Texas on Brink of Disposal Crisis in Permian Basin
The Permian Basin in Texas is facing a crisis due to the increasing amount of wastewater generated by oil and gas production. The basin produces nearly 1 billion gallons of toxic wastewater, also known as produced water, every day.
The industry has been seeking alternatives to dispose of this waste underground through injection wells, which have led to increased underground pressure, triggering earthquakes and blowouts.
Texas is now considering allowing treated produced water to be discharged into rivers and applied on rangeland for irrigation or restoration. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is developing two permitting programs for reusing treated produced water.
Industry leaders warn that without alternative disposal methods, the Permian Basin's oil production could soon be constrained. Commissioner Jim Wright of the Railroad Commission emphasized the urgency of providing alternatives to disposal wells during a Texas Senate hearing last week.