Oklahoma City, OK — A measure aimed at expanding industrial use of oil and gas wastewater for mineral development advanced this week in the Oklahoma House Energy Committee.
Senate Bill 1930, known as the Oklahoma Brine Development Act, is authored by Anthony Moore, R-Clinton, and Sen. Grant Green. The bill passed the committee on an 11-0 vote after previously clearing the Oklahoma Senate 45-0.
Moore, who represents District 57 in western Oklahoma, said work continues to reconcile details between House and Senate versions of the legislation.
“We’re still working through this with both sides, trying to make sure that we do everything we can to get all concerns adjusted,” Moore said, noting the proposal could still be amended.
The legislation focuses on the treatment and reuse of wastewater produced during oil and gas operations, particularly for extracting minerals such as iodine and lithium.
Moore said some companies already process wastewater to recover these elements, and lawmakers want to avoid disrupting existing operations while creating opportunities for additional development.
“The concerns are that right now, there are some in the oil and gas industry that are already taking wastewater and removing iodine, lithium or other constituent parts,” Moore said. “We want to make sure that we are cognizant of the fact that we don’t want to disrupt what they’re doing.”
At the same time, he said, companies in the iodine sector face regulatory limitations under current rules from the Oklahoma Corporation Commission that can restrict similar activities.
The bill seeks to strike a balance by encouraging growth in the iodine industry without negatively affecting oil and gas operators.
Iodine removal from produced water is considered important for both environmental and industrial reasons. It can help reduce harmful byproducts in water treatment while allowing recovery of a valuable resource used in applications such as cooling systems, wastewater treatment and other industrial processes.
SB 1930 now moves forward in the legislative process as negotiations continue on final language.
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