Water plays a critical role in oil and gas operations, particularly in fracking, where large volumes are used to extract underground resources. After a well is fracked and put on production, the associated water that comes back to the surface (known as produced water) is often contaminated and difficult to reuse, especially when it contains hydrogen sulfide, a toxic and corrosive gas.
CSV Midstream Solutions (CSV) designed a system to address this challenge. The company developed a mobile water treatment technology that removes hydrogen sulfide from produced water, making it suitable for reuse in fracking operations. The proprietary hydrogen sulfide removal process, referred to as “sweetening,” allows companies to recycle water that would otherwise be disposed of in deep wells, reducing the need for non-saline water and the burden on local infrastructure.
What sets CSV’s water sweetening technology system apart is its ability to remove hydrogen sulfide completely. Many treatment methods only reduce the gas to trace levels, which still prevents the water from being reused. CSV’s approach fully eliminates the contaminant to provide water that meets the operational standards required for fracking. The system is modular and designed for use on-site, which means it can be deployed directly at storage or staging areas without requiring major infrastructure investments.
To refine the solution, CSV worked closely with oil and gas producers, running pilot projects to prove that treated water could match the performance and reliability of non-saline water. The goal was to create a system that could be integrated into existing operations without increasing costs or complexity. The company focused not only on the technology itself, but on making sure it could work at scale under real-world conditions.
One of the key lessons from the project was that partial treatment often falls short of industry needs. By focusing on complete hydrogen sulfide removal, CSV was able to offer a solution that meets both environmental goals and operational standards. The project also demonstrated that environmental innovation is more likely to succeed when it aligns with cost efficiency and logistical practicality.
Beyond the technical results, the system creates value across several fronts. For producers, it lowers reliance on fresh water, reduces trucking and disposal needs, and positions companies to better meet tightening environmental regulations. For communities, it decreases road traffic and emissions, while helping preserve regional water supplies.
By keeping water in circulation and reducing the need for non-saline water sourcing and produced water disposal, CSV’s technology supports a more sustainable and efficient approach to water management in the energy sector. It offers a practical example of how industry can reduce environmental impact without compromising performance or profitability.
This article is part of Innovation+ in the Plus 15, a special editorial series from the Calgary Innovation Peer Forum and Digital Journal that explores how Calgary-based companies are innovating.
