Due to the restart of natural gas exploration after the industry’s recent price shock, a greater emphasis will be placed on water protection through regulations and public efforts, influencing the sourcing and disposal of water for hydraulic fracturing.
Regulations will increasingly emphasize the treatment and recycle of flowback and produced water over deep well injection, specially in North America.
Navigant Research research analyst Anne Wrobetz said: "The market for hydraulic fracturing waste water treatment is certainly going to grow over the next decade, gradually replacing deep well injection.
"This market will grow primarily in the United States and Canada both because of regulatory pressure and because of large shale gas reserves."
According to the report, the treatment of flowback and produced water can be achieved via several technologies such as advanced oxidation, membrane filtration, and reverse osmosis.
Navigant Research said as the market evolves, increasing importance is expected to be placed on modular treatment systems, as opposed to more centralized treatment technologies.
