Produced Water Utilization Act of 2008

PRODUCED WATER UTILIZATION ACT OF 2008 -- (House of Representatives - July 30, 2008)

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Mr. MATHESON. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased that the House will consider the bill, H.R. 2339, the Produced Water Utilization Act.

I particularly want to acknowledge and thank the ranking member, Mr. Hall from Texas, for introducing this bill. And I look forward to working with him on other water-related issues in the future.

Domestic production of oil, natural gas, and coal bed methane are essential to our Nation's economy. The term ``produced water'' refers to the water brought to the surface during the extraction of these fossil fuels. For every barrel of oil generated in the U.S., 10 barrels of produced water are created.

Since produced water comprises 98 percent of all waste generated by petroleum production activity, handling and disposal of this water can be a major impediment to efficiently increasing domestic oil production.

This bill before us, H.R. 2339, the Produced Water Utilization Act, creates a research, development, and demonstration program for beneficial water produced in connection with oil and gas extraction. The program will focus on improving safety and minimizing environmental impacts during produced water recovery.

The utilization of treated produced water will increase water supply, reduce injections into underground formations, and increase domestic energy production through cost reductions. At a time when water supplies are dwindling and oil prices are high, a research program to turn waste water into a clean reusable resource is just good common sense. I urge all Members to support H.R. 2339.

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