Environmental trade-offs in energy production: A review of the produced water life cycle and environmental footprint.

Produced water, a major by-product of oil and gas production, represents the most significant amount of waste by volume in the oil and gas industry. Focusing on the hydrocarbon's lifecycle, this review delves into the composition and global variations of produced water. It assesses the current treatment methods for their effectiveness and their potential for reuse in sectors beyond oil and gas, such as agriculture.