Membrane-based technologies can efficiently treat produced water from oil and gas operations. A team from the University of Colorado Boulder developed a novel nanofiltration membrane called TFC QI that can remove dissolved salts and organic compounds from highly contaminated produced water. Engineers at the University of Arkansas also used flat-sheet membranes to treat produced water from natural gas extraction, reducing total dissolved solids by 50% and organic carbon by 95% over hundreds of hours of continuous operation. These membrane technologies show promise for economically treating large volumes of produced water and enabling more sustainable oil and gas production.
Membrane-based technologies can efficiently treat produced water from oil and gas operations. A team from the University of Colorado Boulder developed a novel nanofiltration membrane called TFC QI that can remove dissolved salts and organic compounds from highly contaminated produced water. Engineers at the University of Arkansas also used flat-sheet membranes to treat produced water from natural gas extraction, reducing total dissolved solids by 50% and organic carbon by 95% over hundreds of hours of continuous operation. These membrane technologies show promise for economically treating large volumes of produced water and enabling more sustainable oil and gas production.
Membrane-based technologies can efficiently treat produced water from oil and gas operations. A team from the University of Colorado Boulder developed a novel nanofiltration membrane called TFC QI that can remove dissolved salts and organic compounds from highly contaminated produced water. Engineers at the University of Arkansas also used flat-sheet membranes to treat produced water from natural gas extraction, reducing total dissolved solids by 50% and organic carbon by 95% over hundreds of hours of continuous operation. These membrane technologies show promise for economically treating large volumes of produced water and enabling more sustainable oil and gas production.
Membrane-Based Technologies Treat Produced Water from Oil and Gas Operations
D uring oil and gas production, about
7–10 barrels of polluted water are recovered for each barrel of oil pro- the driving temperature difference for water vapor to pass through very fine pores of hydrophobic membranes, membrane is ideally suited for treating produced waters. A team from the Univ. of Colorado duced. The amount of produced water which do not allow penetration by the Boulder, on behalf of MAST, devel- depends on the geology of the forma- brine solution. Water is recovered as oped a bicontinuous cubic lyotropic tion and the type of reservoir. With a cold distillate on the other side of liquid crystal (LLC) nanofiltration global oil production rate of 100 mil- the membrane. membrane (dubbed TFC QI) that can lion bbl/day, the volumetric production Steam-assisted gravity drainage treat highly contaminated produced rate of produced water is massive. (SAGD) is an enhanced oil recovery waters. The monomer and polar The cost to dispose of produced process. MAST researchers at the New solvent of the LLC arrange themselves water, for example, by deep-well Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) (i.e., self-assemble) into a nanostruc- injection, is very high — up to $4/bbl. found that DCMD could be used to tured material with discrete hydrophilic Improper discharge of these streams treat SAGD produced water, which regions (i.e., pores); this nanostructure can damage the environment, destroy is at high temperatures (130–160°C) is locked into place via polymeriza- local ecosystems, and pollute natural and pressures (2–5 atm). Previously, tion. The pores, approximately 1 nm water sources. Treatment of produced DCMD had not been carried out under in width, extend continuously through- water is very challenging, as it often such high temperature and pressure out the material, creating a network contains large amounts of dissolved conditions. In particular, hydrophobic through which water and solutes can salts, scaling compounds, silica, and flat-sheet as well as hollow-fiber pass. This nanostructure distinguishes a variety of organic species. Efficient membranes of polytetrafluoroethylene the TFC QI membrane material from treatment techniques are critical for (PTFE) and polyvinylidene fluoride its less-structured commercial counter- developing economically viable oil (PVDF) were highly effective at recov- parts. The membrane has pores compa- and gas operations. It is essential to ering water and rejecting TDS. The rable in size to those of a commercial reduce total dissolved solids (TDS) water recovered after membrane treat- nanofiltration (NF) membrane, but a and total/dissolved organic carbon ment could be used directly as a boiler salt rejection capability closer to that of (TOC/DOC) to levels suitable for feed to produce the steam needed for a reverse osmosis (RO) membrane. discharge or external reuse. injection into the oil shales. The results When applied to aqueous indus- The Membrane Science, Engineer- obtained from this research are under trial streams, this novel TFC QI ing and Technology (MAST) Center consideration for potential licensing. membrane exhibits a unique abil- is developing novel membrane-based In MAST studies at the Univ. ity to collect small organic solutes technologies for treatment of produced of Arkansas (UA), engineers used from high-salinity, oily feedwater water. Direct-contact membrane distil- flat-sheet ethylene chlorotrifluoro and produce a lower-saline perme- lation (DCMD) is one of the most ethylene (ECTFE) membranes to treat ate stream. A feed stream containing promising strategies. In a DCMD pro- produced water obtained from natural 15,000 mg/L TDS and 1,250 mg/L cess, the hot produced water supplies gas extraction facilities in the Marcel- DOC was treated with this mem- lus and Fayetteville shale formations. brane; the retentate contained only Before treatment, the produced water 5,000 mg/L TDS and 210 mg/L DOC. contained 22,000–235,000 mg/L TDS. The treated stream was then fed to a Water recoveries up to 70% were biological degradation unit for final achieved during testing. And, in a con- treatment. After biotreatment, a total tinuous long-term trial, a brine sample water recovery of 50% was achieved, containing 134,000 mg/L TDS was with a 67% reduction in TDS and a 10 μm concentrated up to 50% using DCMD 95% reduction in DOC. CEP
for over 434 hr at a constant rate of
p Engineers at the Univ. of Arkansas treated This research was funded through the National produced water with flat-sheet ECTFE mem- treated water production. These results Science Foundation’s Industry-University Coop- branes provided by 3M, a MAST Center sponsor. indicate that the commercial ECTFE erative Research Centers Program (IUCRC).
This article was prepared by the National Science Foundation in partnership with CEP.
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