Oil & Gas Production

Upstream processes

Oil & Gas Produced Water

Oil and gas field produced water, also known as oilfield water or produced water, refers to the water that comes up along with oil and gas during extraction. This water can contain a variety of contaminants and poses several environmental and operational challenges:

High Salinity: Produced water typically has high levels of dissolved salts, which can make it unsuitable for various uses and potentially leading to soil and water salinisation if not properly managed.

Toxic Chemicals: The water can retain toxic substances such as heavy metals, hydrocarbons, organic compounds, and naturally occurring radioactive materials. If not appropriately treated and disposed of, these chemicals pose considerable health and environmental risks.

Volume and Disposal: The sheer volume of produced water generated during oil and gas extraction can be substantial. Appropriate disposal or treatment is essential to prevent contamination of surface and groundwater sources and to avoid overloading disposal facilities.

Water Pollution: Mishandling of produced water can result in accidental releases, causing pollution that harms aquatic life, vegetation and ecosystems.

Corrosion and Scaling: The high Salinity of produced water can lead to corrosion and scaling issues in oil and gas production equipment, increasing maintenance costs and potentially disrupting operations.

Environmental Regulations: Stricter environmental regulations are being enforced to govern the management and disposal of produced water, imposing greater compliance requirements and costs on oil and gas operators.

At Frischmann Process Technology, we understand the importance of addressing these challenges responsibly. We are committed to exploring sustainable practices such as advanced water treatment technologies, produced water recycling and reuse, and innovative water management strategies. Striking a balance between our industry’s water needs and the protection of the environment and local communities’ water resources remains at the core of our mission.

Suitable Technologies for Oil & Gas Produced Water

To address the various problems associated with oil and gas production waste and produced water, several technologies are available and continuously being developed. These technologies aim to reduce the environmental impacts, improve water treatment, and promote more sustainable practices in the industry.

Membrane Filtration

Membrane filtration technologies can effectively remove contaminants from produced water, including heavy metals, hydrocarbons, and dissolved salts, with suitable porous size membranes in respect to the feed composition.

Desalination

Technologies such as reverse osmosis and electrodialysis, can be used to treat water with high salinity, making it suitable for beneficial reuse or safe disposal.

Wet Air Oxidation and Catalytic Wet Air Oxidation (WAO and CWAO)

This method of treatment can be applied for the removal of organic compounds (VOCs), hydrocarbon removal (aromatic and polyaromatic), treatment of refractory pollutants and enhanced water quality.

Ion Exchange

Ion Exchange involves exchanging ions present in the water with ions attached to a solid resin, effectively removing specific contaminants. This method is useful for the removal of heavy metals and certain ions from produced water.

Oil-Water separators

Oil-water separators are efficient at separating oil and hydrocarbons from produced water, minimising the risk of oil spills and contamination.

Activated Carbon and Adsorbents

These materials can adsorb and remove organic compounds, chemicals, and hydrocarbons from produced water, improving water quality.

Electrocoagulation

This process uses electricity to remove contaminants, such as heavy metals, from water by promoting coagulation and settling.

Chemical Treatments

Specific chemicals can be used to aid in the precipitation and removal of contaminants, facilitating the treatment of produced water.

Downstream Processes & Petrochemicals

Characteristics

Different types of spent caustic; Low flow rate etc….

Suitable Technologies for Oil Refinery & Petrochemical Effluents Include

Wet Air Oxidation and Catalytic Wet Air Oxidation (WAO and CWAO)
This method of treatment can be applied for the removal of organic compounds (VOCs), hydrocarbon removal (aromatic and polyaromatic), treatment of refractory pollutants and enhanced water quality.

CWAO has been successfully employed at one of the largest oil refineries in Europe for the treatment of spent caustic effluents from the fluidised catalytic cracker and direct coking plants. Enabling the spent caustic to be passed to the site’s wastewater treatment plant, COD levels are reduced from 150,000 mg/l to less than 3,000 mg/l, and total sulphide (including polysulphides) from up to 20,000 mg/l to less than 2 mg/l.