Neil C. Nowak, PE, Principal Professional will be presenting on “High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Lined Produced/Flow-Back Water Evaporation and Recycling Ponds” at the Produced Water Society’s 36th Annual Conference in Houston, Texas, on February 9-12, 2026. Learn more about GLA’s expertise in lined containment structure design.
Mr. Nowak has over 38 years of experience in the consulting engineering industry, including civil, solid waste, produced water impoundments, storm water engineering, geotechnical, and construction projects. His expertise includes project management, building client relationships, managing budgets and schedules, building and guiding successful teams, and effectively utilizing project resources. His experience includes several front-range and mountainous landfills and produced water facilities in Texas, Colorado, Montana, New York, Wyoming, Texas, Utah, and other states. Mr. Nowak earned his Bachelor of Science in Civil/Forest Engineering in 1986 from the State University of New York Environmental Science and Forestry at Syracuse University. He holds professional engineering licenses in seven states, including Colorado, Texas and New Mexico.
(HDPE) Lined Produced/Flow-Back Water Evaporation and Recycling Ponds
The problem to be solved is the disposal and recycling of millions of liters of production water (brine water) and flow-back water generated annually from the oil and gas industry in an environmentally safe, low cost, and efficient manner. A technology that is effective and safe is the evaporation of the water in lined containment ponds after separation and removal of the hydrocarbon component from the water. Purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that the black HDPE increases evaporation over the use of clay or unlined ponds, and the use of white liner reduces evaporation. Also, I will discuss the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) rules and design parameters for non-commercial and commercial facilities in Texas.
The production and flow back water from oil and gas wells in the area local to each site is trucked or piped to the sites for disposal or recycling. The water is evaporated in ponds lined with HDPE as the top layer by using a combination of factors that are favorable to the evaporative process, including the following:
- Natural characteristics of the site, including the arid climate, windy conditions, and numerous sunny days
- HDPE liner was chosen to protect the surface and ground waters of the area and to assist with the evaporation of the water (evaporation is enhanced due to the black color of the liner)
- Liner was white for the storage and to reduce the evaporation.
As a 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit, the Produced Water Society brings together the people, ideas, and technologies shaping the future of water management in the oil and gas industry.
