The role of water management in unlocking unconventional resources
Water management for unconventional resources is a complex, multidisciplinary subject that cannot be overlooked. Traditional oilfield development strategies view water as an afterthought that must be dealt with once the field matures and water cut begins to escalate. When this strategy is employed for shale gas developments, water usage is higher than necessary, trucking costs become high, and site remediation becomes time consuming and costly. For shale gas developments, the high-volume and high-quality requirements of water during the lifecycle of field development are a game changer. Water management for unconventional resources requires logistics planning, engagement of field services providers, and technology selection. Each of these issues need to be addressed in the early planning stages and must be tailored for the location and water types involved. This extended abstract takes a holistic view of water management for unconventional resource development across Australia. Management strategies are compared and contrasted for the different unconventional resource types, across different locations, considering all of the factors mentioned above, together with an understanding of regulatory differences, water source options, disposal options, and the different types of water involved. These factors are compared (in the context of North American developments) for CSG in Queensland, tight gas, and unconventional shale gas developments in the Cooper Basin and WA. As these different resources are developed, it is important to understand why the water management strategies are, and must be, different (as discussed in this extended abstract).