Magnesium Oxide Silica Reducer for Produced Water
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for treating produced water from thermal in situ bitumen or heavy hydrocarbon recovery operations are inefficient in removing silica, particularly in lime softeners and evaporators, as magnesium oxide hydration before reaching the treatment vessel reduces silica removal efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A silica reducer composition comprising magnesium oxide with a specific surface area between 20 m2/g and 65 m2/g and median particle sizing of 3 to 20 microns, added to produced water to inhibit hydration and enhance silica adsorption and co-precipitation in lime softeners or evaporators, ensuring effective silica reduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If magnesium oxide is added to produced water for silica removal, then silica removal efficiency is improved, but magnesium oxide hydrates before reaching the treatment vessel reducing effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of magnesium oxide by controlling particle size (3-20 microns) and specific surface area (20-65 m2/g) to optimize the balance between reactivity for silica removal and resistance to premature hydration during transport
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary sizing and surface area control of magnesium oxide particles before addition to produced water, ensuring they maintain the anhydrous state during transport and only hydrate at the appropriate time in the treatment vessel
2Reliability
If magnesium oxide particle size is reduced to enhance silica adsorption, then silica removal is improved, but surface area increases causing faster hydration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes two critical parameters simultaneously: particle size (3-20 microns) for adequate reactivity and specific surface area (20-65 m2/g) to control hydration rate, achieving the optimal balance between silica removal efficiency and prevention of premature hydration
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a controlled amount of magnesium oxide with specific surface area characteristics that provide sufficient reactivity for silica removal while limiting excessive surface area that would cause rapid premature hydration
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 silica reducer composition effectively reduces silica content from produced water, maintaining magnesium oxide in a non-hydrated state during transport to the treatment vessel, achieving silica concentrations below 50 ppm, thereby improving the efficiency of silica removal and maintaining the integrity of boiler feed water for steam generation.
Implementation Method 1
enhance silica adsorption and co-precipitation in lime softeners or evaporators
Implementation Method 2
enhance silica adsorption and co-precipitation in lime softeners or evaporators
Implementation Method 3
the specific surface area of the particles of the magnesium oxide is provided to inhibit hydration of the magnesium oxide above 10% for a residence time between addition into the produced water until entering the produced water treatment vessel
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to the treatment of produced water from SAGD operations or other thermal in situ hydrocarbon recovery operations. The innovative products and techniques have been developed by Baymag Inc, a subsidiary of Refratechnik Holding GmbH. For example, the disclosure relates to a silica reducer composition for use in warm or hot lime softeners or evaporators for treating produced water generated from in situ hydrocarbon recovery operations. The silica reducer composition has an enhanced combination of particle sizing and surface area for facilitating silica reduction while minimizing hydration. The silica reducer composition can be manufactured by calcining followed by milling and other optional process steps.