Systems and methods for processing produced oilfield brine

Abstract

Systems and methods presented herein relate to processing produced oilfield brine by deconstructing it into two useful components: (1) desalinated water and (2) a suspension of solid-state salt (e.g., crystallized salt) slurried in a salt-saturated brine, which may be formulated and injected into hydrocarbon-producing formations above hydraulic fracturing pressure to intentionally create regions of localized high stress within the respective formations. In addition, systems and methods presented herein relate to processing oilfield brine received from hydrocarbon-producing wells by: (1) coupling high-pressure desalination technologies with saltwater disposal (SWD) operations, (2) active management of SWD water composition at the rock face through dual stream (e.g., split-stream) injection, and/or (3) coupled SWD injection, flow assurance, and stimulation to minimize SWD formation damage and injection pressures.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.