NGL Energy Partners LP successfully completed on July 21 the first of two large-scale Permian Basin wastewater recycling projects in New Mexico’s Lea County, continuing efforts by the Tulsa, Okla.-based midstream company’s in the northern Delaware Basin.

“We are committed to full lifecycle water management for our customers while keeping a keen focus on the environment,” commented Doug White, executive vice president of NGL Water Solutions, in a company release.

The initial project, which began in late May, supported a customers’ highly efficient simultaneous fracturing, or simul-frac, completion activities. Utilizing its own produced water, NGL treated and provided approximately 130,000 bbl/d, with peak volumes of up to 140,000 bbl/d. This project eliminated the need for over 5,000,000 barrels of fresh water, according to the company release.

“In addition to conserving fresh water, we are also avoiding the need for water trucks, which eliminates air emissions, leads to fewer traffic accidents and reduces the wear and tear on the roads and highways in the areas where we operate,” White added in his statement.

NGL owns and operates the largest integrated network of large diameter wastewater pipelines, disposal wells and raw produced reuse and recycling system in the Delaware Basin.

NGL said in the release that it continues to see increasing demand for delivery of raw produced and recycled wastewater for customers’ completion activities in the Delaware Basin. Combined sales of raw produced wastewater for reuse and recycle are expected to average between 180,000 and 190,000 bbl/d through the first six months of this fiscal year, representing more than 85% of estimated total water sales.

The raw produced and recycled wastewater is efficiently delivered through NGL’s integrated pipeline network and treated using a proven and simplified mobile system that is positioned to take full advantage of its comprehensive integrated wastewater pipeline system providing support to producer activity throughout the Delaware Basin.

“As the leader in sales of raw produced and recycled wastewater in the Delaware Basin, we believe our simplified approach is the best way for us to continue to provide safe, efficient, reliable and ESG friendly solutions to our customers,” White said.

In addition to the Delaware Basin, NGL’s water solutions segment also operates in a number of the most prolific crude oil and natural gas producing basins, including the Midland Basin, Eagle Ford and Denver-Julesburg Basin.

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