Production of ultra-high-density brines
AssigneeGradiant Corporation
InventorsMaximus G. St. John, Steven Lam, Prakash Narayan Govindan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Water treatment systems and associated methods are generally described. Certain embodiments of the water treatment systems and methods described herein may be used to treat water comprising one or more contaminants (e.g., oil, grease, suspended solids, scale-forming ions, volatile organic material) to remove at least a portion of the one or more contaminants. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the treated water may be used directly in certain applications (e.g., oil and/or gas extraction processes). In some embodiments, at least a portion of the treated water may undergo desalination to produce substantially pure water and/or concentrated brine.
Claims26
A method for forming concentrated brine, comprising:
- supplying a saline water input stream comprising an amount of suspended solids to a suspended solids removal apparatus;
- removing, within the suspended solids removal apparatus, at least a portion of the suspended solids from the saline water input stream to produce a suspended-solids-diminished stream having a lower amount of suspended solids relative to the saline water input stream and a suspended-solids-enriched stream having a higher amount of suspended solids relative to the saline water input stream;
- supplying at least a portion of the suspended-solids-enriched stream to a filtration apparatus and removing at least a portion of liquid within the suspended-solids-enriched stream to form a filter cake;
- and
- adding an acid to the filter cake to form a brine solution comprising a dissolved salt and having a density of at least about 9 pounds/gallon.
6-7. (canceled)
11-12. (canceled)
(canceled)
A method for forming concentrated brine, comprising:
- supplying a saline water input stream comprising an amount of suspended solids to a suspended solids removal apparatus;
- removing, within the suspended solids removal apparatus, at least a portion of the suspended solids from the saline water input stream to produce a suspended-solids-diminished stream having a lower amount of suspended solids relative to the saline water input stream and a suspended-solids-enriched stream having a higher amount of suspended solids relative to the saline water input stream;
- supplying at least a portion of the suspended-solids-enriched stream to a filtration apparatus and removing at least a portion of liquid within the suspended-solids-enriched stream to form a substantially solid material;
- and
- adding an acid to the substantially solid material to dissolve substantially all of the substantially solid material to form a brine solution comprising a dissolved salt.
21-22. (canceled)
26-27. (canceled)
(canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.