Increased hydraulic fracturing in oil and gas drilling has meant ever-greater amounts of water, in terms of both completion and disposal. To drill wells economically, and comply with environmental regulations, oil companies must incorporate smart water management to minimize the amount needed, and recycle/reuse water wherever possible. Handling water isn't a new problem for the oil and gas industry. In fact, oil companies have been producing brine, along with crude oil, since the earliest days of the industry. Many early fields were uneconomic, because there was no way to separate saleable oil from waste water. A hundred years ago, oilfield chemicals and electrical methods were introduced to separate the two fluids, but disposing of the brine has remained an ongoing challenge.
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