Energy technology developer Freestone Resources Inc. is teaming up with MEA Solutions LLC, a Houston-based oilfield services operator, to provide a “total solution” for water resource management that would include recycling flowback water from hydraulic fracturing (fracking) operations in the onshore.

Joint venture Freestone Water Solutions LLC would own and operate water recycling systems, which would use proprietary technology to treat and recycle flowback water, as well as produced water, for subsequent reuse in the fracking process.

“Freestone Resources has worked diligently with MEA Solutions to research various water treatment and recycling technologies that are the most optimal for use in the oil and gas industry,” said Freestone Resources President Clayton Carter. “This newly formed joint venture will utilize a technology that has been selected and modified based on that research and our specific water management needs.

“Most importantly, this venture will combine MEA’s experience with industrial, private, public and governmental authorities that manage and treat water and wastewater with our knowledge of oil and gas technology, onsite services, exploration and production. This cross-industry knowledge will allow us to meet the specific and unique requirements of each water recycling and treatment site that implements our technology.”

Many shale operators in the United States voluntarily recycle their fracking wastewater and many are striving to achieve 100% water source recycling, according to Range Resources Corp. executive Ray Walker (see Shale Daily, Oct. 4). Six major producers in the Marcellus Shale told the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency this past summer they expect to recycle or inject all of their wastewater by the end of the year (see Shale Daily, July 8).

The Freestone system, said the operators, would minimize the amount of new water required in the fracking process, as well as the amount of water trucked offsite for disposal. The mobile units are designed to process 500-800 gallons per minute; stationary operations are able to process up to 6,500 gallons per minute.