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Application of treated produced water influence chemical and biological properties of two semi-arid soils

IWRA World Water Congress 2025 Marrakech Morocco
Water Quality and One Health Opportunities
Author(s): Joseph A. Burke, Katie L. Lewis, Shankar Chellam, Hensley Repak(1,3), Noel Beltran and Hector Valencia

Joseph A. Burke(1), Katie L. Lewis(1), Shankar Chellam(2), Hensley Repak(1,3), Noel Beltran(1,4) and Hector Valencia(1)

1. Texas A&M AgriLife, Lubbock, TX, USA, 2. Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA, 3. Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA, 4. University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, USA
Oral: PDF

Abstract

Project Goal

Evaluate two treatment options to purify produced water from unconventional oil and gas operations so that it can be reused to irrigate non-consumptive agricultural crops.

Summary and future experiments

The addition of treated produced water had variable impacts on soil:
pH – treated produced water decreased soil pH regardless of water treatment.
Electrical conductivity – treated produced water increased electrical conductivity, but to a lesser extent with desalination.
Carbon mineralization – treated produced water had variable impacts on carbon mineralization; however.
Extracellular enzyme activity – treated produced water had variable impacts on enzyme activity; however, the desalinated treated produced water did not have an impact. 

Future Experiments:

Evaluating the impact of microalgae applications in combination with treated produced water on soil properties
Greenhouse evaluation – determine the longer-term impacts of treated produced water applications on soil properties in a column experiment.