Quail Run Energy Center
Owned by Starwood Energy Group Global
Operated by NAES Corp
550 MW, two 2 × 1 7EA-powered combined cycles equipped with A10 steam turbines, located in Odessa, Tex
Plant manager: Andy Duncan
Background. Upon learning that a dig permit had been issued for property close to Quail Run, plant management arranged a meeting with the permit holders who said they would be digging wells to provide water for fracking in the oil-rich Permian Basin.
Plant’s concern was water availability given that it too was searching for additional water sources for a future project. Many in the region use well water to support fracking and oil production.
Challenge. Assure adequate water resources to support plant operations in the future.
Solution. An internal study determined that Quail Run’s cooling-tower blowdown meets the chemistry requirements for both fracking and production water. Next step was to work with the Texas Center of Environmental quality to get the authorization needed to send cooling-tower blowdown water to the oil production facility.
Permission granted, the plant partnered with a local company that supplies well water for oil production. Result: Quail Run sends that company tower blowdown for use in oil production and it provides the plant good-quality well water for tower makeup.
Results. Winners all: The amount of blowdown sent to the wastewater processing facility was reduced, the amount of city water supplied for tower makeup was reduced, and the quantity of good well water used in oil production was reduced.
Project participants:
Andy Duncan, plant manager
Plant staff
