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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Method for utilization of oil field waste brine to develop a salt gradient solar pond

Patent ·
OSTI ID:6247401
A process and method is disclosed for utilizing oil field waste brine to develop and maintain a salt gradient solar pond which in turn provides thermal energy for doing work, including improved separation of oil/brine emulsions into waste brine, crude oil, and natural gas; hot brine from the storage layer of the developed solar pond provides heat to a process heat exchanger which is intended to elevate the temperature of a working fluid such as an emulsion of crude oil and brine coming from producing oil wells prior to a separation process within a conventional heater treater. Waste brine from the crude oil process is utilized to develop and maintain the solar pond rather than simply being disposed.
Assignee:
Applied Solar Engineering Inc.
Patent Number(s):
US 4479486
OSTI ID:
6247401
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English