Western Midstream Scales Permian Basin Water Recycling Pilot

The new facility represents a tenfold increase in capacity compared to the initial pilot project launched in 2023. By processing 2,000 barrels of produced water daily, the site serves as a testing ground for technologies that convert wastewater into a resource suitable for industrial cooling, irrigation, and surface discharge. During the previous 24-month trial, participating companies—including Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Devon, and ExxonMobil—analyzed over 50,000 data points to refine treatment processes.

Oscar K. Brown, President and CEO of Western Midstream, described the project as a move to shift produced water from a disposal burden to a valuable asset. The company currently manages approximately 3 million barrels of produced water per day across its network. Data gathered from this second site will direct the design and implementation of future commercial-scale desalination plants, aiming to reduce reliance on traditional disposal methods and alleviate pressure on regional water supplies.