King Passes Water Recycling Bill

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AUSTIN – Today, State Representative Phil King (R-Weatherford) successfully passed H.B 2767, a bill that removes impediments of water recycling in oil and gas production.

The total water use for hydraulic fracturing in Texas has increased from about 11 billion gallons in 2008 to approximately 26 billion gallons in 2011. Total water use is only expected to grow as studies project maximum water use up to approximately 58.5 billion a year by 2020. Under current practice, over 80% of all oil and gas wastewater is disposed in underground injection wells instead of being treated and re-used in drilling and hydro-fracturing activity.

“H.B. 2767 seeks to establish a framework to encourage water recycling in the oil and gas industry, a crucial step we must take as oil and gas production water usage continues to grow,” King stated, “The recovery of oil and gas waste is essential to support growth in the Texas oil and gas industry while preserving our precious water resources that are so strained during this long drought.”

H.B. 2767 will now go to the Texas Senate for approval.