Railroad Commission Chairman David Porter Highlights Texas Energy Industry’s Water Conservation Efforts

Says Commission Rules Promote Smart Water Use

AUSTIN — Texas Railroad Commission Chairman David Porter today delivered the keynote address to the 5th Annual Lone Star Water Summit, highlighting the energy industry’s success in conserving and recycling water used in energy production.  Citing the Texas Water Development Board’s 2017 State Water Plan and a 2015 Duke University study, the chairman says oil and gas industry’s water use is minimal in comparison to other industries, and the energy industry’s innovative technologies are leading conservation efforts in Texas. 

“Both state and nationwide, oil and gas water use is less than one percent, compared to irrigation and municipal uses, which total around 80 percent,” Porter said. “Demand for municipal use, manufacturing, and steam-generated electric power are expected to increase over the next 50 years in Texas, while water demand for oil and gas and other mining purposes are expected to remain relatively constant and eventually decline. This decrease in consumption is largely the result of industry innovations, such as desalination and water recycling.”  

Porter commended 2013 Railroad Commission rule changes for helping accelerate industry’s efforts. The agency’s regulations encourage recycling of produced fluids, including hydraulic fracture flowback fluid and produced formation fluid. The regulations provide a clear guide to non-commercial, centralized and commercial recycling of such fluids, which encourage and promote greater water conservation and recycling efforts. 

“Water is an essential part of energy production, and as the top energy producing state in the nation, water’s relationship with this industry is especially important to Texas,” Porter said. “But even if we do not use another drop of water for drilling operations, water is still going to be an issue because of our state’s tremendous population growth. We must continue working together to find the safest, most efficient uses for water in every industry.”