Flowback water is generated from drilling and is traditionally hauled to a disposal site. Flowback water is what gets produced from the first 5% of water returned after a well is started. It’s simple to recycle and sometimes be done on-site for reuse.

Produced water is wasted water that accompanies oil extraction and is high in saline. The standards for produced water disposal are governed by State, National and international regulatory bodies and new technologies are constantly bringing new options for less environmental impact.

There is a lot of equipment used around drilling and produced water such as rigs, storage tanks, separating tanks, exposed pipes, and mixing ponds. Flowback water and drilling operations are temporarily an inconvenience and last only 45 days per well but when recycle at the well the inconvenience disappears. I talked to some guys about the produced water situation and they figure it will all become less of an issue as well recycle more.