Tangential Gas Injection for Produced Water Hydrocarbon Separation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing water production associated with oil and gas operations, coupled with varying composition of produced water, poses challenges for effective hydrocarbon separation and purification, leading to higher treatment costs and environmental compliance issues.
Innovation Solution
A multi-stage process involving the tangential distribution of gas- and hydrocarbon-containing produced water mixtures within a tank, utilizing nozzles and baffle plates, with recirculation and passage over packing material, to separate hydrocarbons and purify water, allowing for countercurrent or cocurrent flow and repeated stages for enhanced separation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional separation methods are used for produced water, then the basic separation function is achieved, but the separation efficiency is insufficient and treatment costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The separation process is divided into multiple stages: a first separation stage using a separator, followed by a second separation stage using a coalescer. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, improving overall separation efficiency while managing system complexity through functional decomposition.
Solution Approach 2:
A coalescer is introduced as an intermediary device between the separator and the discharge point. The coalescer captures and coalesces dispersed hydrocarbon droplets that escaped the separator, acting as a mediator that enhances separation efficiency without requiring complete redesign of the entire treatment system.
2Reliability
If produced water is discharged directly after basic separation, then treatment costs are reduced, but environmental compliance becomes difficult to meet
Solution Approach 1:
The coalescer serves as an additional intermediary device that ensures environmental compliance by capturing residual hydrocarbons. This intermediate treatment step provides a safety margin for environmental compliance without requiring complex advanced treatment systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical parameters of hydrocarbon droplets by promoting coalescence - transforming small dispersed droplets into larger droplets that can be more easily separated and removed, thereby improving environmental compliance.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple separation stages are added to improve purification, then water quality increases, but equipment complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The purification system is segmented into distinct functional units (separator and coalescer) that can be arranged in series. This segmentation allows for compact design where each unit performs a specific function, achieving high purification quality without requiring a single large complex system.
Solution Approach 2:
The coalescer can be designed to integrate with or nest within the existing separator structure, allowing multiple separation stages to occupy reduced space by nesting functional elements together rather than requiring separate dedicated spaces for each stage.
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
This process achieves efficient hydrocarbon separation and water purification, reducing treatment costs and environmental impact by improving mixing and contact between gas and oil droplets, leading to more effective hydrocarbon removal and compact, adaptable equipment design.
Implementation Method 1
Gas bubbles rise through the water mixture, carrying hydrocarbon droplets to the surface for separation
Implementation Method 2
the said mixture is tangentially distributed via at least one nozzle (7) and at least one baffle plate (8.1)
Implementation Method 3
Gas bubbles rise through the water mixture, carrying hydrocarbon droplets to the surface for separation
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention comprises a process and apparatus for separation of hydrocarbons from hydrocarbon-containing produced water, wherein in stage 1 the hydrocarbon-containing produced water is supplied with a gas-containing component, whereupon a gas- and hydrocarbon-containing produced water mixture is fed to an inlet tube (22, 27) in the center of a tank, whereupon the said mixture is tangentially distributed via at least one nozzle (7) and at least one baffle plate (8.1), whereupon separated hydrocarbons are conveyed to at least one outlet from the tank and cleaned water is conveyed to an outlet (12) from the tank.