Event Summary
As U.S. oil production continues to rise, so does the volume of produced water—approximately four barrels for every barrel of oil. Managing this byproduct is not only a regulatory and environmental necessity but also an escalating cost factor for operators.
This course provides a high-level, strategic overview of the evolving landscape of produced water management in the oil and gas industry. You’ll explore the environmental and economic implications of traditional disposal methods, uncover the unintended consequences of past practices, and evaluate emerging alternatives such as beneficial reuse and mineral recovery.
Participants will gain insight into how the growing volume of produced water has driven the development of a new midstream sector, the challenges of disposal across different geologies, and how innovation—like the extraction of valuable critical minerals (e.g., lithium)—is transforming waste into potential revenue.
This course equips you with the knowledge to make informed decisions in a sector where water management is becoming as critical as oil production itself.
Attendees will receive 1.5 Professional Development Hours (PDH) upon completion.
Key Learning Objectives
- Understand the Trend: Track the rapid growth in produced water volumes and its role in shaping a new midstream water supply chain within the oil and gas industry.
- Evaluate Costs: Compare the economic impact of water acquisition for hydraulic fracturing with the rising costs of produced water disposal after production.
- Analyze Geological Impact: Recognize how varying geology influences disposal rates, costs, and the potential for induced seismicity.
- Explore Innovation: Learn about cutting-edge efforts to extract valuable critical minerals like lithium from produced water as a way to reduce overall disposal costs.
Who Should Attend
Any relatively new employee of a gas industry entity and experienced gas industry professionals (administrative, financial, operations, legal, marketing, and other disciplines) seeking to broaden their understanding of the importance of exports to US supplies.
Meet the Instructor
J. Richard Moore
Dick Moore has more than 40 years of experience in the energy industry including jobs in both regulated and unregulated segments of this industry. He has held senior management positions in oil and gas exploration and production companies, interstate and intrastate natural gas pipelines, gas and electric utilities as well as natural gas gathering, processing and marketing companies.
Mr. Moore previously served on the Board of Directors of the Gas Processors Association and has held a position as adjunct faculty in the economics department at Richland College in Dallas. He serves as faculty for the Energy Executive Course at the University of Idaho and the Legislative Energy Horizons Institute of the Pacific Northwest Economic Region as well as the Professional Development Institute at the University of North Texas and has been a speaker on energy topics for the Maguire Energy Institute at Southern Methodist University in Dallas.
