The Permian Basin is home to the largest oil production in the United States up to date. As of July 2018 there are estimated 188,210 oil and gas wells in the Permian Basin of West Texas, most of which require fracking, a technique that requires approximately 42,500 cubic meters of water per well, which resulted in approximately 80,000 cubic meters of flowback and produced water per well. Current techniques for the cleaning of produced water include flocculation and chemical treatments. Herein, we present a the design of a multi-layered clay filter for filtering produced and contaminated water back into grey and drinking water through a pressurized system consisting of raw earthenware clay mixed with Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub> and coated with Humic Acid for the removal of heavy metals from the water. A chelating agent is added to the layers to remove any possible contaminants from the earthenware clay itself, as well as, filters composed of porcelain and stoneware clays will complete the filtration with the cleanest composition and minimal leaching.  X-Ray Diffraction and Scanning Electron Microscopy determined filter composition. Water was analyzed before and after filtration to determine metal ion and other contaminants present via Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy and Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry. Current results show an increase of iron, calcium and potassium, but there was a decrease in levels of barium and zinc. Results of flow rate, permeability and porosity as well as further metal analysis of contaminated waters from various sources will be presented.

Produced water filtration using clay filters

2019 Spring National Meeting

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