Evaporation System for Produced Water Volume Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current produced water management systems are complex, costly, and inefficient, particularly in handling large volumes of produced water, leading to increased operational costs and transportation challenges due to limited reuse options and high demand for disposal or recycling facilities.
Innovation Solution
A closed system incorporating metering, filtration, chemical adsorption, water softening, evaporation, and fluid recirculation to reduce produced water volume, using a simple and emissions-friendly method that leaves a 'heavy brine' byproduct for recirculation and well applications, with components like electromagnetic flow meters, filtration baskets, chemical adsorbent housing, and evaporation chambers to manage and process produced water effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If produced water is transported to disposal or recycling facilities, then disposal is achieved, but operational costs increase and transportation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts water from produced water through evaporation, separating it from the heavy brine. This extraction approach eliminates the need for transporting entire volumes of produced water to disposal facilities, as only the concentrated brine remains, significantly reducing transportation requirements and operational complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The evaporation system enables the well pad to handle its own produced water on-site through self-contained evaporation chambers and associated equipment. This self-service capability eliminates dependence on external disposal facilities and complex transportation networks, allowing the system to process and manage its own waste stream independently
2Productivity
If produced water volume is large, then production is maintained, but transportation and disposal challenges increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the concentration parameter of produced water through evaporation, transforming large volumes of dilute produced water into small volumes of concentrated heavy brine. This parameter change allows production to continue while dramatically reducing the quantity of water requiring disposal or recycling
3Quantity of substance
If distillation or evaporation is used for water reduction, then water volume decreases, but system complexity and power demands increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the evaporation system into multiple independent chambers that can operate in parallel. Each chamber is a simple, standalone unit that processes a portion of the produced water, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high water reduction capacity. This modular approach avoids the need for complex single-unit systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses multiple copies of simple evaporation chambers rather than one complex system. Each chamber is a replicated, standardized unit that performs the same function, simplifying design, construction, and maintenance while achieving the required water reduction throughput
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution reduces produced water volume, minimizes transportation needs, decreases spill risks, simplifies disposal strategies, and lowers operational costs by efficiently processing and recirculating produced water on-site, thereby reducing truck traffic and environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
evaporation chambers to manage and process produced water effectively
Implementation Method 2
The water is heated in the evaporation chamber
Implementation Method 3
A preheat treatment unit is provided to heat the produced water
Implementation Method 4
filtration baskets, chemical adsorbent housing, and evaporation chambers to manage and process produced water effectively
Data Source
AI summary
In accordance with the present invention, problems related to produced water management are addressed. The proposed produced water evaporation system incorporates several simple components in a closed system to achieve a safe and effective produced water reduction alternative that can be efficient and sustainable on active natural gas well pads.