Produced Water Treatment and Beneficial Use Information Center

State Regulations: Wyoming

The Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (WOGCC) is the state agency authorized to regulate oil and gas exploration and production waste. The Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) administers general environmental protection regulations. The Wyoming State Engineer's Office oversees water appropriations.

Contact

Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission
2211 King Blvd.
Casper, WY 82602 (street address)
P.O. Box 2640
Casper, WY 82602 (mailing address)
(307) 234-7147 (phone)
(307) 234-5306 (fax)

Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality
122 West 25th Street, Herscheler Building
Cheyenne, WY 82002
(307) 777-7937 (phone)
(307) 777-7682 (fax)

Wyoming State Engineer's Office
122 West 25th Street
4th Floor East
Cheyenne, WY 82002
(307) 777-6150 (phone)
(307) 777-5451 (fax)

Produced Water Management Practices and Applicable Regulations

The Wyoming Rules and Regulations administered by the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission can be accessed by clicking "Rules/Statutes" on the opening menu of the agency's homepage. The Water Quality Division in the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality makes available an index of the Water Quality Rules and Regulations.

  • Environmental Rules, Including Underground Injection Control Program Rules for Enhanced Recovery and Disposal Projects (Oil and Gas Conservation Commission Regulations, Chapter 4 [PDF])
    • Pollution and Surface Damage (Section 1)
      • Produced water pits (Subsection (r)) and below grade structures (tinhorns) (Subsection (s)) must be approved. Pits constructed to retain produced water with a total dissolved solids concentration in excess of 10,000 mg/L must be lined (Subsection (w)). Produced water pits must be fenced (Subsection (bb)).
      • Landfarming, Landspreading, Roadspreading, and Road Application (Subsection (mm)) — Landfarming and landspreading must be approved by the DEQ. Jurisdiction over roadspreading or road application is shared by DEQ and the Commission. The Commission is the agency responsible for permitting road applications of produced water. The roadspreading application shall include acceptable evidence of landowner consent and the information included on the Commission’s Form 20. Landfarming, landspreading, and roadspreading shall be protective of human health and the environment and shall be performed in compliance with all other applicable State and Federal regulations and requirements.
    • Accidents, Spills and Fire (Section 3)
      • Uncontained spills or unauthorized releases of produced water of ten bbls and more must be reported.
    • Underground Disposal of Water (Section 5)
      • The underground disposal of salt water, brackish water, or other water unfit for domestic, livestock, irrigation, or other general uses, is permitted only upon order of the Commission or approval of the Supervisor, obtained pursuant to an application.
      • The regulations include requirements governing disposal well permits and disposal well integrity demonstrations.
    • Waterflooding and Other Recovery Operations (Section 7)
      • Waterflooding and other recovery operations are permitted only upon order of the Commission, or upon approval of the Supervisor, obtained pursuant to a properly filed application.
      • The regulations include requirements governing permits, integrity demonstration, and casing and cementing.
  • Permit Regulations for Discharges to Wyoming Surface Waters, Additional Requirements Applicable to Produced Water Discharges from Oil and Gas Production Facilities (Water Quality Rules and Regulations, Chapter 2, Appendix H [PDF])
    • The application form for produced water discharges from oil and gas production facilities must provide the following information:
      • The produced water discharged into surface waters of the state shall have use in agriculture or wildlife propagation.
      • The produced water shall be of good enough quality to be used for wildlife or livestock watering or other agricultural uses and actually be put to such use during periods of discharge.
    • Permits for all produced water discharges from oil and gas production facilities shall include the following conditions and limitations:
      • In no case shall any produced water discharge contain toxic materials in concentrations or combinations that are toxic to human, animal, or aquatic life.
      • Water shall not be discharged in a diffuse manner such that damage to land and/or vegetation occur.
      • All facilities authorized to discharge produced water shall be clearly identified with an all-weather sign posted at a visually prominent location.
      • Measures must be implemented to minimize erosion of the drainage at the point of discharge.
      • Discharges of produced water will not contain substances that will settle to form sludge, bank, or bottom deposits in quantities sufficient to result in significant aesthetic degradation or significant degradation of habitat for aquatic life; or adversely affect public water supplies, agricultural or industrial water use, plant life, or wildlife.
      • Discharges of produced water may not result in the formation of a visible hydrocarbon sheen on the receiving water.
      • The discharge operation must comply with all applicable effluent limitations protections for stock and wildlife consumption. The chloride content of any produced water discharge shall not exceed 2,000 mg/l in any single properly preserved grab sample except in those cases where a modification has been granted. The sulfate content of any produced water discharge shall not exceed 3,000 mg/l in any single properly preserved grab sample except in those cases where a modification has been granted. The total dissolved solids content of any produced water discharge shall not exceed 5,000 mg/l for total dissolved solids or 7,500 micromhos/cm for specific conductance in any single properly preserved grab sample except in those cases where a modification has been granted. In no case shall the pH of any produced water discharge be less than 6.5 or greater than 9.0 standard units as measured by a single grab sample.
      • Samples collected to demonstrate compliance with effluent limitations specified in Appendix H shall be collected as grab samples and reported as instantaneous maximums, unless otherwise specified.
    • Additional Permit Conditions and Limitations Specific to Oil and Natural Gas (other than coal bed natural gas) Production Facilities
      • Locations of skim ponds and disposal pits shall be managed in accordance with applicable state (e.g., Oil and Gas Conservation Commission) and federal (e.g., Bureau of Land Management) regulations.
      • Effluents are limited to 10 mg/l for oil and grease as measured by EPA method 1664 or 10 mg/l for net oil and grease as measured by alternate test procedure method 1664-Cu.
    • Additional Permit Conditions and Limitations Specific to Coal Bed Natural Gas Production Facilities
      • Where discharge water is accessible to livestock and/or wildlife, the discharge will be considered in compliance with the law as long as it meets the effluent limitations specified in Appendix H; and meets the criteria for the protection of livestock and wildlife specified in Wyoming Water Quality Rules and Regulations Chapter 1, Wyoming Surface Water Quality Standards [PDF].
      • Locations of disposal pits shall be managed in accordance with applicable state (e.g., Oil and Gas Conservation Commission) and federal (e.g., Bureau of Land Management) regulations.
      • The permittee shall take all reasonable measures to prevent downstream erosion that would be attributable to the discharge of produced water.

Beneficial Use of Produced Water

The Wyoming Constitution defines that all natural waters within the boundaries of the state, including produced water, are declared to be the property of the state. The Wyoming State Engineer's Office is charged with the regulation and administration of the water resources in Wyoming.

Water rights can be issued to anyone who plans to make beneficial use of the water. Recognized beneficial uses include: irrigation, municipal, industrial, power generation, recreational, stock, domestic, pollution control, in-stream flows, and miscellaneous.

The State Engineer’s office website includes a section specifically focused on coal bed natural gas water. This section includes links to several state guidance documents relating to coal bed natural gas water.