In light of the lack of adequate disposal well capacity in some states and continuing drought conditions in other states, the STRONGER Board created at workgroup in February 2014 to develop guidelines for the reuse and recycling of drilling fluids.
In keeping with the waste management hierarchy described in Section 5.3 of the STRONGER Guidelines, the workgroup considered ways to remove barriers in order to promote the reuse and recycling of fluids from oil and gas exploration and production. Consideration was given to water management planning, and the role that recycling should play within the plan. Various waste streams associated with oil and gas exploration and production were also considered. The workgroup addressed on-site processing and storage facilities as well as off-site centralized and commercial facilities. Additionally, the workgroup addressed the types of approval that are appropriate for short-term and long-term facilities. Transportation via pipelines and trucks (waste haulers) was also considered, as well as issues relating to air quality, and discharges to surface water (NPDES) and groundwater (UIC).
The workgroup received comments from the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment, the Groundwater Protection Council, and others. In August 2015, the STRONGER Board voted to adopt the Reused and Recycled Fluids section into the complete STRONGER Guidelines. This new Guidelines section will be incorporated into the 2015 edition of the STRONGER Guidelines.