Railroad Commissioner wants to fast-track produced water reuse
Texas Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian is urging regulators to fast-track rules allowing treated oilfield produced water to be reused for industrial purposes, including data center cooling. The effort follows Western Midstream’s startup of a produced water treatment facility in Reeves County and involves coordination with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Western Midstream has begun operations at its second Joint Industry Project produced water treatment facility in Reeves County. Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian said Texas should accelerate the approval of treated produced water for industrial uses such as data center cooling, arguing that reuse could reduce pressure on the state’s freshwater supplies while supporting new industrial development.
The Railroad Commission is working with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to clarify regulatory authority over produced water, including when treated water ceases to be oil and gas waste and becomes reclaimed water. Research from the University of Texas at Austin and Texas Tech University’s Texas Produced Water Consortium found that advanced treatment can substantially reduce contaminants and make the water suitable for industrial applications, although regulatory questions remain.