To maintain two current rigs, sustain two additional rigs, and support a robust drilling program in their Ohio and Utica holdings, our client needed a reliable water sourcing program. The first step in program development involved a shift from draining small, potentially unpermitted pond sources to more predictable sources like rivers and streams. Next steps included identifying withdrawal sites and monitoring their reliability. As an example, because of upstream operations, we omitted one primary source that was intended to support a triple well frac. Alternatively, RETTEW identified another site adjacent to the main impoundment, which resulted in the client realizing approximately $1 million in trucking cost savings.

RETTEW’s understanding of Ohio regulations; experience working in complex water withdrawal environments; and responsive, committed staff led to our client having sufficient water during a triple well frac where operations never ceased. The client always had eight to ten stages of storage available at any given moment, with a limited number of impoundments. Overall, our aggressive water sourcing program evaluated more than 80 potential withdrawal locations, compiled a thorough database of the predicted performance of each location, constructed a protocol that demonstrates a responsible withdrawal during low-flow conditions, and put the plan into action. The successful program alleviated our client’s permitting concerns and provided adequate water for their Ohio operations.