Turning Oilfield Wastewater into Texas’ Next Big Resource

Texas A&M and ConocoPhillips advance research on treating and reusing oilfield water

13 Aug 2025

Texas A&M University and ConocoPhillips are advancing a group of treatment technologies aimed at turning produced water, the saline byproduct of oil extraction, into a usable resource for industrial operations. The work highlights process innovation as operators look for alternatives to disposal and rising freshwater demand.

The research partnership, now more than a decade old, is developing “fit for purpose” treatment systems that combine mechanical and chemical steps to remove oil, suspended solids and minerals that cause scaling. The aim is to produce clean brine for internal oilfield use and to assess additional purification stages for broader industrial applications. Researchers note that the systems are designed around specific reuse needs rather than drinking water standards, which reduces cost and energy use.

Field testing provides data to refine these treatment trains and to evaluate performance under varying operating conditions. The trials also offer insight into equipment durability and the potential for modular designs that can be deployed across different sites. These innovations align with a wider industry shift in Texas toward recycling, driven by efforts to limit wastewater injections, address seismicity concerns linked to disposal wells and reduce lifecycle costs.

Most technologies are in early testing, with larger pilots planned to assess long duration performance and capital requirements. If results hold, the Texas A&M and ConocoPhillips approach could form a model for future projects in other oil producing regions, showing how incremental process innovation may convert a persistent waste stream into a practical resource.