럭스 리서치(Lux Research)가 실시한 새로운 연구에 따르면 수압파쇄법(수압균열법, 프래킹 공법)을 활용한 물관리가 국제 유가의 급격한 하락에 따른 프래킹 공법의 급감소에도 불구하고 여전히 19억 달러의 가치로 평가됬다.

프래킹 공법이 2014년 8월 약 2천300개 수준에서 2015년 2월 1천350개 까지 떨어질 동안 수처리 시장은 위기를 기회로 바꿀 줄 아는 기업들에 의해 굳건히 유지되었다. 석유 및 가스 기업들이 지출을 삭감할 동안 운영자들은 물관리 전략과 비용 절감을 강화하는 새로운 기술들을 개발했으며, 새로운 미국의 정책대안이 물 운송 및 폐기에 대한 엄격한 감독을 수행하고 더 광범위한 물재활용을 촉진시켰다.

According to new research conducted by Lux Research, the market for hydraulic fracturing (frac or fracking) water management is still estimated to be worth $1.9 billion, not including water transportation and disposal, despite a precipitous decline in frac activity following a dramatic decline in global oil prices.

While fracs have fallen from about 2,300 in October 2014 to 1,350 in February 2015, the water treatment market remains strong for companies that know how to play the opportunity. As oil and gas companies cut spending, operators are tapping new technologies to tighten up water management strategies and lower costs. In addition, new regulatory momentum in the U.S. could usher in stricter oversight of water transportation and disposal and facilitate more extensive water recycling.

"No single technology or water management approach will win in the frac water treatment space. Rather, companies will employ a mixture of water disposal, centralized treatment and on-site treatment using physical, thermal and electrochemical methods," said Brent Giles, Lux Research director and one of the authors of the report titled, "Surviving the Shakeout in Frac Water Treatment Technologies."

"Companies like Saltworks Technologies have found ways to incrementally improve established technologies to address pain points in a given geography, while new players like BitPetroClean see an opportunity in niche markets," he added. Lux Research analysts evaluated water management opportunities in the changed landscape for fracking and rated 19 water treatment companies on the Lux Innovation Grid. Among their findings:

- Saltworks, Memsys lead in thermal treatment. Saltworks and Memsys placed in the "Dominant" quadrant on the Lux Innovation Grid. Both are exploring combined thermal and membrane systems to alleviate corrosion issues caused by high temperatures, as well as treat wastewater.
- WaterTectonics branches out from Halliburton deal. WaterTectonics, which gained notoriety through an exclusive partnership with Halliburton, is the sole "Dominant" company among electrocoagulation providers. The company is actively exploring related markets such as offshore water treatment.
- BioPetroClean tops in oil recovery. In the absence of a "Dominant" player, BioPetroClean is the highest-rated company among oil recovery and removal companies. Rated "High potential," BioPetroClean focuses on degrading the last traces of oil that are not currently economical to recover.

[출처 = Water World / 2015년 8월 12일]