A new B3 Insight case study shows how one leading Permian Basin midstream operator used data-driven pressure intelligence to streamline permitting, strengthen planning, and reduce operational risk.
In the Permian Basin, formation pressures are rising and regulations are tightening. For operators managing large networks of saltwater disposal (SWD) wells across multiple jurisdictions, these challenges aren’t theoretical—they affect day-to-day operations and long-term planning.
B3 Insight’s latest case study, “Leading Midstream Operator Uses Pressure Intelligence to Streamline Permitting and Strategic Planning,” illustrates how one company turned those challenges into an opportunity to modernize its approach.
The Challenge: Limited Pressure Visibility
As produced water volumes increased, the operator faced growing constraints from elevated formation pressures. Traditional methods for measuring and verifying pressures—such as well shut-ins and bottomhole tests—were time-consuming and costly.
At the same time, regulators began requiring not just pressure readings, but validation that those numbers were credible and supported by independent data.
“We operate across a large footprint, but we weren’t pressure testing every well,” one company geologist noted. “We needed a trusted dataset that regulators would accept.”
The Solution: Independent, Regulator-Accepted Pressure Data
The operator adopted B3 Insight’s Pressure dataset, available in OilfieldH2O, which integrates injection rates and pressures calibrated to downhole gauge measurements. This provided a credible, third-party source of pressure intelligence accepted by the Texas Railroad Commission and other regulatory agencies.
“When regulators asked us to justify pressure assumptions, we could point directly to B3’s data,” the geologist said. “The supporting methodology was also accepted by the Railroad Commission, which proved pivotal.”
With these insights, the operator was able to move from reactive data gathering to proactive planning—forecasting pressure trends, assessing injection constraints, and modeling reservoir performance over time.
The Results: Efficiency Today, Strategy for Tomorrow
By embedding B3’s pressure intelligence into its permitting and reservoir workflows, the operator realized both immediate and long-term value:
- Faster permitting – Applications supported in minutes instead of days.
- Lean operations – A small team could manage permitting and planning across a large portfolio.
- Better planning – Early visibility into high-pressure zones improved capital allocation and long-term strategy.
As one staff engineer summarized, “Pressure growth directly affects well life. A forecast that once suggested 20 years of capacity may shorten to 12 if pressures rise faster than expected. That’s invaluable for planning.”
Why It Matters
Across the Permian, operators are facing similar challenges: increasing regulatory complexity, rising injection pressures, and greater scrutiny over data credibility. Independent, regulator-accepted pressure intelligence is emerging as a critical advantage—helping teams validate assumptions, streamline applications, and plan with confidence.
For this operator, the outcome was clear: better data led to faster decisions and stronger long-term strategy.
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