IP Library Granted Patent US 11,242,265
Granted Patent B2
US 11,242,265 · App. 15/432,702 · Granted Feb 8, 2022

Process for decontamination of hazardous sulfur compounds in oilfield produced waters

Inventors: Stephen D. Matza (Sugar Land, TX); Martha T. Smith (Friendswood, TX)
Assignee: United Laboratories International, LLC
C02F1/281B01J20/06B01J20/28045B01J20/3204B01J20/3206B01J20/3236B01J20/3433B01J20/3475C02F1/004C02F1/24C02F1/40C02F1/682B01J2220/62C02F1/70C02F2101/101C02F2101/32C02F2101/40C02F2103/10C02F2103/365C02F2209/06C02F2209/26C02F2303/16
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,242,265
App. No.
15/432,702
Granted
Feb 8, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system and method treat oilfield produced water by two-stages of hazardous sulfide treatments. In an embodiment, a two-stage oil and gas field produced water treatment system includes an oil removal vessel. The oilfield produced water is introduced to the oil removal vessel. The oil removal vessel removes a portion of the hydrocarbons from the oilfield produced water to provide a reduced oil produced water. In addition, the system includes an iron sponge. The reduced oil produced water is introduced to the iron sponge, and the iron sponge removes a portion of the hazardous sulfides from the reduced oil produced water to provide a reduced sulfide produced water. The system also includes a stabilized sodium percarbonate solution. The stabilized sodium percarbonate solution is mixed with the reduced sulfide produced water to remove a portion of the hazardous sulfides from the reduced sulfide produced water to provide a treated produced water.

Claims (23)

1. A two-stage oil and gas field produced water treatment system for treatment of an oilfield produced water, wherein the oilfield produced water comprises hydrocarbons and sulfides, the system comprising:

an oil removal vessel, wherein the oil removal vessel comprises a gas floatation unit, and wherein the oil removal vessel is configured to accept and store oilfield produced water, and wherein the oil removal vessel is configured to remove at least a portion of the hydrocarbons from the oilfield produced water to provide a reduced oil produced water;

an iron sponge, wherein the iron sponge comprises a clay substrate, wherein the iron sponge is configured to remove at least a portion of the sulfides from the reduced oil produced water to provide a reduced sulfide produced water;

a stabilized sodium percarbonate solution, wherein the stabilized sodium percarbonate solution comprises sodium percarbonate and a liquid solution, wherein the liquid solution comprises water, a stabilizer, and an acid, wherein the stabilizer is nitrilotrimethylenephosphonate, tartrazine, or any combinations thereof; and

a valve, wherein the valve is positioned downstream of the iron sponge, and wherein the valve is configured to regulate a flow of the stabilized sodium percarbonate solution into the reduced sulfide produced water.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the gas floatation unit comprises a skimmer, wherein the skimmer is configured to remove oil from the oilfield produced water.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the iron sponge is configured to remove between about 80% and about 98% of the sulfides from the reduced oil produced water.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the iron sponge comprises a transition metal oxide coating.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the transition metal oxide coating is zinc oxide, iron oxide, or combinations thereof.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the stabilized sodium percarbonate solution comprises a strength retention from about 90% to about 99%.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the stabilized sodium percarbonate solution is configured to reduce the sulfides in the reduced sulfide produced water to between about 1 ppm and about 20 ppm.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a sponge measurement device, wherein the sponge measurement device is configured to determine the amount of sulfides in the reduced sulfide produced water.

9. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a formation removal device wherein the formation removal device is configured to remove at least a portion of formation materials from the reduced sulfide produced water.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the formation removal device is a cartridge filter, bag filter, screen filter, or any combinations thereof.

11. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a hydrocarbon removal device, wherein the hydrocarbon removal device is configured to remove at least a portion of hydrocarbons from the reduced sulfide produced water.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the hydrocarbon removal device is a carbon filter, clay, sawdust, or any combinations thereof.

13. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a recycle stream, wherein the recycle stream is configured to recycle at least a portion of the reduced sulfide produced water to at least one of an inlet on the oil removal vessel, an inlet on the iron sponge, the valve, and any combination thereof.

14. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a recycle measurement device, wherein the recycle measurement device is configured to determine the amount of sulfides, hydrocarbons, or combinations thereof, in a treated produced water.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the recycle measurement device is a membrane sensor, lead acetate sensor, infrared sensor, ultra violet turbidity sensor, or any combinations thereof.

16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the acid is citric acid, phosphoric acid, or any combinations thereof.

17. The system of claim 9 , wherein the formation removal device is a cartridge filter comprising corrugated materials.

18. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a pump, wherein the pump is configured to provide pressure to the reduced sulfide produced water.

19. The system of claim 8 , wherein the sponge measurement device comprises a sensor, wherein the sensor is a membrane sensor, lead acetate sensor, or any combinations thereof.

Assignments (4)
MERGER Recorded Mar 15, 2025
From: CR3 ZYMEFLOW, INC.
To: ZYMEFLOW, INC.
Reel/Frame 070523/0169 →
MERGER Recorded Mar 13, 2025
From: TRISTAR GLOBAL ENERGY SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: CR3 ZYMEFLOW, INC.
Reel/Frame 070508/0396 →
MERGER Recorded Mar 12, 2025
From: UNITED LABORATORIES INTERNATIONAL, LLC
To: TRISTAR GLOBAL ENERGY SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 070491/0243 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 14, 2017
From: MATZA, STEPHEN D.; SMITH, MARTHA T.
To: UNITED LABORATORIES INTERNATIONAL, LLC
Reel/Frame 041255/0720 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 13290624 · Nov 7, 2011
Provisional Application 61413640 · Nov 15, 2010
Related Publication 20170158526A1 · Jun 8, 2017