Natura
Resources, a company developing small modular reactors (SMRs) utilizing molten
salt, is teaming up with NGL Water Solutions, a water treatment company, to
develop nuclear-powered produced water treatment in the Permian Basin region of
West Texas. Natura is currently developing a demonstration reactor at the
Abilene Christian University campus. In addition to providing power for the
water treatment plants, the reactors can also provide high-temperature process
heat for industrial applications and isotopes for medical applications. The
companies are working in collaboration with the Texas Produced Water
Consortium.
The Permian Basin produces
more than 6 million barrels of oil a day. Along with each barrel comes about
five barrels of produced water. That is 30 million barrels per day or 1.26
billion gallons per day of saltwater. However, the official number is somewhere
above 20 million barrels per day.
“Chris Harich, senior director of technical operations
at NGL Water Solutions, said his company has been cleaning produced water in
Wyoming for 15 years. California, he said, is using treated water on crops. The
difference is that Permian Basin produced water is far saltier than seawater,
making removal of the solids a challenge.”
“Locating energy sources alongside treatment plants and
using Natura’s waste heat could drive costs as low as 50 cents a barrel, and
that’s key, Harich said.
In January, Natura secured an
enriched molten salt allocation from the DOE’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
According to Natura:
“The coolant salt, known as FLiBE, contains 99.99%
enriched lithium-7 (Li-7), and it is essential for Natura’s 1-MW reactor to
achieve criticality next year, keeping the project on track to become one of
the first Gen IV nuclear reactor deployed in the United States.”
“The efficiency and design of Natura’s 100-MW reactor
will also make it an ideal solution for produced water desalination, a critical
issue for the Permian Basin and other areas of the U.S. with significant oil
and gas production.”
Natura’s 100 MW reactors are
set to provide power for the thermal desalination of Permian Basin produced
water. NGL Water Solutions currently transports, treats, recycles, and disposes
of more than 3 million barrels per day of produced and flowback water from the
Permian Basin. The treated water from the project is expected to be used for
data centers, agriculture, and as a new water source for other industries. Doug
Robison, Founder and CEO of Natura Resources, noted:
"Our molten salt reactor combined with thermal
desalination can provide a sustainable, competitive solution by generating
clean, economic power; treating industrial water for beneficial use; and
freeing up natural gas supplies for higher value applications. Collaborating
with NGL allows us to advance the application of our breakthrough nuclear
technology where it can make a measurable difference for industry, communities,
and the environment."
Molten Salt reactors are
liquid-fueled, operate at atmospheric pressures, and are considered much safer
than more common light water reactors. Even so, I was a bit surprised when it
was noted that the demo reactor at Abilene Christian University would be
guarded by campus police.
Permian Basin water
management is a huge issue that needs solutions. Large-scale treatment is one
of the best options. Some issues with Permian water management include the huge
problem of disposal wells pressuring up local groundwater to the point where
blowouts and sinkholes are forming. Induced seismicity is another issue. I
wrote about these in a March 2025 post on Wastewater Disposal Well Woes in the Permian Basin.
References:
Nuclear
energy could be part of produced water treatment efforts. Mella McEwen. Midland
Reporter-Telegram. April 10, 2026. Nuclear
energy could be part of produced water treatment efforts
Natura
Secures Enriched Molten Salt Allocation from Department of Energy. Natura Resources.
January 5, 2026. Natura
Secures Enriched Molten Salt Allocation from Department of Energy | Natura
Resources
Natura
Resources Partners with NGL Energy Partners to Enable Large-Scale Produced
Water Treatment with Small Modular Nuclear Reactors in the Permian Basin. NGL energy
Partners. Press Release. February 3, 2026. News
Release
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