This specialized course addresses the technical and regulatory challenges associated with managing and treating produced water—the largest volume byproduct of oil and gas production. It covers the full spectrum of treatment technologies, from primary bulk separation to tertiary polishing for safe discharge or reinjection. Participants will gain expertise in selecting, designing, and operating chemical, mechanical, and biological treatment systems to remove oil, suspended solids, and dissolved components. The training emphasizes meeting stringent environmental discharge limits (onshore and offshore) and the critical need to maintain water quality for effective reservoir reinjection and enhanced oil recovery (EOR).
Introduction
Objectives
Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:
- Characterize produced water properties (oil content, TDS, solids, contaminants) and their impact on treatment.
- Select appropriate primary and secondary separation technologies (e.g., CPI, DAF, hydrocyclones).
- Design and operate tertiary polishing units (e.g., filtration, ion exchange) to meet regulatory limits.
- Understand and optimize chemical treatment programs (coagulants, flocculants, scale/corrosion inhibitors).
- Detail the specific water quality requirements for effective reservoir reinjection.
- Analyze and troubleshoot common treatment upsets, such as high oil content and scaling/fouling.
- Interpret and ensure compliance with key national and international discharge regulations.
Target Audience
- Environmental, Chemical, and Process Engineers.
- Operations Supervisors and Technicians at production and injection facilities.
- Facilities and Design Engineers involved in water management.
- Health, Safety, and Environmental (HSE) Compliance Personnel.
- Technical Personnel supporting Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) projects.
- Consultants specializing in industrial wastewater treatment.
Methodology
- Case Studies: Reviewing best practices in produced water management from various operating environments (onshore/offshore).
- Group Activities: Designing a three-stage treatment train for a specific water quality and discharge limit.
- Individual Exercises: Calculating retention time and flow rates for a DAF unit.
- Discussions on the selection of optimal chemical injection points and dosage.
- Scenarios: Troubleshooting a membrane fouling issue in a tertiary unit.
Personal Impact
- Develop high-level expertise in a rapidly growing and complex area of oilfield management.
- Enhance ability to design compliant and cost-effective treatment systems.
- Improve troubleshooting skills to ensure reliable water quality for injection or disposal.
- Increase personal value as an expert in environmental compliance and sustainability.
- Master the selection and management of advanced separation and chemical technologies.
- Position for leadership roles in water management and EOR projects.
Organizational Impact
- Significantly reduced environmental liability and avoidance of non-compliance fines.
- Minimized costs associated with water disposal through successful reinjection or reuse.
- Improved reservoir performance and longevity in EOR projects by meeting strict water quality specs.
- Optimized chemical usage and lower operating costs for the treatment plant.
- Enhanced social license to operate through robust environmental performance.
- Reduction in capital expenditure on unnecessary or oversized treatment equipment.
Course Outline
Unit 1: Produced Water Characteristics and Management Overview
Section 1.1: Water Chemistry and Volume- Sources, composition, and increasing volumes of produced water across the life cycle.
- Regulatory drivers for treatment (discharge limits, reinjection needs, reuse).
- Key contaminants: dispersed oil, dissolved oil, suspended solids, heavy metals, and scale.
- The concept of the "treatment train" from wellhead to final discharge/injection.
Unit 2: Primary and Secondary Oil and Solids Removal
Section 2.1: Bulk Separation- Principles and applications of gravity-based separators (API, CPI, TPI).
- Design and operation of hydrocyclones for efficient oil and solids removal.
- Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) and Induced Gas Flotation (IGF) for fine oil droplet removal.
- Selection and control of chemical treatment (demulsifiers, deoiling aids).
Unit 3: Tertiary Treatment and Polishing Technologies
Section 3.1: Final Cleanup- Filtration technologies (multimedia, cartridge, nut-shell) for solids removal and polishing.
- Advanced techniques: Membrane separation (UF, RO) and adsorption (activated carbon).
- Treatment for dissolved components: Ion exchange, deoxygenation, and disinfection.
- Systems for biological treatment of organic contaminants.
Unit 4: Water Quality for Reinjection and Reuse
Section 4.1: Reservoir Requirements- Detailed water quality specifications for safe and effective reservoir injection (solids, oil, corrosivity).
- Managing scale and corrosion potential in injection water and flow lines.
- Techniques for water reuse in fracturing operations, cooling, and utility systems.
- Auditing produced water treatment systems for EOR project integrity.
Unit 5: Operational Troubleshooting and Compliance
Section 5.1: Performance and Safety- Troubleshooting common upsets: High discharge oil content, filter fouling, and pump cavitation.
- Environmental monitoring, sampling procedures, and laboratory analysis.
- The importance of proper sludge handling and disposal.
- Process safety considerations for handling treatment chemicals (e.g., biocides, acids).
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