NLB Water finance, build and operate oil & gas wastewater processing and recycling solutions using our proprietary technology. The treatment process takes contaminated wastewater as feedstock and produce particle-free, sanitized, partially desalinated and pH adjusted frac water for reuse, clean fresh water and pure heavy brine.
Our unique, multi-phased membrane- and electrochemical process address the key problems facing oil & gas producers in terms of operational efficiency and material balance re-use.
Problems We Solve
Production Water Disposal
Production Water is by far the largest waste stream generated when producing oil & gas. In addition to the already substantial and rising water-related costs, local, state and federal governments are imposing increased regulation for dealing with contaminated, high TDS-level (Total Dissolved Solids) wastewater, including stricter pre-disposal treatment and restricting the use of disposal wells (SWD’s). With an US average of 8 – 10 x the produced oil and gas equivalent in production water output, the waste water volumes from oil & gas production are staggering and increasing.
Limited Access to Frac Water
A lot of the unconventional production in the US is taking place in arid areas with limited access to clean or brackish water required for fracking and other in-well operations. This is creating a serious problem for oil & gas companies that must source suitable water at a substantial cost from aquifers, sometimes in conflict with farmers and local municipalities. Furthermore, the water is frequently sourced from a location that requires costly trucking or piping to bring it to the place of use.
Filtering & Processing Produced Water
Filtering and processing produced water, along with disposing of the output of a concentrated liquid waste stream in a safe and compliant manner is a costly challenge. Many solutions use substantial volumes of costly chemicals. More than 90% of produced water in the US still goes into SWD´s and is not reused, putting a constant burden on valuable fresh water sources for frac water supply.
Our Solution
NLB treats 100% of the production water with zero reject liquids and secondary solid waste fraction of less than 2% (salt-free solids to be used as soil augmentation additive or alternatively as road base or Class III landfill material). Produced water samples from major shale formations in the US (TDS level range from 20,000 to 331,000 ppm) have been processed and tested in a pilot facility that has been operational for more than four years. In addition, our 10,000 barrel per day modular recycling operation has been successfully for over six months in the field.
