Shale Play Water Management in Pennsylvania: Meeting the Needs With Brine Disposal Wells (60 PDH Mins.)

Recorded October 13, 2020 Level: Basic to Intermediate Marcellus Shale exploration and production operations in Pennsylvania generate large quantities of flowback and produced water. With continued Marcellus shale development, as well as, Geneseo/Burket Shale and Utica Shale exploration, Pennsylvania is poised to be a major player in shale development for decades to come. Although there is a strong trend toward recycling waters, not all flowback and produced waters can be cost-effectively recycled due to water chemistry, specific companies lacking a nearby new well or pad at which the water can be recycled (e.g., during drilling slowdowns) and other factors. Brine disposal wells have an important role to play in managing such waters in a cost-effective and environmentally protective manner. Although currently there are approximately fifteen permitted brine disposal wells operating in Pennsylvania, with only three of these being commercial wells (with two more to come), there is potential to develop many additional brine disposal wells within or near Marcellus Shale fields and other producing areas. About our presenter: Dan Billman, P.G., C.P.G. - Dan Billman has over thirty-two years of experience in the Appalachian Basin with the last twenty-seven as a consulting geologist and president of Billman Geologic Consultants, Inc. Prior to independent consulting, Dan worked as an exploration and development geologist for Mark Resources Corporation and Eastern States Exploration Company. Mr. Billman is a registered Professional Geologist (PG) in the state of Pennsylvania, an American Association of Petroleum Geologist, Certified Petroleum Geologist (CPG) and an Associate Member of the International Institute of Minerals Appraisal.