Fluid Treatment System and Method of Use Utilizing a Membrane

Abstract

A variable oil field fluid treatment system and method of use which utilizes a pump, a desanding hydrocydone, and or a non-consumable or consumable mechanical solids filter, a membrane unit, a pump and/or combinations therein.

Claims

1. A system for acid and completion treatment comprising: a multicompartment separator or tank capable of treatment for separation with an intake valve; a pump; a hydrocyclone desander capable of desanding and or a non-consumable or consumable mechanical solids filter capable of mechanical filtration; and a membrane unit that is a membrane unit with a polymeric membrane filter; wherein fluid passed into said multicompartment separator enters through said intake valve and is treated for separation; said fluid is then capable of being pumped via said pump to either said hydrocyclone desander for desanding and or to said non-consumable or consumable mechanical solids filter for mechanical filtration; said fluid is then passed into said membrane unit with a polymeric membrane filter; and wherein water derived from said passing into said multicompartment separator enters through said intake valve and is treated for separation; said fluid is then capable of being pumped via said pump to either said hydrocyclone desander for desanding or said non-consumable consumable mechanical solids filter for mechanical filtration; said fluid is then passed into said a membrane unit with a polymeric membrane filter and is discharged and additional non-treated fluid is recirculated to said pump and or vessel or tank.

2. The system for acid and completion treatment of claim 1 further comprising: said pump; said hydrocyclone desander capable of desanding; and or said non-consumable or consumable mechanical solids filter capable of mechanical filtration; and said membrane unit with a polymeric membrane filter; encapsulated as a single work unit.

3. A system for treating slop water comprising: FPSO fluid compartments; a pump; either a hydrocyclone desander capable of desanding and or a non-consumable or consumable mechanical solids filter capable of mechanical filtration; and a membrane unit with a polymeric membrane filter; wherein fluid passed into said FPSO fluid compartments is pumped via said pump to either said hydrocyclone desander for desanding and or to said non-consumable or consumable mechanical solids filter for mechanical filtration; said fluid is then passed into said membrane unit with a polymeric membrane filter; and wherein water derived from said fluid from FPSO fluid compartments that is pumped via said pomp to either said hydrocyclone desander for desanding and or to said non-consumable or consumable mechanical solids filter for mechanical filtration; said fluid is then passed into said membrane unit with a polymeric membrane filter and is discharged and additional non-treated fluid is recirculated to said FPSO fluid compartment. 4. The system for treating slop water of claim 3 further comprising: said pump; said hydrocyclone desander capable of desanding; and or said non-consumable or consumable mechanical solids filter capable of mechanical filtration; and said multiple membrane units are membrane units with a polymeric membrane filter encapsulated as a single work unit. 5. A system for deck drainage treatment comprising: FPSO fluid compartments;: a pump; a hydrocyclone desander capable of desanding; a non-consumable or consumable mechanical solids filter capable of mechanical filtration; and a membrane unit that is a membrane unit with a polymeric membrane filter; wherein fluid is passed into said FPSO fluid compartments; said fluid is then capable of being pumped via said pump to either said hydrocyclone desander for desanding or to said non-consumable consumable mechanical solids filter for mechanical filtration; said fluid is then passed into said membrane unit with a polymeric membrane filter; and wherein water derived from said passing into said FPSO fluid compartments; is then capable of being pumped via said pump to either said hydrocyclone desander for desanding or to said non-consumable or consumable mechanical solids filter for mechanical filtration; said fluid is then passed into said membrane unit with a polymeric membrane filter is discharged and additional fluid and is recirculated to said pump.

6. The system for deck drainage treatment of claim 5 further comprising: said pump; said hydrocyclone desander capable of desanding; said non-consumable or consumable mechanical solids filter capable of mechanical filtration; and said membrane unit with a polymeric membrane filter; encapsulated as a single work unit container.

7. A system for EOR Polymer Flood & ASP treatment comprising: a separator or holding tank; a pump; a hydrocyclone desander capable of desanding; a non-consumable or consumable mechanical solids filter capable of mechanical filtration; and a membrane unit that is a membrane unit with a polymeric membrane filter; wherein fluid passed into said separator or holding tank enters through said intake valve and is treated for separation; said fluid is then capable of being pumped via said pump to either said hydrocyclone desander for desanding or to said non-consumable or consumable mechanical solids filter for mechanical filtration; said fluid is then passed into said membrane unit with a polymeric membrane filter; and wherein water derived from said passing into said separator or holding tank enters through said intake valve and is treated for separation; said fluid is then capable of being pumped via said pump to either said hydrocyclone desander for desanding and or said non-consumable or consumable mechanical solids filter for mechanical filtration; said fluid is then passed into said membrane unit with a polymeric membrane filter and is discharged and additional fluid is recirculated to said separator or holding tank.

8. The system for EOR Polymer Flood & ASP treatment of claim 7 further comprising: said pump; said hydrocyclone desander capable of desanding; said non-consumable or consumable mechanical solids filter capable of mechanical filtration; and said membrane unit with a polymeric membrane filter, encapsulated as a single work unit. 9. A method for acid and completion treatment comprising: passing fluid into said multicompartment separator through an intake valve; treating for separation; pumping said fluid to a hydrocyclone desander for desanding; pumping said fluid to a non-consumable or consumable mechanical solids filter for mechanical filtration; and passing said fluid into a membrane unit that is a membrane unit with a polymeric membrane filter.

10. A method for treating slop water comprising: pumping fluid from FPSO fluid compartments into a hydrocyclone desander for desanding; and passing fluid from said desander into a membrane unit that is a membrane unit with a polymeric filter.

11. A method for treating slop water comprising the steps of: pumping fluid from FPSO fluid compartments into a solid filter for non-consumable or consumable mechanical filtration; and passing fluid from said desander into a membrane unit that, is a membrane unit with a polymeric filter.

12. A method for deck drainage treatment comprising the steps of: pumping fluid from FPSO fluid compartments treated for separation into a hydrocyclone desander for desanding; and passing said fluid into a membrane unit that, is a membrane unit with a polymeric membrane filter for further filtration. 13. A method for EOR Polymer Flood & ASP treatment comprising the steps of: pumping a fluid from a separator or holding tank for separation into a hydrocyclone desander for desanding; and passing said fluid into a membrane unit that is a membrane unit with a polymeric membrane filter.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0046] For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions to be taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings describing specific embodiments of the disclosure, wherein:

[0047] FIG. 1 is a flow diagram of one embodiment of the present invention for acid and completion treatment.

[0048] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of one embodiment of the present invention for FPSO Slop Water treatment.

[0049] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of another embodiment of the present invention for deck drainage treatment.

[0050] FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of the present invention for EOR Polymer Flood & ASP treatment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0051] One or more illustrative embodiments incorporating the invention disclosed herein are presented below. Applicant has created a revolutionary industrial water cleaning process, system and method.

[0052] In the following description, certain details are set forth such as specific quantities, sizes, etc. so as to provide a thorough understanding of the present embodiments disclosed herein. However, it will be evident to those of ordinary skill in the art that the present disclosure may be practiced without such specific details. In many cases, details concerning such considerations and the like have been omitted inasmuch as such details are not .necessary to obtain a complete understanding of the present disclosure and are within the skills of persons of ordinary skill in the relevant art.

[0053] Referring to the drawings in general, it will be understood that the illustrations are for the purpose of describing particular embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to be limiting thereto. Drawings are not necessarily to scale and arrangements of specific units in the drawings can vary.

[0054] While most of the terms used herein will be recognizable to those of ordinary skill in the art, it should be understood, however, that when not explicitly defined, terms should be interpreted as adopting a meaning presently accepted by those of ordinary skill in the art. In cases where the construction of a term would render it meaningless or essentially meaningless, the definition should be taken from Webster's Dictionary, 11th Edition, 2008. Definitions and/or interpretations should not be incorporated from other patent applications, patents, or publications, related or not, unless specifically stated in this specification or if the incorporation is necessary for maintaining validity,.

[0055] Certain terms are used in the following description and claims to refer to particular system components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different persons may refer to a component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components that differ in name but not function. The drawing figures are not necessarily to scale. Certain features of the invention may be shown exaggerated in scale or in somewhat schematic form, and some details of conventional elements may not be shown, all in the interest of clarity and conciseness.

[0056] Although several preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail herein, the invention is not limited hereto. It will be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art that various modifications can be made without materially departing from the novel and advantageous teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the embodiments disclosed herein are by way of example. It is to be understood that the scope of the invention is not to be limited thereby.

[0057] FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of the present invention 100 in a flow chart for acid and completion treatment. As shown, fluid 1000 can enter multicompartment separator 1. Multicompartment separator 1 is one known in the art for the separation of oil and gas separation fluid. Within multicompartment separator 1, the bulk of the free oil will separate by gravity where it will be skimmed by an oil skim pipe into the oil compartment, as is known in the art. In several embodiments, the water 1500 will weir under the weir plates from the last water compartment by pump 2 in to hydrocyclone desander 3 or mechanical solids removal unit 4. The remaining hydrocarbons typically range in concentrations from 200 mg/L to 5000 mg/L depending on the emulsified state of the hydrocarbons and will be sent to a lower pressure multipurpose separations vessel or tank (this can be either pressure vessel or atmospheric vessel). The hydrocyclone desander 3 or solids removal filter 4 will receive water containing solids and hydrocarbons; the hydrocarbons can be free or emulsified in the water.

[0058] Pump 2 is a pump as known in the art for pumping water, or fluids in an industrial cleaning process. In some instances, the water pumped by pump 2 can circumvent, hydrocyclone desander 3 and be pumped directly into non-consumable or consumable mechanical solids filter 4. In several embodiments, the water can be pumped into non-consumable or consumable mechanical solids filter 4 after being processed by hydrocyclone desander 3.

[0059] In many embodiments, desanding hydrocyclone 3, called a desander, offers the highest throughput-to-size ratio of any solids-removal equipment. Hydrocyclones operate by pressure drop. The feed, a mixture of liquids and solids, enters the cyclone through the volute inlet at the operating feed pressure. The change in flow direction forces the mixture to spin in a radial vortex pattern. Because of the angular acceleration of the flow pattern, centrifugal forces are imparted on the solid particles, forcing them toward the internal wail of the cone. The solids continue to spin in a radial vortex pattern, down the length of the cone, and discharge through the apex, creating the underflow stream. Because of cone convergence, the liquid flow is reversed and sent upward through the vortex finder to create the overflow stream. The solids that exit through the apex collect into an accumulation chamber and are periodically purged, while the overflow discharges continually.

[0060] In many embodiments, the water from non-consumable or consumable mechanical solids filter 4 will flow in to membrane unit 5. After being processed by membrane unit 5, the water can then be discharged and the water and oil that does not pass through membrane unit 5 can then be recirculated back to pump 2 to further be processed through hydrocyclone desander 3 or non-consumable or consumable mechanical solids filter 4, or both. Recirculation pump 7 recirculates fluids from multicompartment separator that may need chemical treatment and agitation to help break oil in water emulsions.

[0061] The membrane 5 is a crossflow technology which consists of a recirculation loop from pump 2 through the membrane 5 and back into the suction of the pump 2; occasionally this fluid will need to be replaced with fresh fluids from separation vessel or tank to reduce the oil content that has increased during the concentration process. Crossflow is needed to keep contaminates away from membrane surface 5. Adding gas induced gas or dissolved gas (as known in the art) will increase the agitation, inside of the membrane as well as decrease the overall viscosity of the raw fluids.

[0062] The water to be treated will flow into a vessel or tank typically will have multiple compartments including but not limited to an inlet compartment containing an inlet diffuser designed to further degas fluids, mix chemicals if they are required, a recirculation compartment, a clean water compartment and an oil compartment. The water phase from this vessel or tank will be pumped through a desanding hydrocyclone, and/or solids filter, and membrane filter.

[0063] Spiral wound elements consist of membranes, feed spacers, permeate spacers, and a permeate tube. The purpose of the feed spacer is to provide space for water to flow between the membrane surfaces, and to allow for uniform flow between the membrane leaves. Feed travels through the flow channels tangentially across the length of the element. Filtrate will then pass across the membrane surface into the permeate spacer, where it is carried down the permeate spacer towards the permeate tube. The feed then becomes concentrated a t the end of the element body. Filtration is any of various mechanical, physical operations that separate solids and oil from fluids.

[0064] Centrifugal pumps are the most commonly used kinetic-energy pump. Centrifugal force pushes the liquid outward from the eye of the impeller where it enters the casing. Differential head can be increased by turning the impeller faster, using a larger impeller, or by increasing the number of impellers. The impeller and the fluid being pumped are isolated from the outside by packing or mechanical seals. Shaft radial and thrust bearings restrict the movement of the shaft and reduce the friction of rotation.

[0065] FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the present invention for FPSO slop water treatment. As shown, compromised water from FPSO fluid compartments 10 will be pumped by pump 12 in to hydrocyclone desander 13.

[0066] Pump 12 is a pump as known in the art for pumping water or fluids in an industrial cleaning process. In some instances, the water pumped by pump 12 can circumvent hydrocyclone desander 13 and be pumped directly into non-consumable or consumable mechanical solids filter 14. In several embodiments, the water can be pumped into non-consumable or consumable mechanical solids filter 14 after being processed by hydrocyclone desander 13. In many embodiments, solids removal vessel 14 will receive water containing solids and hydrocarbons; the hydrocarbons can be free or emulsified in the water.

[0067] In many embodiments, the water from non-consumable or consumable mechanical solids filter 14 will flow in to membrane unit 15a and or 15b. After being processed by membrane unit 15a and or 15b, the water can then be discharged and the water and oil that does not pass through membrane units 15a and 15b can then be recirculated back to fluid holding tank 10 to further be processed through hydrocyclone desander 13 and or non-consumable or consumable mechanical solids filter 14, or both.

[0068] FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of the present Invention for deck drainage treatment. As shown, water from one of the deck drainage holding compartments 31 will be pumped by pump 32 into hydrocyclone desander 33 and/or non-consumable or consumable mechanical solids filter 34. The water will then How into membrane filtration unit 35. Water then passes through the membrane to be discharged and the water and oil that does not pass through the membrane will be recirculated into one of the multiple fluid holding compartments 31.

[0069] FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of the present invention for EOR Polymer Flood & ASP treatment. As shown, water from one of the separators or holding tank 41 will be pumped by pump 42 into hydrocyclone desander 43 and or non-consumable or consumable mechanical solids filter 44. The water will then flow into membrane unit 45. From the membrane unit 45, the water that passes through the membrane will be discharged and the water and oil that does not pass through the membrane will be recirculated into one of the multiple fluid holding compartments 41.

[0070] As shown in FIGS. 1-4, the fluids from single or multiple wells from oil and gas production are sent to a three-phase separation vessel 1 to release the lighter hydrocarbons gas phase, heavier hydrocarbons oil phase, and water and solids. The bulk of the heavy hydrocarbons and roost of the light hydrocarbons will be removed in this vessel 1.

[0071] While preferred embodiments have been shown, and described, modifications thereof can be made by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or teaching herein. The embodiments described herein are exemplary only and are not limiting. Many variations and modifications of the system and apparatus are possible and will become apparent to those skilled in the art once the above disclosure is fully appreciated. For example, the relative dimensions of various parts, the materials from which the various parts are made, and other parameters can be varied.