473 From Oil to Water: How the Water Midstream Sector Was Born with John Durand
Release Date: 04/25/2026
475 Inside the Boiler: Inspection, Failure Analysis, and Photography with Cheryl Heiser
Scaling UP! H2O
A boiler failure can create pressure quickly: production is down, emotions are high, and the water treater may be the first person blamed. of . joins Trace Blackmore, CWT, to walk through a more disciplined way to evaluate boiler issues by looking beyond chemistry alone. Why Boiler Failures Need a Broader Lens Cheryl brings field experience from the OEM boiler side, conventional water treatment, and purified tannin boiler treatment. Her perspective is rooted in the idea that no two boilers are the same. Design, operating conditions, fuel, history, circulation, steam...
info_outline
474 Questions from the Scaling UP! Nation about Trace
Scaling UP! H2O
Every career in industrial water treatment is shaped by decisions, mentors, credentials, systems, and the willingness to keep learning. In this special mailbag-style episode, Trace Blackmore, CWT, answers questions from the Scaling UP! Nation about how he entered water treatment, why he started the podcast, what professional credentials have meant to him, and what he is still working to improve. This conversation gives water professionals a practical look at the habits behind a long career in the industry: getting involved early, documenting customer conversations, building strong...
info_outline
473 From Oil to Water: How the Water Midstream Sector Was Born with John Durand
Scaling UP! H2O
Industrial water professionals often think about water in terms of treatment, compliance, reuse, and operational risk. John Durand brings a different but closely connected view: water as infrastructure, water as a managed resource, and water as a strategic part of energy development. , one of the early pioneers of the water midstream sector and CEO of Magnificent Desolation, LLC, joins Trace Blackmore to explain how produced water moved from a disposal challenge to a large-scale infrastructure opportunity. From Disposal Model to Managed Resource John describes how...
info_outline
472 Finding and Fixing the Invisible: Chris MacDonald on Pressure Pipe Inspection and Rehab
Scaling UP! H2O
"Document everything." Spring startup season exposes more than operational stress. It also reveals what happened months earlier when systems were laid up poorly, maintenance steps were skipped, or warning signs were documented but not acted on. In this episode, Trace Blackmore connects that reality to a broader infrastructure problem: hidden damage inside pressure piping systems that operators often cannot see until a leak, rupture, or budget crisis forces action. Why hidden pressure pipe problems are so expensive , CEO and President of , explains why pressure pipe...
info_outline
471 Biofilms, Biocides, and TTPC: A Deep Dive with Dr. Jeff Kramer
Scaling UP! H2O
Biofilm is not a fringe issue in cooling systems. As Dr. Jeff Kramer explains, it is a given. That matters because biofilm affects heat transfer, contributes to corrosion, and can serve as a reservoir for Legionella in treated systems. In this conversation, Trace Blackmore and Dr. Kramer examine what experienced water treaters should be looking for when choosing and evaluating a microbiological control program. Biofilm as an operating problem Dr. Jeff defines biofilm as a community of microorganisms attached to a surface and held together by an external polymeric matrix. From there,...
info_outline
470 Wastewater Enthusiast: Training the Next Generation Online
Scaling UP! H2O
has built a following by doing something wastewater operators have needed for a long time: making practical technical education easier to access. In Episode 470, he explains why that matters, how he built , and what the industry still gets wrong about training, certification, and knowledge transfer. From test prep to true understanding A major thread in this conversation is the gap between passing an exam and actually understanding plant operations. Shawn reflects on his own early experience with certification prep, where classes helped him recognize test questions but did not always help him...
info_outline
469 ABMA: The Oldest Association Meets Today’s Challenges
Scaling UP! H2O
Boiler performance rarely depends on a single decision. It depends on design, controls, maintenance, workforce capability, and, as this conversation makes clear, the quality of water treatment. and explain how is addressing those realities by connecting manufacturers, representatives, suppliers, and field stakeholders around education and practical guidance. Why ABMA still matters in a changing boiler market ABMA has been in place since 1888, but this discussion is not about preserving old structures for their own sake. Scott and Shaunica describe an association that has expanded beyond...
info_outline
468 Born into Water Treatment: Tom Brandvold on AWT’s Origin Story and a Life in the Industry
Scaling UP! H2O
Tom Brandvold, CWT, has lived industrial water treatment from the inside out. In this conversation, he traces that path from sweeping floors and running sample bottles as a kid to leading Premier Water and Energy Technology and serving as a former president of . The result is not just a career story. It is a useful look at how credibility, collaboration, and standards are built over time in this industry. How Association of Water Technologies (AWT) was formed One of the most valuable parts of this discussion is Tom’s explanation of how Association of Water Technologies (AWT) began. The...
info_outline
467 From PhD to Pump Rooms: Jake Elliott on Wastewater, Efficiency, and Saying “Yes” Wisely
Scaling UP! H2O
What happens when a water chemist leaves the lab and heads to the pump room? knows firsthand. A former PhD researcher who studied resource recovery from trade‑waste customers, Jake now manages accounts at in Melbourne, working with cooling towers, boilers, chemical dosing rigs and wastewater treatment systems. He joins host Trace Blackmore to discuss how rigorous research, regulatory compliance and process automation translate into practical field work for industrial water treatment professionals. From PhD Research to Industrial Practice Jake’s academic background informs the way he...
info_outline
466 Stories, Math, and “Never Again” Moments: Inside AWT Technical Training with Dan Merritt (Part 2)
Scaling UP! H2O
AWT’s in‑person technical training is a keystone for developing competent water treaters. Yet classroom knowledge only matters when it survives the drive home and emerges later in the field. In this second conversation with —National Sales Manager at and head of AWT’s education committee—Trace Blackmore uncovers how stories, math, and memorable mistakes turn theory into intuition. Why training keeps evolving Dan explains that the rewrites courses every year. Instructors refine content, delivery and demonstrations, not for novelty’s sake, but because...
info_outline
Industrial water professionals often think about water in terms of treatment, compliance, reuse, and operational risk. John Durand brings a different but closely connected view: water as infrastructure, water as a managed resource, and water as a strategic part of energy development.
John Durand, one of the early pioneers of the water midstream sector and CEO of Magnificent Desolation, LLC, joins Trace Blackmore to explain how produced water moved from a disposal challenge to a large-scale infrastructure opportunity.
From Disposal Model to Managed Resource
John describes how the growth of horizontal drilling changed the scale of water management in the Permian Basin. A vertical well once used a fraction of the water required for today’s horizontal wells, creating a need for pipelines, reuse systems, recycling strategies, and long-term infrastructure planning.
He explains that the water midstream sector emerged because the old approach—trucking water or simply sending it to disposal—could not keep pace with the volume. Today, the conversation has shifted toward produced water reuse, recycling, and the search for beneficial uses outside of oil and gas.
Produced Water, Salinity, and Future Use
John notes that produced water can carry very high salinity, sometimes many times higher than seawater. That creates treatment challenges, especially when thinking beyond oilfield reuse and toward broader industrial applications.
He also points to future opportunities for produced water in data centers, electric generation, cooling applications, and possibly other beneficial reuse pathways. The key message is clear: water once treated as waste may become an important resource if the industry continues to innovate responsibly.
Infrastructure, Trust, and Public-Private Partnerships
Beyond pipelines and treatment, John emphasizes the role of relationships. He shares examples from Midland and Odessa, where long-term water supply arrangements and wastewater treatment infrastructure created value for both communities and industry.
For water professionals, the lesson extends beyond oilfield water. Large infrastructure projects require technical expertise, capital, public trust, and long-term credibility. John’s experience shows that durable solutions depend as much on trust and collaboration as they do on engineering.
Staying Curious in a Changing Industry
John closes with a practical leadership reminder: stay curious, ask better questions, and keep learning. Whether the topic is produced water, AI, energy independence, or infrastructure, he encourages professionals to dig deeper and continue expanding their understanding.
Listen to the full conversation above. Explore related episodes below. Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!
Timestamps
02:50 — Trace introduces the episode’s central topic: the water midstream sector and how produced water is becoming a true asset instead of only a waste stream
06:31 — John Durand joins the conversation as one of the early pioneers of the water midstream sector and CEO of Magnificent Desolation
07:01 — John introduces his 41-year career in the energy business, his Louisiana roots, and his lifelong connection to oil and gas
08:08 — John explains the origin of the name Magnificent Desolation and its connection to Buzz Aldrin’s words after walking on the moon
10:15 — John shares how lifelong curiosity, including reading an entire set of encyclopedias at age 12, shaped his career and learning mindset
11:28 — John walks through his energy career, from upstream oil and gas to natural gas marketing, power generation, conventional midstream, and eventually water midstream
14:22 — John explains how a call about water being “a big deal in the future” led him into Pioneer Natural Resources and large-scale water infrastructure
15:29 — John describes how the water midstream sector emerged as Pioneer built infrastructure to move water across a large acreage position
16:21 — John explains why horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing changed the scale of water demand and produced water management in the Permian Basin
17:39 — Trace asks John to define the water midstream sector, setting up a practical explanation of acquisition, movement, reuse, recycling, and disposal
19:57 — John addresses a common misconception about water midstream: the industry is moving beyond disposal toward reuse, recycling, and beneficial use
23:08 — John explains how the industry learned to manage massive water volumes through infrastructure, collaboration, and private capital investment
25:25 — John discusses produced water treatment considerations, including heavy metals, high salinity, desalination, and waste-product management
27:56 — John defines upstream, midstream, and downstream so listeners can understand how water midstream fits into the broader energy sector
30:09 — John explains why relationships matter in water midstream, especially when developing long-term projects and public-private partnerships
31:24 — John shares examples from Midland and Odessa, where municipal wastewater arrangements created long-term value for both communities and industry
34:31 — John explains why trust is the foundation of lasting relationships and how completed projects can create credibility for future opportunities
38:26 — John reflects on when he realized the water midstream sector was becoming durable and strategically important as private capital entered the space
40:03 — John looks ahead to the future of water midstream, including beneficial reuse, data centers, electric generation, and regional water infrastructure.
44:15 — John discusses how the geopolitical environment affects energy, water management, infrastructure, and U.S. energy independence.
01:04:02 — Words of Water with James McDonald
Quotes
“I have always been a very curious individual.”
“It was produced water and freshwater.”
“The misconception is oil-filled water, and the midstream water industry is just handling waste.”
“It’s really relationships and how you create and develop those relationships.”
“Once you develop that trust over time, that's what it comes down to.”
“The future really is into that term that you're going to hear a lot more of, and that's beneficial reuse.”
“Be curious, stay curious, ask the right questions, be bold.”
Connect with John Durand
Phone: (214) 232-4953
Email: Johnrdurand19@gmail.com
Website: 6th Annual Oilfield Water Markets Conference - Oilfield Water Connection
News & Events for Oilfield Water Management - Oilfield Water Connection
LinkedIn: John Durand | LinkedIn
Guest Resources Mentioned
6th Annual Oilfield Water Markets Conference - Oilfield Water Connection
Texas Alliance of Energy Producers
When Pride Still Mattered: A Life of Vince Lombardi by David Maraniss
The Shadow of War: A Novel of the Cuban Missile Crisis by Jeff Shaara
Scaling UP! H2O Resources Mentioned
AWT (Association of Water Technologies)
Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses
Words of Water with James McDonald
Today's definition is the cloudiness or haziness of water caused by suspended particles that scatter light. Do you know the word or phrase?
2026 Events for Water Professionals
Check out our Scaling UP! H2O Events Calendar where we’ve listed every event Water Treaters should be aware of by clicking HERE.
