Why AI Is Becoming Essential to Energy’s Water Game

Digital platforms such as Core Flow are reshaping how oil and gas groups manage produced water amid tighter environmental and cost pressures

25 Oct 2025

Artificial intelligence is gaining real traction in the U.S. energy sector, and one of its most visible impacts is in an unlikely place: water. Specifically, the vast streams of produced water that come with oil and gas drilling are now at the center of a quiet but meaningful shift.

For decades, produced water was seen mainly as a headache. It was expensive to move, tricky to treat, and easy to overlook until something went wrong. That mindset is starting to change as digital tools promise better forecasts, cleaner logistics, and fewer surprises in the field.

One platform drawing attention is Core Flow, developed by Intelligent Core. The system uses AI models to predict produced water volumes, guide routing decisions, and help operators adjust as conditions change. Public information around the platform focuses less on alarmist scenarios and more on practical gains such as smoother logistics and more efficient treatment or disposal. Just as important, Core Flow is designed to work with existing equipment, reducing the need for costly overhauls.

This fits into a broader push across oil, gas, and utilities to modernize water management. Aging infrastructure and tighter environmental oversight are forcing companies to look for smarter ways to operate. Firms like Ecolab and Xylem have been vocal about AI’s promise in water and wastewater systems, even if their work stretches well beyond oilfield use. Their efforts still reinforce a common theme: data driven water management is no longer optional.

Skepticism remains. Some operators are wary of automated decision tools, and concerns linger about sensor accuracy, regulatory comfort, and whether AI can truly handle the messiness of real world operations. Industry analysts note that these doubts are typical at this stage and tend to fade as systems prove themselves.

With wider deployments expected in early 2026, the ripple effects could be significant. New partnerships and consolidation are likely as companies move to secure digital expertise. The energy sector is still rooted in steel and concrete, but intelligence is fast becoming just as essential.