Electrochemical treatment methods

1. A method of treating a fluid mixture, the fluid mixture comprising an aqueous phase, a hydrophobic phase and aqueous contaminants, the method comprising the steps of:

(i) performing a first electrochemical treatment on the fluid mixture to at least partially separate the aqueous phase and the hydrophobic phase; and

(ii) performing a second electrochemical treatment on the at least partially separated aqueous phase to thereby remove aqueous contaminants from the aqueous phase;

wherein the first and/or second electrochemical treatment is performed using an electrochemical liquid treatment apparatus comprising:

a treatment chamber comprising:

at least one inlet for entry of a liquid to be treated, and

at least one outlet for exit of electrochemically treated liquid;

a plurality of electrodes comprising at least one anode, at least one cathode, and at least one electrical conductor positioned intermediate said at least one cathode and said at least one anode;

at least one electrode holder holding electrodes comprising: (i) at least one electrical conductor; and (ii) at least one anode and/or at least one cathode; wherein the at least one electrode holder is slideable between:

(i) a holding position in which the electrode holder is engaged with the treatment chamber and said electrodes held by the electrode holder are positioned within the treatment chamber for electrochemical treatment of the liquid; and wherein at least two of said electrodes held by the electrode holder are configured to be differently charged so as to define an electrochemical treatment zone in a liquid passageway therebetween; and

(ii) a released position in which the electrode holder is not present in the treatment chamber; and

a flow aligner positioned intermediate the at least one inlet and the plurality of electrodes when the at least one electrode holder is in the holding position; wherein the flow aligner comprises a wall defining a plurality of apertures for passage of the liquid; and wherein the flow aligner is configured to align the flow of the liquid into the liquid passageway between the at least two electrodes and substantially along a longest axis of at least one of the at least two electrodes;

wherein, when the at least one electrode holder is in the holding position, the treatment chamber comprises at least one power connector for connecting power to said anode or said cathode held by the at least one electrode holder; and wherein, when the at least one electrode holder is in the holding position, the at least one power connector comprises a resilient metal flexed against said anode or said cathode to thereby connect power thereto without use of a screwed connector;

wherein laminar flow of fluid occurs between the electrodes.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein both the first and second electrochemical treatments are performed using an electrochemical liquid treatment apparatus comprising:

a treatment chamber comprising:

at least one inlet for entry of a liquid to be treated, and

at least one outlet for exit of electrochemically treated liquid;

a plurality of electrodes comprising at least one anode, at least one cathode, and at least one electrical conductor positioned intermediate said at least one cathode and said at least one anode;

at least one electrode holder holding electrodes comprising: (i) at least one electrical conductor; and (ii) at least one anode and/or at least one cathode; wherein the at least one electrode holder is slideable between:

(i) a holding position in which the electrode holder is engaged with the treatment chamber and said electrodes held by the electrode holder are positioned within the treatment chamber for electrochemical treatment of the liquid; and wherein at least two of said electrodes held by the electrode holder are configured to be differently charged so as to define an electrochemical treatment zone in a liquid passageway therebetween; and

(ii) a released position in which the electrode holder is not present in the treatment chamber; and

a flow aligner positioned intermediate the at least one inlet and the plurality of electrodes when the at least one electrode holder is in the holding position; wherein the flow aligner comprises a wall defining a plurality of apertures for passage of the liquid; and wherein the flow aligner is configured to align the flow of the liquid into the liquid passageway between the at least two electrodes and substantially along a longest axis of at least one of the at least two electrodes;

wherein, when the at least one electrode holder is in the holding position, the treatment chamber comprises at least one power connector for connecting power to said anode or said cathode held by the at least one electrode holder; and wherein, when the at least one electrode holder is in the holding position, the at least one power connector comprises a resilient metal flexed against said anode or said cathode to thereby connect power thereto without use of a screwed connector;

wherein laminar flow of fluid occurs between the electrodes.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the residence time of fluid in the second electrochemical treatment is less than 10 minutes.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said electrodes are from 1 to 8 mm apart in the electrochemical liquid treatment apparatus.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluid mixture is or is derived from fluid from an oil or gas well.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first electrochemical treatment is performed at a resistance of greater than 5 Ω.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first electrochemical treatment separates the aqueous phase and the hydrophobic phase.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first electrochemical treatment is performed at a pH of less than 6.5.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second electrochemical treatment is performed at a resistance of less than 5 Ω.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the aqueous contaminants include one or more of: a gelling agent, a cross-linker for cross-linking the gelling agent, a boiling point modifier, a salt, a surfactant, an antiscaling agent, a breaking agent, a pH modifier, an anti-clay swelling or suspension agent, an iron chelant, an iron chelate, a microorganism, a de-emulsification agent and an agent to control microorganism content.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second electrochemical treatment reduces the concentration of boron in the aqueous phase by at least 40%.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second electrochemical treatment reduces the chemical oxygen demand of the aqueous phase by at least 30%.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second electrochemical treatment is performed in the presence of at least one treatment agent.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the at least one treatment agent is an oxidant.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein a treatment enhancer is applied to the aqueous phase during or after the second electrochemical treatment.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the treatment enhancer is ultraviolet light or ultrasonic waves.

17. A method of treating a fluid mixture, the fluid mixture comprising an aqueous phase, a hydrophobic phase and aqueous contaminants, the method comprising the steps of:

performing a first treatment with electrochemically produced ions on the fluid mixture to at least partially separate the aqueous phase and the hydrophobic phase; and

(ii) performing a second electrochemical treatment on the at least partially separated aqueous phase to thereby remove aqueous contaminants from the aqueous phase;

wherein the second electrochemical treatment is performed using an electrochemical liquid treatment apparatus comprising:

a treatment chamber comprising:

at least one inlet for entry of a liquid to be treated, and

at least one outlet for exit of electrochemically treated liquid;

a plurality of electrodes comprising at least one anode, at least one cathode, and at least one electrical conductor positioned intermediate said at least one cathode and said at least one anode;

at least one electrode holder holding electrodes comprising: (i) at least one electrical conductor; and (ii) at least one anode and/or at least one cathode; wherein the at least one electrode holder is slideable between:

(i) a holding position in which the electrode holder is engaged with the treatment chamber and said electrodes held by the electrode holder are positioned within the treatment chamber for electrochemical treatment of the liquid; and wherein at least two of said electrodes held by the electrode holder are configured to be differently charged so as to define an electrochemical treatment zone in a liquid passageway therebetween; and

(ii) a released position in which the electrode holder is not present in the treatment chamber; and

a flow aligner positioned intermediate the at least one inlet and the plurality of electrodes when the at least one electrode holder is in the holding position; wherein the flow aligner comprises a wall defining a plurality of apertures for passage of the liquid; and wherein the flow aligner is configured to align the flow of the liquid into the liquid passageway between the at least two electrodes and substantially along a longest axis of at least one of the at least two electrodes;

wherein, when the at least one electrode holder is in the holding position, the treatment chamber comprises at least one power connector for connecting power to said anode or said cathode held by the at least one electrode holder; and wherein, when the at least one electrode holder is in the holding position, the at least one power connector comprises a resilient metal flexed against said anode or said cathode to thereby connect power thereto without use of a screwed connector;

wherein laminar flow of fluid occurs between the electrodes.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of electrodes are planar.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one outlet for exit of electrochemically treated liquid is only one outlet in the form of a weir.