Process for treating a wastewater stream produced by hydrocarbon production operations for repurposing as a disinfectant for hydrocarbon production operations

• US 9,758,716 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2015
• Issued: 09/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: In-Situ Treatment Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Raymond J. Roccon
• Inventors: Roccon, Raymond J
• Primary Examiner(s): Li, Aiqun
• Application Number:
  US14/812,172
• Publication Number:
  US 20160017209A1
• Time in Patent Office: 776 Days
• Field of Search: 507269
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 59/00 Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators containing elements or inorganic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/66 by neutralisation; pH adjustment for degassing C02F1/20; using ion-exchange C02F1/42; for flocculation or precipitation of suspended impurities C02F1/52; for removing dissolved compounds C02F1/58
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/76 with halogens or compounds of halogens C02F1/4674 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/04 Disinfection
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/605 containing biocides
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/66 Compositions based on water or polar solvents C09K8/64 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 21/068 using chemical treatment

Abstract

A method of treating wastewater resulting from hydrocarbon production operations is provided, for repurposing as a disinfectant. The method includes a) providing wastewater resulting from hydrocarbon production operations containing greater than 3 ppm bromide ion; and b) adding a sufficient amount of an oxidizing agent to convert the bromide ion to hypobromous acid used in the formation of a disinfectant solution. At least one of chloramine, bromamine, and hypobromous acid is present in the disinfectant solution to provide disinfecting properties. A source of ammonia may also be added to the wastewater, and the disinfectant solution may be blended with other water to provide blended water for use as a fracturing fluid.

Claims

1. A method of treating a wastewater stream produced from hydrocarbon production operations for repurposing as a disinfectant used in hydrocarbon production operations comprising:

a) providing wastewater resulting from hydrocarbon production operations in which the bromide ion concentration is known to be greater than 3 ppm bromide ion; and

b) adding a sufficient amount of an oxidizing agent to the wastewater and providing a source of ammonia to yield at least one of a chloramine and a bromamine in amounts sufficient to provide a disinfectant solution for use in hydrocarbon production operations.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the oxidizing agent is one or more selected from the group consisting of ozone, chlorine gas, sodium hypochlorite, dichloro isocyanuranate, and trichloroisocyanuric acid.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein at least part of the source of ammonia is added to the wastewater and wherein the oxidizing agent is added prior to the addition of ammonia.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the oxidizing agent is sodium hypochlorite.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein at least bromamine is yielded in step b) to provide the disinfectant solution for use in hydrocarbon production operations.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the disinfectant solution is blended with other water to provide a fracturing fluid comprising at least 1 ppm bromide.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the pH of the fracturing fluid is in a range that minimizes the formation of scale-forming salts.

8. The method according to claim 5, wherein the disinfectant solution is blended with other water to provide a fracturing fluid comprising at least 2 ppm bromide.

9. The method according to claim 2, wherein the ammonia concentration is greater than 3 ppm prior to the addition of the oxidizing agent.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the oxidizing agent is sodium hypochlorite.

11. The method according to claim 10, at least chloramine is yielded in step b) to provide the disinfectant solution for use in hydrocarbon production operations.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the disinfectant solution is blended with other water to provide a fracturing fluid comprising at least 1 ppm bromide.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the pH of the fracturing fluid is in a range that minimizes the formation of scale-forming salts.

14. A method of reusing wastewater resulting from hydrocarbon production operations as a disinfectant comprising:

a) providing wastewater resulting from hydrocarbon production operations in which the bromide ion concentration is known to be greater than 3 ppm bromide ion;

b) adding a sufficient amount of an oxidizing agent to convert the bromide ion to hypobromous acid used in the formation of a disinfectant solution, wherein at least one of chloramine, bromamine, and hypobromous acid is present in the disinfectant solution to provide disinfecting properties; and

c) blending the disinfectant solution with other water to provide blended water for use as a fracturing fluid.

15. The method according to claim 14

a) further comprising the step of adding a source of ammonia subsequent to the addition of the oxidizing agent.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the oxidizing agent is sodium hypochlorite.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein bromamine is yielded upon addition of the source of ammonia to provide the disinfectant solution for use in hydrocarbon production operations.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the disinfectant solution is blended with other water to provide a fracturing fluid comprising at least 1 ppm bromide.

19. The method according to claim 14, wherein hypobromous acid is yielded in step b) to provide the disinfectant solution for use in hydrocarbon production operations.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the disinfectant solution is blended with other water to provide a fracturing fluid comprising at least 2 ppm bromide.