Produced water can be a valuable water resource if it is treated appropriately. However, the composition of produced water presents significant technical challenges to realize opportunities for beneficial reuse. The major limitation on produced water reuse is its generally high salinity, as total dissolved solids concentrations of 100,000 mg/l or more are not uncommon. However, additional compounds that can cause excessive scaling or are difficult to remove impact the treatability of a produced water and its suitability for specific end uses. The presence of scale-forming cations (especially Ba, Sr, and Fe) and sulfate, as well as toxic compounds or precursors such as boron and bromide, can all affect the treatment process choice and limit the available reuse options. This talk examines our knowledge of produced water composition in the United States, emphasizing inorganic constituents and how this composition affects treatment and reuse potential. Using the USGS database of produced waters, we have examined correlations between commonly-reported produced water properties and less frequently occurring constituents. A methodology has been developed to predict equilibrium barium and strontium concentrations in produced water based on major ion concentrations using the geochemical modeling program PHREEQC. We are developing a quantitative sustainable design framework using techno-economic and life cycle assessments to compare produced-water composition's impacts on the relative costs and environmental impacts of different treatment processes to recover this water for beneficial reuse. The results of this assessment can be used to identify preferred treatment methods from an economic and environmental sustainability perspective and to assess the impact of local or regional variations in produced water composition on the optimum approach.

Relating produced water composition to optimal treatment processes

ACS Spring Meeting 2021

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