February 11, 2026

The saltwater dilemma at the heart of the Southwest
In the arid heart of Southeastern New Mexico, something remarkable is happening. Eddy and Lea counties—once quiet corners of the American Southwest—are now producing over a million barrels of oil per day, outpacing entire nations like Venezuela and Oman. But this boom comes with a byproduct that’s stirring both controversy and innovation: produced water.









