Best of all, the treated water can be recycled back into the well, thus reducing the need for freshwater. Alternately, the water may be clean enough to release back into the environment or used to irrigate farm fields.
Check out Flatirons Chemicals for mobile wastewater treatment systems for fracking operations and oilfields.
