17
2
Role of Water in
Recovery and Production
of Raw Fuels
2.1 intrOdUCtiOn
We know that all biological products require water to survive and grow. Thus,
bioenergy coming from different types of biomass requires the supply of water. Even
the most oil-storing species such as algae requires wetland environment. This chapter, however, shows that water plays a very important role in the recovery and production of various types of fossil fuels and uranium (for nuclear energy). Water will
continue to play an increasingly important role in the recovery and production of raw
fuels such as conventional and unconventional gas and oils, and solid fuels such as
coal, oil shale, tar sands, and uranium. In fact, the role of water in these processes is
so important that the production, use, treatment, recycling, and management of water
associated with the recovery of fossil fuels is becoming one of the fastest growing
independent industries. This chapter illustrates the fact that the use of water and
steam is not only essential for the recovery and production of various types of fossil
fuels and uranium, but it will significantly increase over the next several decades [1].
There are those who say that fossil energy industry is effectively water industry with oil, gas, and coal as byproducts. This may be particularly true for oil and
gas that generally reside with water in underground reservoirs. In North American
onshore oil industry, eight barrels (bbl) of water are brought to surface for every
bbl of oil. This produced water is often highly saline and contaminated by hydrocarbons: It is hazardous and requires treatment, disposal, and potential recycling.
Handling this produced water is an integral part of the oil and gas industries.
In a recent global water intelligence report, the projected growth rate of the produced water from oil and gas industries was illustrated [2]. These produced volume
of water forecast data are summarized in Table 2.1 [2]. The data shown in this table
indicate that the produced water for oil and gas industries will grow from present
25 billion bbl per year to about 35 billion bbl per year by 2025. The largest growth
in produced water will be due to the growth in unconventional gas and oil recoveries
and more use of enhanced oil recovery (EOR) methods for the recovery of conventional gas and oil.
The growth in produced water volume will accompany an increase in produced
water market activity. The report projects that the dollar value of the produced water
market will grow from $5 billion in 2010 to $9.9 billion in 2025—nearly 100%
2
Role of Water in
Recovery and Production
of Raw Fuels
2.1 intrOdUCtiOn
We know that all biological products require water to survive and grow. Thus,
bioenergy coming from different types of biomass requires the supply of water. Even
the most oil-storing species such as algae requires wetland environment. This chapter, however, shows that water plays a very important role in the recovery and production of various types of fossil fuels and uranium (for nuclear energy). Water will
continue to play an increasingly important role in the recovery and production of raw
fuels such as conventional and unconventional gas and oils, and solid fuels such as
coal, oil shale, tar sands, and uranium. In fact, the role of water in these processes is
so important that the production, use, treatment, recycling, and management of water
associated with the recovery of fossil fuels is becoming one of the fastest growing
independent industries. This chapter illustrates the fact that the use of water and
steam is not only essential for the recovery and production of various types of fossil
fuels and uranium, but it will significantly increase over the next several decades [1].
There are those who say that fossil energy industry is effectively water industry with oil, gas, and coal as byproducts. This may be particularly true for oil and
gas that generally reside with water in underground reservoirs. In North American
onshore oil industry, eight barrels (bbl) of water are brought to surface for every
bbl of oil. This produced water is often highly saline and contaminated by hydrocarbons: It is hazardous and requires treatment, disposal, and potential recycling.
Handling this produced water is an integral part of the oil and gas industries.
In a recent global water intelligence report, the projected growth rate of the produced water from oil and gas industries was illustrated [2]. These produced volume
of water forecast data are summarized in Table 2.1 [2]. The data shown in this table
indicate that the produced water for oil and gas industries will grow from present
25 billion bbl per year to about 35 billion bbl per year by 2025. The largest growth
in produced water will be due to the growth in unconventional gas and oil recoveries
and more use of enhanced oil recovery (EOR) methods for the recovery of conventional gas and oil.
The growth in produced water volume will accompany an increase in produced
water market activity. The report projects that the dollar value of the produced water
market will grow from $5 billion in 2010 to $9.9 billion in 2025—nearly 100%