The notified text is applicable throughout national territory and in areas where the Nation exercises sovereignty and jurisdiction, and is binding on regulated entities managing produced water and/or flowback fluid generated in hydrocarbon exploration and extraction activities.

Proyecto de Norma Oficial Mexicana PROY-NOM-024-ASEA-2025, Manejo de Agua producida y/o Fluido de retorno asociado a la Exploración y Extracción de Hidrocarburos - Especificaciones de Seguridad Industrial, Seguridad Operativa y protección al medio ambiente (cancela y sustituye la Norma Oficial Mexicana NOM-143-SEMARNAT-2003, Que establece las especificaciones ambientales para el manejo de agua congénita asociada a hidrocarburos) (Draft Mexican Official Standard PROY-NOM-024-ASEA-2025, Management of produced water and/or flowback fluid associated with the exploration and extraction of hydrocarbons - Industrial safety, operational safety and environmental protection specifications (cancels and replaces Mexican Official Standard NOM-143-SEMARNAT-2003 establishing environmental specifications for the management of connate water associated with hydrocarbons)) (32 pages, in Spanish)

The notified draft Mexican Official Standard establishes the technical criteria and specifications regarding industrial safety, operational safety and environmental protection that are to be met in the management of produced water and/or flowback fluid associated with the exploration and extraction of hydrocarbons. The Standard will apply throughout national territory and in areas where the Nation exercises sovereignty and jurisdiction, and is binding on regulated entities that manage produced water and/or flowback fluid generated in hydrocarbon exploration and extraction activities.

The draft text addresses the following aspects:

(a) Specifications and prior requirements for the management of produced water and/or flowback fluid.

(b) Safety requirements for storage.

(c) Considerations regarding the location and selection of storage tanks.

(d) Inclusion of an inspection and monitoring programme for storage tanks and treatment systems.

(e) Requirements for the design, selection and installation of treatment systems.

(f) Considerations regarding transportation and movement by pipeline, tank car or tanker truck.

(g) Maintenance, inspection and operating procedures for each system and part.

(h) Guidelines for the management, reuse and discharge of waste water from the flowback fluid treatment process.

(i) Detailed conformity assessment procedure for obtaining the annual compliance certificate.