US 10,441,898 B1 · Vertical integration of source water treatment

Abstract

Conventional oil-water separation methods are inefficient since they break down a given “primary” phase into two “secondary” phases, one is richer and the other one is poorer in the “secondary” phase of the “primary” phase. As such, neither oil is recovered as a readily de-watered stream nor is water recovered as a readily de-oiled stream. However, de-watering and de-oiling of “oil-water” streams are synonymous, and therefore they should be simultaneously targeted by an efficient method. There are provided herein systems and methods to effectively treat “oil-water” streams by simultaneously de-watering the oil phase and de-oiling the water phase, de-scaling the de-oiled water phase, and de-salting the de-scaled water phase.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A method for treating an oil-water stream, said method comprising separating said oil-water stream by a hydrophobic membrane to produce a de-watered oil stream, and a de-oiled water stream;

determining that said de-watered oil stream is less than or equal to 10 pounds of salt per thousand barrels of oil (PTB), said de-oiled water stream is less than or equal to 42 mg/L of total oil content (TOC), and combinations thereof;
and wherein said oil-water stream is a water-in-oil (W/O) stream, an oil-in-water (O/W) stream, and combinations thereof.

A method for separating foulants from a de-oiled water stream, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) mixing said de-oiled water stream with a calcium source and leonardite to form precipitates comprising said foulants in a pre-precipitator unit;
wherein said foulants comprise strontium, barium, radium, naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM), silica, bromide, boron, transition metals, phosphates, carbonates, sulfides, and combinations thereof;
and wherein said calcium source is selected from the group consisting of dolime, calcium oxide, calcium hydroxide, and combinations thereof;
and (b) removing said precipitates by a filter to produce a de-fouled water stream.

1 more element

A method for treating an oil-water stream, said method comprising demulsifying said oil-water stream with an anionated organic solvent, followed by separating by a hydrophobic membrane to produce a de-watered oil stream, a de-oiled water stream, and an acid gas stream;

determining that said de-watered oil stream is less than or equal to 10 pounds of salt per thousand barrels of oil (PTB), said de-oiled water stream is less than or equal to 42 mg/L of total oil content (TOC), and combinations thereof;
appreciating said acid gas stream is carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide, and combinations thereof;
and recognizing that said oil-water stream is a water-in-oil (W/O) stream, an oil-in-water (O/W) stream, and combinations thereof.

A method for treating an oil-water stream, said method comprising demulsifying said oil-water stream by an aluminum source or an iron source, followed by separating utilizing a hydrophobic membrane to produce a de-watered oil stream, a de-oiled water stream, and an acid gas stream;

determining that said de-watered oil stream is less than or equal to 10 pounds of salt per thousand barrels of oil (PTB), said de-oiled water stream is less than or equal to 42 mg/L of total oil content (TOC), and combinations thereof;
wherein said acid gas stream comprises carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide, and combinations thereof;
and wherein said oil-water stream is a water-in-oil (W/O) stream, an oil-in-water (O/W) stream, and combinations thereof.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Vertical integration of source water treatment

Life of this patent

Vertical integration of source water treatment

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18