Abstract As part of the UAE's commitment to Environmental Social Governance (ESG), unconventional exploration operations adhere to a strict zero-tolerance policy regarding spills. Consequently, closed-loop operations were instituted across all rigs and sites, ensuring no water is discharged into pits. This approach is supported by a thoroughly planned treatment and discharge strategy established before operations begin. This paper will delineate the water management strategy, focusing on the closed-loop system and innovative treatment technologies that facilitate hydrogen sulfide (H2S), removal without infusing chemicals into the produced fluid. By preventing both over- and under-treatment, this method not only enhances operational efficiency but also reduces costs. A major challenge encountered was managing and treating high temperature flowback water exceeding 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Additionally, the paper will explore the technical and operational experiences in establishing the water management process for Zipper frac operations, where over 800,000 barrels of water were pumped. It includes the sourcing, storage, and treatment protocols, alongside modifications to testing and treatment equipment designed to handle high-temperature, high-pressure flowback water. The use of real-time, non-chemical hydrogen sulfide (H2S), treatment methods reduced testing time by 50%. Initiatives aiming for efficient and cost-effective water management solutions are being explored to facilitate the profitable development of unconventional gas and oil in the UAE. These initiatives strive to merge optimal performance and low-cost strategies with current regulations and environmental requirements to ensure sustainable operational security. The scope of the paper extends these closed-loop operations to metal extraction, applying circular economy principles to unconventional completion operations. While the development of unconventional oil and gas resources has transformative impacts on the UAE and global energy markets, concerns about water availability in desert regions remain. The UAE, however, benefits from significant oil and gas reserves as well as abundant water resources—both surface and subterranean—and advanced local water treatment technologies and services. Moreover, the basin's proximity to the sea and the stratigraphic setting of target unconventional reservoirs below known aquifers like Simsima and Um Radhuma provide notable advantages.
Alhassani et al. (Tue,) studied this question.