Abstract
Oil–Gas exploration is a two century old practice. Prolific conventional reservoirs like giant reefs or caverns or beach or sheet sands are now nearly exhausted after producing large volume of hydrocarbon and are near their end life of production. More such enormous reservoirs are not easily forthcoming. The reserve-base of conventional hydrocarbon is gradually depleting, with oil–gas demand remaining high. The focus of exploitation has shifted towards unconventional hydrocarbon like tight shale. Horizontal wells and hydrofracturing are required to produce hydrocarbon profitably from shale. However, hydrofracturing requires about 1.5–16.0 (average 6.0) million gallons freshwater per well. Post hydrofracturing, a huge volume of highly toxic effluents in the form of post-frack flowback and produced water (FPW) is generated which needs proper treatment before safe disposal. Identifying each and every harmful chemicals and treating them is difficult. Frac companies are not revealing more than 10% of chemical ingredients. So during this current research, it was decided to directly collect post-hydrofrac FPW samples from a few wells of Gujarat and Rajasthan, analyze them and compare the primary data well wise and to decide how to remove the toxins and carcinogens from the post-hydrofrac FPW for the cause of environmental benefit.
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Acknowledgements
The authors are highly thankful to Shri Prabal Sengupta, ED, Asset Manager Eastern Offshore Asset, ONGC, India, for arranging the sample collection program. Thanks and gratitude are due to the entire ONGC production section of Ahmedabad, especially Mr. Kuldip eeip Mukherjee, ED , the then Surface Manager, Ahmedabad Asset for giving permission for sample collection and for deputing relevant officials to provide all possible help. Thanks are also due to Mr. Ajay Kansal, CGM, Production, for rendering various support including logistics in the Kalol field and literature support by arranging a copy of DGH annual report. Immense gratitude and thanks are due to Shri Vikram Gupta, GM (Production) for guiding the 1st Author from the very beginning regarding the planning of the sample collection and accompanying him to the various well sites for collecting the sample. The authors are also very much thankful to Shri Ramesh Mondal, Senior Chemist, ONGC, Ahmedabad, for his guidance regarding sample analysis and selection of laboratories. The help of the entire production section of Ahmedabad for their guidance from time to time during and after the sample collection of the Kalol and Tarapur Fields, Cambay Basin, Gujarat is duly acknowledged by the authors. Thanks and immense gratitude are also due to Mr. C.S. Chopra, CGM, Production for the sample collection of Raageshwari Oil Field, Barmer basin, Rajasthan. The authors are obliged to Prof. D. M. Banerjee, INSA Emeritus Scientist, for providing helpful suggestions towards finalizing this manuscript.
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Roy, A., Saha, D. & Gupta, A. Recycling of Flowback and Produced water for Reuse in Oil and Gas Upstream Sector to Safeguard Freshwater: A Case study from Western Oil fields of India. Proc.Indian Natl. Sci. Acad. (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43538-025-00668-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43538-025-00668-9