Water treatment method for heavy oil production
US7150320B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 9, 2004 |
| Grant date | Dec 19, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 26, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S203/17
- WIPO fieldEnvironmental technology
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A process for treating produced water to generate high pressure steam. Produced water from heavy oil recovery operations is treated by first removing oil and grease. If necessary, the pH is then adjusted, normally downward, releasing at least some carbonate alkalinity as free carbon dioxide. Pretreated produced water is then fed to an evaporator. Up to 95% or more of the pretreated produced water stream is evaporated to produce (1) a distillate having a trace amount of residual solutes therein, and (2) evaporator blowdown containing substantially all solutes from the produced water feed. The distillate may be directly used, or polished to remove the trace residual solutes before being fed to a steam generator. Steam generation in a packaged boiler, such as a water tube boiler having a steam drum and a mud drum with water cooled combustion chamber walls, produces 100% quality high pressure steam for down-hole use.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.