Evaluation of the freeze-thaw/evaporation process for the treatment of produced waters
Water purification by using natural conditions to promote freezing appears to be an extremely attractive freeze-crystallization process for the treatment of contaminated water in many areas where natural climatic conditions will seasonally promote freezing. The natural freezing process can be coupled with natural evaporative processes to treat oil and gas produced waters year round in regions with favorable climatic conditions. The objectives of this research are related to development of a commercially-economic natural freeze-thaw/evaporation (FTE) process for the treatment and purification of water produced in conjunction with oil and gas. During the reporting period of 1/1/93 to 3/31/93, project research concentrated on the completion of the Task 1 Summary Report. Task 1 objectives to develop an economic model and determine the commercial viability, economically significant parameters, and research issues of the FTE process have been achieved. Regulatory requirements and associated costs for an FTE facility were found to be similar to those of conventional processes. Two benefits of the FTE process, that make it more environmentally acceptable are: (1) the treated water may be beneficially used and (2) the volume of brine disposal is small compared to disposal of the production water by conventional methods. Based upon the results of the economic evaluation, the FTE process is commercially feasible if operated as described in the base case scenario. In fact, current disposal cost data acquired in Subtask 1.3 indicates the base case water treatment cost of $0.20/bbl is very favorable, less than one-third of the current costs independent producers are paying for disposal at a commercial injection well.
- Research Organization:
- Resource Technology Corp., Laramie, WY (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC22-92MT92009
- OSTI ID:
- 6638529
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/MT/92009-T1; ON: DE93014508
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Evaluation of the freeze-thaw/evaporation process for the treatment of produced waters. Quarterly technical progress report, April 1--June 30, 1993
Evaluation of the freeze-thaw/evaporation process for the treatment of produced waters. Quarterly technical progress report, January 1--March 31, 1994
Related Subjects
NATURAL GAS WELLS
WASTE WATER
OIL WELLS
WATER TREATMENT
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
BRINES
EVAPORATION
FREEZING
PROGRESS REPORT
DOCUMENT TYPES
ECONOMICS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
LIQUID WASTES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
WASTES
WATER
WELLS
020800* - Petroleum- Waste Management
020700 - Petroleum- Economics
Industrial
& Business Aspects