Water Use for Shale-Gas Production in Texas, U.S.

TLDR

Shale‑gas production via hydraulic fracturing of horizontal wells has sparked controversy over water‑resource and environmental impacts. The study aimed to quantify net water use for shale‑gas production in Texas, focusing on the Barnett, Texas‑Haynesville, and Eagle Ford plays. Past water use was estimated from well‑completion data, and future use was extrapolated from these estimates constrained by shale‑gas resources. Cumulative water use in the Barnett Shale reached 145 Mm³ by 2011 (≈9 % of Dallas’s annual use), younger plays are growing rapidly, statewide withdrawals are <1 % of total but local impacts vary, and projections estimate 4,350 Mm³ over the next 50 years, peaking at 145 Mm³ in the mid‑2020s before falling to 23 Mm³ by 2060, with a shift toward brackish water expected.

Abstract

Shale-gas production using hydraulic fracturing of mostly horizontal wells has led to considerable controversy over water-resource and environmental impacts. The study objective was to quantify net water use for shale-gas production using data from Texas, which is the dominant producer of shale gas in the U.S. with a focus on three major plays: the Barnett Shale (~15,000 wells, mid-2011), Texas-Haynesville Shale (390 wells), and Eagle Ford Shale (1040 wells). Past water use was estimated from well-completion data, and future water use was extrapolated from past water use constrained by shale-gas resources. Cumulative water use in the Barnett totaled 145 Mm(3) (2000-mid-2011). Annual water use represents ~9% of water use in Dallas (population 1.3 million). Water use in younger (2008-mid-2011) plays, although less (6.5 Mm(3) Texas-Haynesville, 18 Mm(3) Eagle Ford), is increasing rapidly. Water use for shale gas is <1% of statewide water withdrawals; however, local impacts vary with water availability and competing demands. Projections of cumulative net water use during the next 50 years in all shale plays total ~4350 Mm(3), peaking at 145 Mm(3) in the mid-2020s and decreasing to 23 Mm(3) in 2060. Current freshwater use may shift to brackish water to reduce competition with other users.