TECHNOLOGY VS. METHODOLOGY

Alright, class, ready for a history lesson? Good! The topic is changes in TECH vs. changes in METHOD.

Here goes. The world changed when gunpowder was invented. A brave guy with a big sword was no match for a musket ball. That was a change in TECHNOLOGY.

Fast forward a few centuries and we find the armies of the world were all musket-toting soldiers who lined up in rows and shot at each other. It took the American Revolution to bring about a change, this time in METHODOLOGY. While the British soldiers (wearing red of all colors…) lined up in a row, the revolutionaries did what we’d call guerilla fighting – firing behind trees, embankments, and just about anything except standing in a straight line in the open. 

The first changed the TECH. The other changed the METHOD. Both were leaps forward.

The last decade has seen advancements of water cleaning TECH. But to put that water to good use, requires a new METHOD. 

That method is Conservation By-Design™ and we’re happy to chat about it. And we promise not to talk about history anymore (unless you like to hear about Buffalo Bill Cody and the history of water in the West…)

IT’S THE METHODOLOGY, STUPID

With apologies to the former President, we’d like to put forth our version of ‘It’s the economy, stupid.’ There’s a big misconception we’d like to clear up right now – transforming the arid West and bringing water to our lands is not about a new TECHNOLOGY. Rather, it’s a new METHODOLOGY.

Given our tech-centric world, it’s easy to think the solution is software or hardware. But it’s not. 

Our patent-pending METHOD called Conservation By-Design™ is what allows the oilfield by-product water to be transformed into water that can be put to beneficial-use. Now, of course, we use technology. There’s a number of good water processing units out there and we select the best unit based on the soil and water parameters of any individual project. But just the technology isn’t enough. 

It’s the METHODOLOGY. 

Take a look at this explanation of Conservation By-Design™ and you’ll see how the METHOD is the key.  It has pretty pictures and everything:  EncoreGreenEnvironmental.com/cbd

ALL OR NOTHING LEADS TO NOTHING

Maybe it’s time for a reasoned discussion on fossil fuel. There’s pros and cons to both sides of continuing to drill. But can we agree on one thing: 

We aren’t stopping the use of oil this afternoon. Or tomorrow. Or even by the weekend. 

Calls to “end all fossil fuel immediately” are just plain silly. There, we said it. The figurative and literal wheels of the world’s society and economy are built on oil, for better or worse. If we want to change, we have to keep the status quo going, while making the change. 

For instance, at Encore Green Environmental we have a way to make fossil fuel production better for the environment. 

You want to know who opposes us the most? Environmentalists who want to keep fossil fuel “bad” to keep up the pressure to shut down oil right now, today. 

Now, not everyone who cares about the planet feels that way. But we’re always shocked when we hear it.  

• Yes, we break the narrative of what some feel should be happening with our energy. 

• Yes, we have done something you weren’t expecting. 

• Yes, it helps both the environment AND the oil company.

But since we now CAN make oil production better for the environment, why shouldn’t you support it?

Unless, of course, you value your agenda more than the environment.

That’s how we see it. How do you see it?

NON-PROFIT’S DIRTY LITTLE SECRET

Don’t get us wrong; we love nonprofits, sit on nonprofit boards, and give money to nonprofits. But let’s always remember that to raise money, it’s easy to use FEAR as the motivator to get you to donate.  So, often that’s why we hear so much about the VILLAINS to any cause. As long as a nonprofit has a villain, they can raise money. 

So, the next time you hear polarized communication about how “they” (the oil company, the Democrats, the Republicans, the environmentalists – choose your villain) are about to ruin everything, we need to remember that “they” are desperately needed by the nonprofit. Because without a villain, they can’t get you to donate.

Maybe we need to look at our causes with balance, reason, objective facts, and common sense. Because if we don’t, we’re just reacting whenever a non-profit yells, “Villain.”

What do you think? Did we just make your villain list? Let’s talk about it.

WE EITHER TRUST SCIENCE OR WE DON’T

As we continue to walk this sometimes lonely road of bringing water to the arid West, we have developed a pretty good radar about what we can only nicely call ‘spin.’ 

We are told that science is to be believed, especially empirical, observable science. Yet, when we offer SCIENTIFIC solutions in order clean produced/by-product water we are told that you can’t trust the science. 

Which is it? 

Either we believe all the facts which well-established tests prove or we believe none of the facts. But we can’t pick and choose which scientific facts we believe or don’t believe. I mean, you can say gravity isn’t true, but you might be surprised if you jump off a building.

Let’s drop our prejudices and simply look at science as science. 

Let’s talk about it.

We Like Questions

When you do something new, like clean produced/by-product water to apply on the land, there’s going to be questions. The biggest one we get lately is, “Can you really do it?” That’s a legit question. What the asker means is, “Can you REALLY do it and safely?”

The quick answer: Yes.

The longer answer:

We use established, accepted scientific practices to test both the surrounding soil and the produced water. We test for dozens of potential water quality issues, but welcome conversation if there’s something we’re not testing for that you think should be tested for. 

Then, after cleaning, we apply those same tests again to make sure the water clean was successful.

Then, we continue to monitor the water in/on the soil on an ongoing basis.

We put all of the test results of the clean water and ongoing monitoring on our website for anyone to see.

It’s not easy to get the stakeholders to try something new – the landowners, the oil companies, the regulators, and the environmentalists all have questions. And we’ve spent two years answering them. 

We call it Conservation By-Design™ and it can answer the questions.  

Don’t be shy: Ask us YOUR question HERE.

“WE DON’T WASTE WATER”

You dad was right. Remember how you kept the water running while you brushed your teeth and he’d walk by and turn off the tap? What’d he say -  “We don’t waste water.”  Right?

You’d think we’d accept that now as grownups. But in the ARID WEST, our collective wisdom says that we should toss away oilfield water (the by-product of an oil well) because it’s “waste water.” Really?

Maybe 30 years ago, the technology wasn’t here. And certainly, our Conservation By-Design™ patent-pending method was not here then. But here we are now. 

We’re ready to transform the “waste water” into water transformed to ideal specs to match the surrounding soil’s needs. That results in better soil health, conservation goals, ag goals, more carbon captured out of the air, and most of all – we’re not wasting water! And we’ve figured out how to do it for the same or less than irresponsible disposal costs.

So, energy industry folks who are slow to change, “We don’t waste water.” 

So, environmental folks who don’t like that this makes fossil fuel more environmentally-friendly, “We don’t waste water.” 

So, government regulators who have agendas that sometimes are hard to understand, “We don’t waste water.”

We can do this. We don’t waste water. 

Give a call, we can talk about it.  CONTACT

THE WAY FORWARD REQUIRES LISTENING.

We want to thank the groups that have helped us understand how best to steward the arid lands here in the West. 

Specifically, we want to thank the Environmental Defense Fund, the Powder River Business Council, and those we met when presenting to the EPA in DC – such as Earthworks. We listened, learned, and applied that understanding to developing Conservation By-Design™ as a way to transform produced/by-product water into water that is perfect for the surrounding soil, leading to great soil health, vegetative growth, and carbon sequestration. All the while, we provide a new, same-cost-as-status-quo solution to the energy companies to “dispose” of produced water, which makes fossil fuels less intrusive on the environment. 

We can all learn from one another. Want to talk? Give us a call. 818.470.0285.

Or take a look at Conservation By-Design™ for yourself: HERE.

Hey, Even Socrates Understood Produced Water

The Greeks had a way of looking at things – don’t go to either extreme, but find the way of truth in the middle. They often called it the “Golden Middle.” When it comes to what to do about produced water, we’re with Socrates!

You see, in our hyper-polarized society, these days if you are FOR drilling for oil, that must mean you are AGAINST the environment. And, if you’re FOR the environment, that must mean you are AGAINST drilling for oil. But, that’s not us. And, it’s probably not you, either.

Instead, we are in the middle when we say that we are out to increase the STEWARDSHIP OF OUR LANDS. See, the land needs things. And, people who live on the land also need things. So, we can find the middle way, if we are trying to find a win/win but keeping stewardship as the goal.

What do you think? Are you in the middle with us? 

Let’s Talk!

What Do We Do? We Overcome Obstacles

The short history of Encore Green Environmental is a history of overcoming obstacles. Here’s how we’ve answered these “insurmountable” issues. 

“It’s Not How We Do It”

No, but it can be. Slowly our minds are changing. 

“It’ll Cost Too Much”

Nope, the oil company redirects their total disposal costs to us. They are paying same or less.

“You Can’t Clean Up The Water – Too Dirty”

This may have been true a few years ago, but technology has evolved. Often, this objection is based on old ideas, rumors, and even misinformation.

“Coal Bed Methane History – We Don’t Want A Repeat”

Neither do we. Previously a high volume of water was put on a little acreage. Now, we put a little water on a lot of acres. That changes everything.

“You Can’t Get A Permit”

Actually, the Clean Water Act of 1973 says west of the 98th meridian, industrial produced water can be applied to the ground. It has been a long road to walk, but in two states, we are close to a permit.

So, if you have an objection or obstacle in mind for why the arid West can’t have a new source of water, let us know. We like to overcome obstacles. It’s what we do.