Abstract:
Produced water is often considered an undesirable by-product during hydrocarbon production due to both economic and environmental constraints. Treating and recycling produced water can unlock its value and serve as an alternative supply to seawater desalination and groundwater consumption, while promoting circular water management 4Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Recover).
This presentation highlights several success stories on hypersaline produced water treatment, desalination, and its reutilization using a zero liquid discharge (ZLD) technology for crude oil desalting, fracking, and improved oil recovery. The examples are also shown on the consumption of highly concentrated reject streams obtained from ZLD for drilling and mineral recovery applications to demonstrate 100% circularity in produced water management. Lastly, the potential of mineral-rich ZLD reject streams for CO2 mineralization and lithium extraction will be highlighted in support of the carbon abatement and energy transition initiatives. All these hidden benefits associated with produced water are in great alignment with UN Sustainable Development Goals 6 (clean water), 7 (clean energy), and 13 (climate action). The “holistic importance” of produced water and its value discovered as “resource” in the talk represents a significant stride towards achieving a more resilient, efficient, and sustainable energy future.
Speaker Bio:
Dr. Subhash Ayirala is a petroleum engineering consultant at Saudi Aramco’s EXPEC Advanced Research Center, Saudi Arabia. He has expertise in waterflooding, improved oil recovery, and produced water management with an extended R&D focus on CO2 mineralization and mineral recovery. He previously worked for Shell E&P and has 20 years of experience in the industry.
He is the recipient of the prestigious 2025 SPE Reservoir Description and Dynamics Award. Among his many other SPE recognitions, he received the SPE Distinguished Service Award in 2024. He is a member of SPE Reservoir Advisory Committee and editorial board of SPE Journal. He recently joined the SPE R&D Technical Section board as the chair of the Recovery Enhancement program. Ayirala has authored or coauthored 130 technical papers, 86 journal publications, and 65 granted patents. He has a PhD degrees in petroleum engineering from Louisiana State University.
Moderator :
Prof. Reza Barati is a Don W. Green Professor & Director of Tertiary Oil Recovery Program at the University of Kansas (KU). His research areas include: EOR, characterization of tight oil and gas reservoirs, hydraulic/acid fracturing, CO2 EOR, CCUS, Natural Hydrogen, Critical Minerals, Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS), and Natural Gas Reservoirs. Before joining the KU faculty in 2012, he worked for the Enhanced Oil Recovery Institute (EORI) in Wyoming. He has been a visiting researcher with Schlumberger, Halliburton, Chesapeake Energy, and other companies. He has received several SPE awards, including the 2015 SPE Faculty Innovative Teaching Award and the 2017 SPE Reservoir Evaluation & Engineering Technical Editor Award. He recently joined the SPE R&D Technical Section board as the deputy chair of the Recovery Enhancement program. Barati has authored or co-authored more than 45 peer-reviewed papers.