A field demonstration of the microbial treatment of sour produced water

Conference · Sun Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1995

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2118/26396-PA· OSTI ID:270484

Sublette, K L ^[1]; Morse, D; Raterman, K ^[2]

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1. Univ. of Tulsa, OK (United States)
2. Amoco Production Co., Tulsa, OK (United States)

The potential for detoxification and deodorization of sulfide-laden water (sour water) by microbial treatment was evaluated at a petroleum production site under field conditions. A sulfide-tolerant strain of the chemautotroph and facultative anaerobe, Thiobacillus denitrificans, was introduced into an oil-skimming pit of the Amoco Production Company LACT 10 Unit of the Salt Creek Field, Wyoming. Field-produced water enters this pit from the oil/water separation treatment train at an average flowrate of 5,000 bbl/D (795 m{sup 3}/D) with a potential maximum of 98,000 bbl/D (15,580 m{sup 3}/D). Water conditions at the pit inlet are 4,800 mg/l TDS, 100 mg/l sulfide, pH 7.8, and 107{degrees}F. To this water an aqueous solution of ammonium nitrate and diphosphorous pentoxide was added to provide required nutrients for the bacteria. The first 20% of the pit was aerated to a maximum depth of 5 ft (1.5 m) to facilitate the aerobic oxidation of sulfide. No provisions for pH control or biomass recovery and recycle were made. Pilot operations were initiated in October 1992 with the inoculation of the 19,000 bbl (3,020 m{sup 3}) pit with 40 lb (18.1 kg) of dry weight biomass. After a brief acclimation period, a nearly constant mass flux of 175 lb/D (80 kg/D) sulfide was established to the pit. Bio-oxidation of sulfide to elemental sulfur and sulfate was immediate and complete. Subsequent pilot operations focused upon process optimization and process sensitivity to system upsets. The process appeared most sensitive to large variations in sulfide loading due to maximum water discharge events. However, recoveries from such events could be accomplished within hours. This paper details all pertinent aspects of pilot operation, performance, and economics. Based on this body of evidence, it is suggested that the oxidation of inorganic sulfides by T denitrificans represents a viable concept for the treatment of sour water coproduced with oil and gas.

• Research Organization: BDM Oklahoma, Inc., Bartlesville, OK (United States)
• OSTI ID: 270484
• Report Number(s): CONF-9509173--; ON: DE96001220
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
DETOXIFICATION
GROUND WATER
MICROBIAL EOR
ODOR
OIL WELLS
PERFORMANCE
PETROLEUM
PRODUCTION
SULFIDE MINERALS