US 2009/0261040 A1 · METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TREATING AN AQUEOUS STREAM IN THE PRODUCTION OF HYDROCARBON

Abstract

A method and system for treating an aqueous stream in the production of hydrocarbon are provided. An osmotic operation is performed between the stream of produced water and a stream of draw fluid to transfer water from the produced water to the draw fluid, thereby diluting the draw fluid to form a stream of diluted draw fluid and concentrating the produced water to form a stream of concentrated produced water. The concentration of the produced water can facilitate the subsequent removal of contaminants therefrom, and, in some cases, the diluted draw fluid can be re-used, e.g., for injection into the well of the hydrocarbon production operation or as a fertilizing fluid.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An osmotic method for treating an aqueous stream in the production of hydrocarbon, the method comprising:

providing a stream of produced water formed in a production of hydrocarbon, the produced water including dissolved minerals and hydrocarbon;
providing a stream of draw fluid;
and
performing a direct osmotic operation between the produced water and the draw fluid by exposing the produced water and the draw fluid to opposite sides of a semi-permeable osmotic membrane to transfer water from the produced water to the draw fluid, thereby diluting the draw fluid to form a stream of diluted draw fluid and concentrating the produced water to form a stream of concentrated produced water.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and system for treating an aqueous stream in the production of hydrocarbon

Life of this patent

Method and system for treating an aqueous stream in the production of hydrocarbon

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20