What Sourcewater does

Sourcewater, Inc. (operating as Sourcenergy) is a Houston-based SaaS company founded in early 2014 by Joshua Adler that provides the largest online water source, reuse, and disposal database for the upstream oil & gas industry. The platform integrates patented AI and machine learning applied to satellite imagery, anonymized mobile GPS location data, regulatory permit and well records, and web-scraped newspaper legal notices to deliver surface and subsurface upstream intelligence earlier than conventional regulatory filings — including near-real-time detection of new Permian well pads and frac ponds, mobile frac and rig crew tracking, and pre-permit saltwater disposal (SWD) plans. Coverage spans the Permian Basin, Haynesville, Marcellus, and Bakken, with the strongest proprietary data density concentrated in the Permian.

The product architecture is modular and tiered. Sourcenergy GIS™ is the foundational GIS layer with standard oil & gas, disposal, groundwater, and surface data; Sourcewater Pro™ layers proprietary oilfield-water datasets and 9,000+ miles of mapped private water midstream pipelines; Sourcewater Geo™ layers proprietary geoscience models covering 47 Permian disposal formations and 3,200+ fault lines (1,800+ in 3D) with induced seismicity analytics; DirtWork Alert™ and FracScape™ provide patented satellite and mobile-GPS-driven activity detection and real-time crew tracking. Ten U.S. patents have been granted on the underlying methods, with additional patents pending. The technology stack is multimodal, combining satellite imagery (input), structured regulatory data (input and output), mobile GPS (input), and web-scraped legal notices (input) within unified AI pipelines.

The company sells primarily through direct enterprise sales with quote-based annual SaaS subscriptions (per-User license rights, annual prepay, ACH or 3%-surcharge credit card). Revenue streams include (1) SaaS subscription licensing across Sourcenergy GIS™, Sourcewater Pro™, Sourcewater Geo™, DirtWork Alert™, and FracScape™ tiers; (2) transaction commissions on water and disposal capacity traded through the Sourcewater Marketplace; (3) direct-access API data packages; and (4) professional services for custom reports and customer success. Customers include Royal Dutch Shell (Marcellus produced-water logistics), Tailwater Royalties (mineral/royalty A&D), BuySWD.com (SWD M&A advisory), and multiple oilfield service companies. The company raised $7.2M in a 2019 Series 2 led by Bison with Marubeni participation and acquired Digital H2O in November 2018.

Name

Sourcewater

Legal name

Sourcewater, Inc.

Website

https://sourcewater.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sourcewater (DBA Sourcenergy) provides patented satellite, mobile GPS, and regulatory analytics as a modular SaaS platform for upstream oil & gas, water midstream, disposal, recycling, and mineral/royalty buyers in the Permian and other U.S. shale plays.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Energy Data Intelligence

NAICS

Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (541360), Oil and Gas Field Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing (333132)

SIC

Oil & Gas Field Exploration Services (1382), Oil & Gas Field Services, Nec (1389)

akta.pro primary industry

Seismic & Geoscience Services (Acquisition, Processing, Interpretation) (EUALABAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Water, Wastewater & Hydraulics Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAD)

Keywords

• Upstream oil gas analytics
• Oilfield water intelligence
• Produced water management
• Satellite well pad detection
• Geospatial energy data

Headquarters

HQ city

Houston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. SaaS subscription licensing: Core SaaS subscriptions governed by a Sourcewater, Inc. DBA Sourcenergy Terms & Conditions agreement with annual billing (fees invoiced annually, due upon receipt), per-User license rights, prepaid fees, and credit-card surcharge of 3%. Multi-year and renewal terms available with auto-renewal.
2. Water & disposal marketplace commissions: Section 4.5 of the service terms requires customers to report purchases or sales transacted through the Platform (price, quantity, dates, counterparties) so Sourcewater can verify any commission payable on water or services identified/purchased through the Sourcewater Marketplace.
3. API-based data access: Data packages (oil & gas, disposal/injection, groundwater, GIS, exclusive oilfield water, proprietary geoscience, satellite/GPS analytics) are available via direct access API in addition to the web platform, generating API-based data revenue alongside subscriptions.
4. Professional services & custom analytics: Custom reports, webinars, case studies, whitepapers, demo engagements, customer success support (e.g., the customer story where a Sourcenergy Customer Success Manager helped an OFS VP source water for a halted frac within 30 minutes) and bespoke presentation deliverables for mineral/royalty and energy conferences.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Sourcewater (operating as Sourcenergy) sells a modular SaaS platform that combines patented satellite imagery AI/ML, mobile GPS analytics, web-scraped newspaper legal notices, and regulatory big data to deliver upstream oil & gas, water, disposal and subsurface intelligence to E&P operators, water midstream/disposal companies, and mineral/royalty buyers in U.S. shale plays. The platform is delivered as tiered modules (Sourcenergy GIS™, Sourcewater Pro™, Sourcewater Geo™, DirtWork Alert™, FracScape™) plus a Sourcewater Marketplace for water and disposal capacity and a direct-access API.

Product overview

Sourcenergy (operated by Sourcewater, Inc.) sells a modular upstream energy and water intelligence platform rather than a single product. The architecture is platform-plus-modules: Sourcenergy GIS™ is the foundational GIS layer (standard oil & gas, disposal, groundwater, and surface data with AOI/alert tools), and Sourcewater Pro™, Sourcewater Geo™, DirtWork Alert™, and FracScape™ are progressively richer add-on modules that build on top of it. Sourcewater Pro™ layers exclusive oilfield water data and infrastructure mapping, Sourcewater Geo™ layers proprietary geoscience and induced seismicity risk analytics, and DirtWork Alert™ and FracScape™ layer patented satellite-imagery and mobile-GPS analytics for pre-permit and real-time activity tracking. Supporting capabilities include the Sourcewater Marketplace (water and disposal capacity trading) and a Direct Access API for programmatic data consumption.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sourcenergy GIS™: GIS platform providing oil, gas, disposal, water and surface data plus GIS tools for planning, managing and sharing upstream energy projects.

Products and services

• Sourcenergy GIS™ Foundational GIS platform providing standard oil, gas, disposal, water and surface data with tools to upload basemaps, plan, manage and share upstream energy projects. Includes AOI selection, custom email alerts, ROW/facility placement, KML/SHP uploads and data downloads. All other Sourcenergy modules build on this base layer; aimed at E&P operators, water midstream, oilfield services and mineral/royalty buyers.
• Sourcewater Pro™ Oilfield water intelligence module extending Sourcenergy GIS™ with exclusive geospatial data: satellite frac ponds and reserve pits, produced water flow charts (TX, ND), private water midstream pipeline mapping (9,000+ miles) and water/disposal market pricing. Includes all Sourcenergy GIS™ standard data and tools. For E&P operators, water midstream, recyclers and disposal owners managing produced water logistics.
• Sourcewater Geo™ Geoscience platform custom-built for saltwater disposal design, optimization and induced seismicity risk analytics. Includes Sourcewater Pro™ data plus proprietary Permian subsurface data: 3,200+ geologic fault lines (1,800+ in 3D), stratigraphic maps of 47 Permian disposal formations, true active injection intervals, Disposal Scorecard™ automated SWD application grading, and induced seismicity risk analytics. For geologists, regulatory and ESG teams designing SWDs or managing seismic risk.
• DirtWork Alert™ Patented satellite imagery analytics module that detects new Permian Basin well pads and frac ponds within days of construction, often months ahead of permit filings or rig movements (~90% pre-permit true positive rate, ~99% post-permit accuracy). Includes DirtWork Alert Time Machine™ to visualize 18 months of surface development history for any site. For E&P operators, oilfield services, mineral buyers and investors seeking earliest visible indicators of upstream activity.
• FracScape™ Near real-time frac crew, drilling rig and DUC tracking module applying patented satellite imagery and mobile GPS analytics to derive locations of frac crews, rig crews and DUCs across the Permian Basin. Used by E&Ps, oilfield services and investment/financial firms to avoid frac hits, manage supply chain risk, benchmark performance, hunt DUCs and model upstream commodity supply/demand ahead of earnings.
• Sourcewater Marketplace Patent-pending online water and disposal marketplace providing price, capacity and ownership details from thousands of water and disposal sellers. Enables Sourcewater Pro™ users to access exclusive ask prices for water and disposal capacity across 1,000+ facilities and to commercialize excess produced water, storage, pipeline and disposal capacity. Generates commissions for Sourcenergy on transactions reported through the platform.
• Direct Access API Programmatic API providing direct access to Sourcenergy data packages — Oil & Gas, Disposal & Injection, Groundwater, GIS, Exclusive Oilfield Water, Proprietary Geoscience, and Proprietary Satellite & Mobile GPS Analytics — in addition to the web platform. Usage-based pricing with additional fees plus up to 20% admin charge for third-party software pass-throughs.

Quantifiable outcome

• ~90% true positive rate for Permian oil and gas well pad detection pre-permit; ~99% accuracy post-permit
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability9 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• TexNet-CISR (Texas Seismological Network / Center for Integrated Seismicity Research)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026The Sourcenergy geoscience team is led by the former Principal Investigator for the TexNet-CISR Injection and Production Analytics Project. TexNet (Texas state seismic monitoring) and USGS seismicity events are overlaid onto Sourcenergy's proprietary Permian fault-line maps (3,200+ fault lines, 1,800+ in 3D) and integrated with daily seismic events for the U.S. in Sourcewater Geo™.
• USGS (U.S. Geological Survey)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2026USGS seismicity events are integrated into Sourcewater Geo™'s proprietary Permian fault-line maps (alongside TexNet seismicity events), enabling daily seismic event overlays and induced seismicity risk analytics for existing SWDs across TX and NM.
• Texas Railroad Commission (TX RRC)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2026Texas Railroad Commission seismicity response data, SRA (Seismic Response Area) maps (Gardendale, Northern Culberson-Reeves, Stanton) and Seismic Investigation Region (SIR) data are integrated into Sourcewater Geo™. Sourcewater maps and visualizes RRC permit reductions and shut-ins on the platform.
• New Mexico Oil Conservation Division (NMOCD)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2026New Mexico Oil Conservation Division Seismicity Mitigation Protocol and OCD announcements are referenced and integrated into Sourcewater Geo™ for induced seismicity risk analytics across the Permian (TX/NM).
• USPTO (U.S. Patent and Trademark Office)minorOthers · 1 January 2026Eleven U.S. patents granted by USPTO and listed on Sourcewater's virtual patent marking page covering DirtWork Alert (image processing), FracScape (location-data intelligence), SWD Pre-Permit Alert (legal notification scraping), and Sourcewater Pro (oilfield water management).
• Tailwater RoyaltiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 June 2022On June 7, 2022 Sourcenergy announced Tailwater Royalties will leverage Sourcenergy's data offerings in A&D and mineral intelligence. Tailwater Royalties is the minerals and royalties-focused investment strategy of Tailwater Capital. The partnership is centered on Sourcenergy's patented DirtWork Alert satellite detections and pre-permit legal-notice mapping to identify mineral acquisition opportunities ahead of competitors. Tailwater Royalties President Doug Prieto cited Sourcenergy's innovations in AI, satellite imagery and GPS data as extending their competitive edge in the minerals and royalties market.
• BloombergminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 29 April 2022Bloomberg cited Sourcenergy in its April 29, 2022 article 'Fracking Boom Turns Texas Into Earthquake Capital of the U.S.' (Sergio Chapa and David Wethe), referencing Sourcewater's induced seismicity analysis and pre-permit data.
• Wall Street JournalminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 January 2022Wall Street Journal featured Sourcenergy in the January 18, 2022 article 'Texas Earthquakes Prompt New Fracking Rules' by Collin Eaton, citing Sourcenergy data on seismicity and disposal activity in the Permian. Used as an earned-media channel for category authority on induced seismicity.
• Minerals & Royalties Council (MARC / NorthAm Royalties Assembly)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 13 October 2021The Minerals & Royalties Council hosted the NorthAm Royalties Assembly (October 13, 2021, Houston) where Josh Adler presented how mineral buyers can use Sourcenergy's data to gain a competitive edge; MARC also hosted the April 2022 annual event in Houston where the mineral buyer presentation was given.
• Hart EnergycoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 6 July 2021Hart Energy co-hosted the launch webinar for FracScape™ (July 6, 2021) titled 'How Mobile GPS, Satellite Imagery and AI are Disrupting Oilfield Intelligence' and hosted the Executive Oil Conference (EOC) in Midland (Nov 3-4, 2021) where CEO Josh Adler presented. Also published the Hart Energy webinar replay on induced seismicity.
• Digital WildcattersminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 23 June 2021Digital Wildcatters co-hosted the Energy Tech Night (June 23, 2021, Heights Theater, Houston) where Josh Adler launched FracScape™, and hosts the 'Tripping Over the Barrel' podcast (Jeremy Funk & Tim Loser) which featured Josh Adler as a guest in July 2021.
• Houston ChronicleminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 14 June 2021Houston Chronicle covered Sourcewater's launch of FracScape™ in June 2021 with a feature on how the company will use anonymized cell phone data, satellite imagery, government records and machine learning to track activity across the Permian Basin. Used as a launch-amplification earned-media partner.
• Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 12 April 2021SEG hosted the 'Energy in Data' conference (Apr 12-13, 2021) where Sourcewater CEO Josh Adler presented on the digital revolution in upstream energy and AI/ML/geospatial big data. SEG also covered the casee lemons induced seismicity work.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• TGS: TGS is a leading provider of multi-client geoscience data, well data libraries, and reservoir intelligence for the upstream industry. Comparable as a broad incumbent with overlapping subsurface and well data assets, particularly relevant to Sourcewater Geo™ geoscience and fault/seismicity analytics.
• S&P Global Commodity Insights (Platts): S&P Global Commodity Insights (formerly IHS Markit / Platts) is a major provider of upstream energy data, analytics, and benchmarking, including well-level production, activity, and supply-demand models used by the same investor and operator customers Sourcewater targets. Comparable as a broad incumbent in upstream data intelligence.
• Enverus: Enverus (formerly DrillingInfo/RSEG) is the largest SaaS and data analytics platform for the upstream oil & gas industry, offering well, production, land, and analytics data across all major U.S. basins. It is a broad incumbent competing for the same E&P, midstream, and financial services customers Sourcewater serves, with significantly greater scale.

Direct peers

• Petro.ai: Petro.ai offers a subsurface AI platform for completion design, frac hit avoidance, and well spacing optimization, with strong Permian and Eagle Ford customer penetration. Comparable as a direct peer in AI/ML-driven upstream analytics that overlap with Sourcewater's pre-permit and completion-focused intelligence.
• Novi Labs: Novi Labs provides AI-driven production forecasting, typecurve analytics, and completion optimization for U.S. shale operators. It is a direct peer in upstream AI/data analytics for E&P customers, focused on completions and well performance modeling.
• Rextag: Rextag provides GIS-based mapping data for pipelines, oil & gas infrastructure, and midstream assets across the U.S. Directly comparable to Sourcewater's pipeline and infrastructure mapping capabilities, particularly the 9,000+ miles of private water midstream pipelines and produced water flow charts.
• WellDatabase (TGS Well Data): WellDatabase (now part of TGS) is a web-based well data and analytics platform providing permits, completions, production, and wellbore data across the U.S. Direct peer in regulatory well/permit data and pre-drill intelligence for the same E&P and OFS customer segments.

Others

• Kimmeridge Energy Engagement Fund / Kimmeridge Data Services: Kimmeridge is an energy-focused private investment and data firm that publishes proprietary analysis on shale performance, well productivity, and capital discipline. It is adjacent/thematic to Sourcewater's investment/financial services customer segment and competes for analyst mindshare on upstream data interpretation.

Emerging players

• Solsten (formerly Fracta): Solsten applies AI and graph analytics to upstream oil & gas and minerals/royalties data for opportunity identification. Emerging player with partial overlap on the mineral/royalty buyer use case Sourcewater targets with DirtWork Alert™ and pre-permit legal notice mapping.

Regional players

• WaterBridge NDB / Aris Water Solutions: Aris Water Solutions and WaterBridge are large Permian-focused water midstream and saltwater disposal operators. Comparable to Sourcewater as customers/ecosystem participants in Permian produced water infrastructure, though as operators they buy the intelligence rather than compete with it; relevant for marketplace liquidity.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sourcewaterinc
• Facebookfacebook.com/SourcewaterInc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sourcewater-inc-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors4 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sourcewater