Water Treatment System and Method

1 . A multiple stage processing unit for treating produced water, the unit comprising:

an influent water inlet;

a treated fluid outlet;

a gas inlet;

a spent gas outlet; and

a plurality of stages, wherein each stage comprises:

a fluid mobilization unit comprising:

a fluid chamber having at least one partition;

a fluid inlet attached to the chamber;

a pump; and

a fluid outlet; and

a fluid processing component comprising:

a degassing sump, the sump having a water outlet;

a stripper positioned above the sump, the stripper having at least one water inlet operatively connected to the fluid outlet;

an gas inlet adjacent the stripper;

a gas exhaust adapted to circulate gases from the sump to the stripper;

wherein the pump operates to move fluid from the fluid chamber to the water inlet of the processing component; and

wherein the plurality of stages are connected in series, such that the fluid outlet of a preceding stage is connected to the fluid inlet of a subsequent stage; and the gas exhaust of the subsequent stage is connected to the air inlet of the preceding stage; and

wherein influent water is adapted to be supplied to the fluid inlet of a first stage of the processing unit; and

wherein fresh air is adapted to be supplied to the gas inlet of a final stage of the processing unit.

2 . The processing unit of claim 1 wherein the plurality of stages comprises six stages.

3 . The processing unit of claim 2 wherein the water outlet of a first stage is operatively connected to the fluid inlet of a second stage; and

wherein the gas exhaust of a final sixth stage is operatively connected to the air inlet of a fifth stage.

4 . The system of claim 1 wherein the first stage of the processing unit further comprises a skimmer operatively connected to the sump.

5 . The system of claim 1 wherein the sump comprises a fluid conduit disposed proximate a base of the sump; and

wherein the fluid conduit has a first end operatively connected to the water outlet of the sump and a second end disposed in fluid communication with fluid in the sump.

6 . A multiple stage processing unit for treating produced water, the unit comprising:

an influent water inlet;

a treated fluid outlet;

a gas inlet;

a spent gas outlet; and

a plurality of stages, wherein each stage comprises:

a fluid inlet;

a fluid outlet;

a recirculating pump;

a hydraulic venturi system;

a degassing sump;

a gas circulation duct;

a gas inlet; and

a gas outlet,

wherein the plurality of stages are connected in series, such that the fluid outlet of a preceding stage is connected to the fluid inlet of a subsequent stage; and the gas exhaust of the subsequent stage is connected to the air inlet of the preceding stage; and

wherein influent water is adapted to be supplied to the fluid inlet of a first stage of the processing unit.

7 . The processing unit of claim 6 wherein the plurality of stages comprises six stages, wherein the influent water inlet is connected to the fluid inlet of a first stage; and

wherein the fluid outlet of a final stage is operatively connected to the treated fluid outlet.

8 . The processing unit of claim 7 wherein the fluid outlet of a first stage is operatively connected to the fluid inlet of a second stage; and

wherein the gas exhaust of a final sixth stage is operatively connected to the gas inlet of a fifth stage.

9 . A method for treating water, the method comprising:

supplying influent water to a multiple stage processing unit;

processing the water in each stage of the multiple stage processing unit by performing each of the steps of:

degassing the water by saturating the water with air;

stripping volatile compounds from the water;

evaporating non-aqueous phase liquid petroleum from the water;

decarbonating the water;

subliming semi-solids from the water;

resolving emulsions in the water; and

breaking colloids in the water using continuous cavitation; and

depositing and ripening petroleum solids;

wherein each stage of the processing unit is connected in series to an adjacent stage; and

wherein a portion of the water from a preceding stage is circulated to a fluid inlet of a subsequent stage; and

wherein gas emissions from a subsequent stage are circulated to a gas inlet of a preceding of stage.

10 . The method of claim 9 wherein the multiple stage processing unit comprises a series of six stages; and

wherein the influent water is supplied to an inlet of a first stage of the series of stages; and

wherein a portion of the water from the first stage is circulated to an inlet of a second stage; and

wherein a portion of the water from a final sixth stage of the series of stages is circulated to a treated fluid outlet;

wherein a control gas is supplied to the final sixth stage; and

wherein gas emissions from the sixth stage are circulated to a fifth stage of the series of stages; and

wherein gas emissions from the first stage are circulated to a unit for combusting gaseous emissions.

11 . The method of claim 9 further comprising the steps of:

injecting ozone into the multiple stage processing system; and

skimming a residue from the water in the first stage of the processing system.

12 . The method of claim 9 wherein the degassing step comprises passing the water across a deflector in a venturi system and circulating the water in a degassing sump.

13 . The method of claim 9 wherein the stripping step comprises passing the water through a stripper having a venturi system.

14 . The method of claim 9 wherein the stripping step comprises passing the water through a venturi system and into a sump; and

wherein the degassing step comprises circulating the water in the sump; and

wherein the evaporating step comprises forcing the water from the venturi system through a residual layer in the sump at high pressure.

15 . The method of claim 9 where the step of decarbonating the water comprises repetitively stripping and equilibrating the total inorganic carbon specie in the water.

16 . The method of claim 9 further comprising:

clarifying the water through floatation and sedimentation; and

filtering the water.

17 . The method of claim 9 further comprising:

subliming semi-solids from the water; and

breaking the colloids in the water using continuous cavitation.

18 . The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of combusting gaseous emissions and permitting external limiting of spent gas volume to ensure combustible mixture to avoid supplement fuel.