Screening of advanced produced water treatment technologies: overview and testing results

Abstract

Produced water (PW) is the highest volume liquid waste stream generated by the petroleum industry. Historically, the treatment of PW has been limited to free oil and suspended solids removal, using physical separation technologies, and injection in disposal wells. However, because of new regulations combined with geological restrictions and water scarcity, the drive to have greater fraction of the PW more extensively treated and ultimately reused is increasing. This paper presents the results of laboratory investigations carried out by the ConocoPhillips Global Water Sustainability Center, where various treatment processes (membrane processes, membrane bioreactors, membrane distillation and ozonation) were evaluated as treatment methods for PW from different oil & gas fields. The preliminary results of investigations performed confirmed the potential of Membrane Filtration, MBRs and Ozonation to treat PW and produce an effluent suitable for reuse. Membrane distillation may have potential in the longer term.

Keywords:

• Produced water
• Oil and gas
• Membrane distillation
• Membrane bioreactor
• Ozonation
• Unconventional
• Desalination

The research team would like to acknowledge their colleagues at the GWSC including, Dr Isik Turkmen, Dr Nabin Upadhyay, Ms Eman Al Shammari and Ms Mary Katebah for conducting the chemical analysis of the various samples.