Water treatment following shale oil production by in situ heating
US8616279B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 7, 2010 |
| Grant date | Dec 31, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 19, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21B43/247
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A method for treating water at a water treatment facility is provided. In one aspect, the water has been circulated through a subsurface formation in a shale oil development area. The subsurface formation may comprise shale that has been spent due to pyrolysis of formation hydrocarbons. The method in one embodiment includes receiving the water at the water treatment facility, and treating the water at the water treatment facility in order to (i) substantially separate oil from the water, (ii) substantially remove organic materials from the water, (iii) substantially reduce hardness and alkalinity of the water, (iv) substantially remove dissolved inorganic solids from the water, and/or (v) substantially remove suspended solids from the water. The method may further includes delivering the water that has been treated at the water treatment facility re-injecting the treated water into the subsurface formation to continue leaching out contaminants from the spent shale.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.