Solaris Water Midstream, LLC, a provider of water-related infrastructure to the oil and gas industry, announced July 16 it has launched operations at its expanded Lobo Ranch Produced Water Recycling and Blending Center.

Lobo Ranch Produced Water Recycling and Blending Center is a large-scale produced water recycling and non-potable water blending facility in Eddy County, New Mexico. Solaris Water also has started the development of its Bronco facility, an additional recycling and blending facility in Lea County, New Mexico. Solaris Water’s recycling facilities are integrated into its Pecos Star System, a more than 300-mile water gathering, disposal and supply system that aggregates produced water from nearly 20 oil and gas operators across a 2-million-acre footprint. 

“Our high-capacity recycling facilities are integrated with our pipelines and network of disposal wells across an area that covers a significant portion of the Northern Delaware basin,” said Solaris Water CEO Bill Zartler. “We are taking thousands of water trucks off the road, saving precious groundwater, helping our customers achieve operational and cost efficiencies. Our integrated system both saves our customers money and provides significant environmental and safety benefits.”  

Solaris Water’s Lobo Ranch facility is located near its Lobo 285 water disposal well along Highway 285 south of Malaga, New Mexico. The facility includes a produced water treatment system, 1.8 million barrels of water storage for treated produced water and non-potable water and a 16-inch pipeline for redelivery to a final staging location for pickup.

The expanded facility has the capacity to treat up to 80,000 barrels per day of produced water and receive 80,000 barrels per day of non-potable water, with the capability of redelivering a blend of nearly 200,000 barrels per day to Solaris Water’s customers for use during well completions. The Lobo Ranch facility’s initial customer has contracted to purchase 16 million barrels of recycled and blended frac water through the remainder of 2019.

In addition to the Lobo Ranch facility in Eddy County, Solaris Water will construct and operate the Bronco Produced Water Recycling and Blending Center in Lea County, New Mexico. The Bronco facility will also have the capacity to treat 80,000 barrel per day. Initially, the Bronco facility will service a major producer’s completion operations beginning in September 2019 through end of year. Solaris Water has plans to construct additional large-scale recycling and blending facilities in Eddy and Lea counties over the next two years.