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PRODUCED WATER TREATMENT METHODS – A REVIEW Logo

Aarzoo Mayur Jobanputra, Balasubramanian Ragunathan, Aastha Maurya, Swastik Mazumdar, Shabiimam Mohidin Ameer

Abstract
Produced water is considered as the most significant waste generated
from hydrocarbon recovery, which cannot be discarded into the
environment. It consists of higher concentrations of salt, heavy metals,
and sand particles. Increase in demand for crude oil has led to an
increase in the production of produced water. The focus is on treating
the produced water to make it suitable for reuse. Taking into account
the conservation of the environment, different physical, chemical and
biological methods are used to treat produced water. This presentation
discusses the reuse of produced water for various purposes in addition
to studying the different treatment methods in detail.
Objective
Untreated PW can have serious repercussions on the environment considering its tremendously pollutants
such as various oil and dissolved components and chemicals which are harmful and toxic. Untreated PW is
harmful for aquatic organisms as it contains large concentrations of hydrocarbons and metals. The main
problem is the damage caused by the ocean disposal of PW to the ecology. The concentration of the
chemicals in PW is high enough to cause bioaccumulation and their toxicity is a cause of distress to the
ocean. Near a PW discharge, marine organisms and animals may bioaccumulate metals, phenols, and
hydrocarbons from the ambient water, food consumed, or bottom sediments. Taking this into consideration,
this review discusses the composition of PW, it impacts on the environment and various treatment
technologies. Several methods have been studied and recognized to be effective in managing PW.

Methodology
Figure 1: Approximate production of OPW taken from various oilfields
Methods of OPW Treatment
70 billion 100 million
5 million gallons
per well-1
barrels per barrels per Primary treatment Secondary treatment Tertiary treatment
annum well-2 day well-3
Gravity separation Flotation technique Membrane technique
Production Profile [1]
Adsorption Biological technique Microfiltration (MF)
Figure 2: Approximate production profile from
studies conducted in the USA Sand Filtration Hydrocyclones Ultrafiltration (UF)

Oil (1 BBL)
Water (3 BBL) Figure 4: Methods of OPW Treatment Nanofiltration (NF)

Oilfield Produced Water Reverse Osmosis (RO)

(OPW)
Organic Chemical
Physical treatment process involves the removal of solid substances and hydrocarbon compounds
Natural
Compounds /
Pollutants
Inorganic Additives
employed in
from wastewater. In petroleum refinery wastewater treatment plants, primary treatment is commonly
Compounds
drilling,
fracturing and
employed for physical operations
Oil and Grease Salts (TDS)
Aromatic Chloroform operating
Polyaromatic
(O&G) Compounds Hydrocarbons
(PAHs)
Calcium Secondary treatment involves removing the dissolved components by utilizing different methods
Ethylbenzene
like flotation, biological, and a few other processes.
Magnesium
Figure 3: Characteristics of
Tertiary treatment process includes sand filtration, activated carbon, and chemical oxidation
OPW Toluene
Sulfates processes. Total suspended solids, dissolved and suspended matter, COD, and trace organics such as
PAHs (polyaromatic hydrocarbons) are removed. Based on the operating parameters in the clarifier,
Benzene
Barium the effluent contains suspended solids after the secondary treatment process.

Expected Results
Table 1: Primary Treatments and its Efficiency Table 3: Tertiary Treatments and its Efficiency Figure 5: Size of particles filtered in each Tertiary Treatment method
Recovery Efficiency
Methods Used to Remove Recovery Efficiency (%) Methods Used to Remove
(%)

Gravity Separation OIW 93.22 Removal of organic pollutant >99

UF
98.6
Adsorption COD 72 Oil rejection efficiency
TSS 70 0.5–25 g/L of TDS 75–90

COD 38 Removal of DOC 89

Sand Filtration
BOD 54 Heavy metals (mg/L):
Zinc – 0 - 1.7
Lead – 0 - 0.01
Table 2: Secondary Treatments and its Efficiency Barium - 1.02 - 2.35 Figure 6: OPW treatment in Hydrocyclones and Flotation technique
Boron - 5.67 - 7.15
Methods Used to Remove Recovery Efficiency
Selenium - 0.03-0.04
(%) RO+NF Cadmium - <0.03 - 0.01
Flotation Technique Oil droplet (<10 µm) 76.65 Chrom Hexavalent - 0.01 - 0.03 97
Copper - <0.01 - 0.02
COD (range of 1710 –3030 Iron - 0.10 - 0.20
Biological Technique 80
mg/L) Manganese - 0.01 - 0.02
Zinc - <0.01 - 0.02
Oil Droplet Separation 77.8 to 98.82 Arsen - <0.01
Hydrocyclone Cobalt - <0.01
Solid Particle Separation 90.3 to 99.1 Mercury - <0.001

Outcomes Bibliography/ References

• Abass AO (2020) Recent advances on the treatment technology of oil and gas produced water for sustainable energy industry-mechanistic aspects and process chemistry perspectives.
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technologies. These methods have been studied and recognized to be effective in managing PW.
Since no particular technique can meet the water quality standards, two or more treatment systems
are used in PW treatment. A suitable technology depends on the chemical composition and the
source of PW, cost efficiency, environmental friendliness, equipment installation space
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Acknowledgement
We extend our sincere gratitude to the invaluable contributions of those whose studies have illuminated the path in our chosen field. Special appreciation goes to the authors whose insightful publications have served as
key references and sources of inspiration. This review would not have been possible without the collective efforts of those dedicated to advancing the frontiers of research.