Wastes are generated during all oilfield and gas-field operations. Produced fluids make up the largest volume of generated waste, and any material used for drilling, treating, or reworking oil and gas wells canbecome part of the waste stream. In some cases, the cost of proper waste disposal can be significant. However, the cost of fines, cleanup, litigation, and a tarnished corporate image associated with improper waste disposal is far greater.

To remain competitive and profitable, companies must control their costs. Workover and fracturing fluids can be reused, or they can be disposed of on-site for minimal cost. However, these fluids must sometimes be shipped to off-site treatment facilities at great expense to the gas-production or storage company. This paper discusses ways of reducing the volume of produced fluids and used fracturing fluids that must be disposed of. We present a case history on (1) reusing fracturing flowback fluids and produced fluids and (2) redesigning fracturing treatments so that they use less fluid to provide the same results.

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