WATER TREATMENT TECHNOLOGY

FACT SHEET

KEY CONSIDERATIONS
ION EXCHANGE
 Limited applicability since the technology is not
capable of removing TDS levels above
approximately 5,000 mg/L.
Process Description
Ion exchange involves the exchange or replacement of  Applicable as a pretreatment method to remove
dissolved constituents by attachment to an water constituents/parameters such as, heavy
electrostatically ion exchange material, which often metals, alkalinity or used as a polishing
consists of a synthetic resin. Ion exchange is a reversible treatment.
chemical reaction wherein positively or negatively  The cost for a typical ion exchange system ranges
charged ions present in the water are replaced by from 0.08 to $0.11 at 220 gpm or $0.04 to
similarly charged ions present within the resin. When the $0.07 at 880 gpm.
replacement ions on the resin are exhausted, the resin is
recharged with more replacement Ions. The process relies
on the fact that water solutions must be electrically In the shale gas industry, ion exchange is applicable as a
neutral. Therefore, ions in the resin bed are exchanged pretreatment method to remove other water constituents
with ions of similar charge in the water and as result of such as, heavy metals (i.e., barium, iron, strontium),
the exchange process; no reduction in ions is obtained. nitrates, alkalinity, anionic complexes of uranium or
Shale Gas Basin utilized as a polishing treatment.
Technical Limitations
Fayetteville
Haynesville

Woodford

Ion
Marcellus

Barnett

As stated, ion exchange is limited to removing

Exchange
Treatment Company

Treatment Company

constituents in waters with TDS concentrations below

approximately 5,000 mg/L.

Ion exchange has limited applicability in the Shale

Ion exchange requires pretreatment (deoiling,
Gas industry as a desalination treatment precipitation softening, TSS, etc.) to avoid resin fouling
technology. It is suitable as a pre-treatment or and the process cannot remove nonionic dissolved species
polishing technology that is integrated into an or microbes.
overall treatment process.
Operation and management considerations for IX include
occasional disinfection of IX resin with NaOCl or H2O2.
Technical Capabilities Careful management of the feed stream is also necessary
The process of ion exchange has historically been used to to ensure that fouling agents such as suspended solids,
remove hardness ions such as calcium and magnesium by scale forming materials (e.g., CaSO4), and oxidized
replacing them with sodium and chloride ions. In the case metal are not present in the feed water.
of oil and gas produced water, ion exchange is typically
used to preferentially remove sodium, reducing the Costs
sodicity of the water. As produced water passes through The process of ion exchange has minimal operational energy
the system, sodium ions are removed from the water and demands and typically only requires electricity to operate
replace hydrogen ions on the resin's exchange sites. small pumps for pumping fluids under low hydraulic
However, ion exchange is limited to removing pressure. In addition, the capital cost of ion exchange
constituents in waters with TDS levels below equipment is less than for reverse osmosis or distillation
approximately 5,000 mg/L, with a generated waste equipment assuming TDS levels are at appropriate levels.
stream of approximately 1 to 5 percent of the input
water.
Note: Information is from vendor, however specifications may have Water Treatment Catalog and Decision Tool
changed. Contact vendor for updates.
 WATER TREATMENT TECHNOLOGY
FACT SHEET

The cost for a typical ion exchange system ranges from
approximately $0.08 to $0.11 at 220 gpm or $0.04 to
$0.07 at 880 gpm. However, studies conducted by EMIT
Water Discharge Technology, LLC in the Powder River
Basin via the Higgins Loop, indicated treatment costs
ranged from $0.05 to $0.20 per barrel of treated water,
depending on the influent composition.
Desalination Techniques. Universities Council on Water
Resources.
Burnett, Dave., Rich Haut, and Tom Williams.
Environmentally Friendly Drilling Systems Background &
Current Programs. Global Petroleum Research Institute.

References
National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL).
Produced Water Management Information System
(PWMIS). Produced Water Management Descriptions-
Ion Exchnage.

Colorado School of Mines. Produced Water Treatment

and Beneficial Use Information Center. Treatment
Options. Ion Exchnage.

Drainage Water Treatment Technical Committee. 1999.

Drainage Water Treatment. Final Report. The San
Joaquin Valley Drainage Implementation Program and
The University of California Salinity/Drainage Program.

ALL Consulting. 2003. Handbook on Coal Bed Methane

Produced Water: Management and Beneficial Use
Alternatives. Prepared For: Ground Water Protection
Research Foundation U.S. Department of Energy
National Petroleum Technology Office Bureau of Land
Management.

Department of the Army. 1986. Technical Manual,

Water Desalination. TM 5-813-8.

ALL Consulting and Interstate Oil and Gas Compact

Commission. 2006. A Guide to Practical Management of
Produced Water from Onshore Oil and Gas Operations
in the United States. Prepared for the U.S. Department
of Energy National Petroleum Technology Office.

Personal Conversation between Nathan Alleman and Dan

Silverstein of Applied Membranes. February 4, 2009.

Dow Chemical Company. FILMTEC Membranes.

Oxidation-Filtration. Accessed at: www.dow.com.

Note: Information is from vendor, however specifications may have Water Treatment Catalog and Decision Tool
changed. Contact vendor for updates.