Regulatory Frameworks, Risks, and Public Perception
Regulatory Frameworks, Risk, and Public Perception
Focus: Governance, policy, risk, public acceptance
Public Perception of Nontraditional Water Reuse in New Mexico: A Focus on Produced Water from Oil and Gas Production.
Xuewei Du, Deborah K. Dixon, Jerri Pohl, Louis C. Salazar, Stephen Hightower, Jason G. Herman, Mike Hightower, and Pei Xu*
"This study investigated public perceptions of nontraditional water reuse, particularly oil and gas−oil and gas produced water reuse, in New Mexico, using valid responses from 657 statewide survey participants."
Xuewei Du, Deborah K. Dixon, Jerri Pohl, Louis C. Salazar, Stephen Hightower, Jason G. Herman, Mike Hightower, and Pei Xu* (2025). Public Perception of Nontraditional Water Reuse in New Mexico: A Focus on Produced Water from Oil and Gas Production. Journal ACS ES&T | Water. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsestwater.4c00846
External utilization of oil and gas produced water: Why is the industry hesitant to full-scale implementation?
Eyitayo, S.I., Watson, M.C., Kolawole, O., Xu, P., Bruant, R., Henthorne, L.
“Based on life cycle assessment and life cycle cost methods, the challenges related to beneficial reuse are highlighted, and the reason for the hesitancy of the petroleum industry to venture into external solutions is presented. This work proposes progressive recommendations that provide insight into achieving long-term environmental sustainability by exploring external uses of PW and harnessing its merit.”
Eyitayo, S.I., Watson, M.C., Kolawole, O., Xu, P., Bruant, R., Henthorne, L. (2024). External utilization of oil and gas produced water: Why is the industry hesitant to full-scale implementation? Environment, Development and Sustainability, 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-022-02746-0
Safe reuse of treated produced water outside oil and gas fields? A review of current practices, challenges, opportunities, and a risk-based pathway for produced water treatment and fit-for-purpose reuse.
Delanka-Pedige, H.M.K., Zhang, Y., Young, R.B., Wang, H., Hu, L., Danforth, C. and Xu, P.
“Adopting treated produced water (PW) for reuse outside the O&G sector needs to address the challenges of complex water chemistry, limited toxicity data, and knowledge gaps for appropriate regulatory responses, including risk assessment frameworks on human health and the environment, socio-technical–economic assessments of treatment and reuse applications, and long-term demonstrations and monitoring of fit-for-purpose reuse. This opinion paper proposes a holistic, state-of-the-science pathway for PW treatment, management, and fit-for-purpose reuse outside O&G fields.”
Delanka-Pedige, H.M.K., Zhang, Y., Young, R.B., Wang, H., Hu, L., Danforth, C. and Xu, P. 2023. Safe reuse of treated produced water outside oil and gas fields? A review of current practices, challenges, opportunities, and a risk-based pathway for produced water treatment and fit-for-purpose reuse. Current Opinion in Chemical Engineering 42, 100973. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coche.2023.100973
Analysis of regulatory framework for produced water management and reuse in major oil and gas producing regions in the United States.
Jiang, W., Lin, L., Xu, X., Wang, H., Xu, P.
“This study reviews the current regulatory framework for produced water production, management, and reuse in the major oil and gas production areas in the U.S., including Appalachian Basin, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wyoming.”
Jiang, W., Lin, L., Xu, X., Wang, H., Xu, P. (2022) Analysis of regulatory framework for produced water management and reuse in major oil and gas producing regions in the United States. Water 14 (14), 2162. https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/14/2162
Produced Water Treatment: Review of Technological Advancement in Hydrocarbon Recovery Processes, Well Stimulation, and Permanent Disposal Wells.
Eyitayo, S.I., Watson, M.C., Kolawole, O., Xu, P., Bruant, R., Henthorne, L.
“This study presents a detailed account of the historical development of current produced water treatment practices, disposal, available technology, and challenges in implementation. Forward-looking recommendations are given on how emerging technologies can be integrated into everyday oil and gas activities to achieve the purpose-specific treatment goal.”
Eyitayo, S.I., Watson, M.C., Kolawole, O., Xu, P., Bruant, R., Henthorne, L. (2023) Produced Water Treatment: Review of Technological Advancement in Hydrocarbon Recovery Processes, Well Stimulation, and Permanent Disposal Wells. SPE Production & Operations, 38(01), 51-62. https://doi.org/10.2118/212275-PA