Crude oil processing plant wastewater treatment with co-production of hydrogen for clean energy

A method for powering portions of a gas-oil separation plant, the method comprising:

• separating a wastewater stream comprising water and hydrocarbons from a crude oil stream in a separator positioned in the gas-oil separation plant;
• electrolyzing the hydrocarbons of the wastewater stream to produce protons and a treated wastewater;
• combining the protons and electrons to produce hydrogen gas;
• oxidizing the hydrogen gas into water;
• in response to oxidizing the hydrogen gas into water, generating electrical power for use in the gas-oil separation plant;
• and
• recycling at least a portion of the treated wastewater to a desalter positioned in the gas-oil separation plant.

A system for powering portions of a gas-oil separation plant, the system comprising:

• a wastewater stream comprising water and hydrocarbons from a separator positioned in the gas-oil separation plant;
• a microbial electrolysis cell comprising a membrane separating the microbial electrolysis cell into an anode side and a cathode side, the microbial electrolysis cell comprising an anode disposed in the anode side and a cathode disposed in the cathode side, wherein the anode and the cathode are configured to connect to a power source, wherein microbes are disposed within the anode side, wherein the microbial electrolysis cell is configured to receive the wastewater stream at the anode side, wherein the anode and the microbes are cooperatively configured to electrolyze the hydrocarbons in response to receiving power from the power source to produce hydrogen ions at the anode side, wherein the membrane is configured to allow the hydrogen ions and water molecules to pass through the membrane from the anode side to the cathode side to form a treated wastewater stream at the cathode side, wherein the cathode is configured to combine the hydrogen ions at the cathode side to produce hydrogen gas, wherein the microbial electrolysis cell is configured to discharge, from the cathode side, the treated wastewater stream and a hydrogen gas stream comprising the hydrogen gas;
• and
• a hydrogen fuel cell configured to receive the hydrogen gas stream and oxygen, wherein the hydrogen fuel cell is configured to convert the oxygen and the hydrogen gas from the hydrogen gas stream into water, and the hydrogen fuel cell is configured to generate power in response to converting the oxygen and the hydrogen gas into water.