Oil and gas production operations consume about 10 times more water than the amount of fossil fuel produced. The need to clean up the produced water to enable its recycle is increasingly becoming important for the industry’s existence. Currently, the produced water is reinjected into the subsurface, however, this practice is not sustainable. This paper will describe use of microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) for reducing the energy load in treating produced water. Microbial electrolysis cells convert organic carbon and wastes into energy using microbial catalysts instead of platinum (Pt). Production of energy from organic contaminants present in produced water using MECs and its coupling to unit operations used in produced water treatment will be discussed. Successful development of this technology can result in reduction in energy intensity in the produced water industry with potential for recycling water to improve environmental sustainability and reduce impact of unconventional oil and gas production.

Use of microbial electrolysis cells for produced water treatment

255th National Meeting (2018)

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