Emissions from facilities that treat oil and gas wastewater could contribute to ozone formation, according to a new study from the University of Wyoming.
It’s not news that under the right conditions, oil and gas development can lead to more ground-level ozone, but oil and gas wastewater treatment hasn't previously been identified as a potential contributor.
University of Wyoming researcher Rob Field is the lead author of the study. He says their analysis found one facility in western Wyoming emitted substantial quantities of toluene and xylene, the precursors to ozone. Field says it’s difficult though to say how much the facility contributes to overall emissions in the basin.
“The water treatment facility, in terms of bulk emissions to the whole basin is probably relatively minor, but when you’re close to it, its significance increases,” he said.
Field says more study is needed to figure out whether it’s a problem with other facilities, and if so, what can be done about it.