When people think about Wastewater in Kansas, they are generally thinking about water that is a byproduct of oil or gas extraction facilities. Many times, this water can be reclaimed and repurposed for other purposes by using special cleaning techniques. There are other times, however, when it is not suitable for reuse and must be disposed of in a proper manner. When wastewater of this nature is disposed of, it is usually injected very deep into the earth, so it is isolated from both drinking water and other reservoirs of oil and gas. This has been done for decades as it is considered safe by the government and environmentally feasible.
The ingredients that make up wastewater can vary significantly depending on its geographic location. In some states, such as Ohio and Arkansas, it is typically made up of hydraulic fracturing fluid that has been spent. In other locations, the wastewater is simply made up of formation of brines that naturally come to the surface when oil and gas are extracted. Interestingly enough, there are some states, such as Oklahoma, where almost none of the wastewater is spent. Industry experts state that only 10% of the Wastewater in Kansas comes from hydraulic fracturing, the kind that cannot be reused. Formation brines are made up of saltwater that contains high amounts of minerals that make them unsuitable for further use.
Injection sites can vary widely in the amount of wastewater that is sent into the Earth. Some sites inject as little as 100 barrels a month while there are some sites that top 1 million barrels a month. Companies such as ORI Environmental provide a great service to surrounding communities as they aid in helping to dispose of wastewater. At the forefront of the industry with their knowledge of all of the latest government regulations, they even provide consulting services so any business that needs to can stay in line and up to date with what need to be done. Wastewater disposal is a touchy subject for some, but a professional company can aid in getting the job done as safely and responsibly as possible.
