Reúso del agua de producción de hidrocarburos: reto y oportunidad

Abstract

The exploitation of gas and oil demands millions of cubic meters of water that become waste. This production water (AP) is reinjected into the wells or dumped into nature. Only a minimum volume is treated to be reused in industry or agriculture. Reuse is the most responsible option because it returns water of a good quality back to nature, it transforms our environmental liabilities into assets, it extends the life span of the resource, it reduces discharges into nature and it protects food-safety of local people. Although water reuse is unavoidable for some countries, it should be for all of them. If the PA is a good and not a waste, and its management is key in the transformation towards the circular economy, we must reflect on updating for sustainability and the opportunity of alliance and business that it represents. Below are general and specific aspects of the AP and its reuse in Colombia, where reuse outside the industry is less than 0.3% per year, while dumping is still a usual practice with great impact on ecosystems. Lack of knowledge about available technology, investment costs, legislation and the need for alliances are challenges to achieve the benefits of reuse; not only regarding their quality and quantity in nature, but also the emerging businesses that would emerge as responsible market opportunities around a common good.