FURTHER ADVANCES IN PRODUCED WATER DE- OILING UTILIZING A TECHNOLOGY THAT REMOVES AND RECOVERS DISPERSED OIL IN PRODUCED WATER 2 MICRONS AND LARGER

In upstream oil and gas operations, saline water is co-produced with the crude oil. On a global spectrum, it is estimated that 3 barrels of water is produced for every barrel of crude oil [1]. As the asset matures, the ratio of water produced vs. crude oil begins to increase. In North America, the ratio is approaching 10:1. Treatment and disposal of produced water is becoming a leading economic factor in the viability assessment of the asset. This is especially so with offshore platforms where produced water must meet and exceed environmental regulations. EARTH (Canada) Corporation have developed and validated a technology, Total Oil Remediation and Recovery (TORR™) [2], [3], [4], [5] to remove and recover dispersed oil in water 2 microns and larger. The technology is a combination of filtration, coalescence and gravity separation. Solutions for several challenging aspects of produced water properties have been developed and tested, through both field trials (onshore and offshore) and laboratory experimental simulations. Results obtained have been measured with an advanced video imaging particle size-distribution apparatus that measures samples on line and in real time. The results show that the technology has been successful in polishing produced water to oil-in-water concentrations of less than 10 mg/L without the need for chemicals or additional heat. The theory behind the technology will be explained and laboratory and offshore field results will be presented to support the technology’s claims