EPCON CFU (Compact Flotation Unit)

The cost-efficient alternative to

traditional produced-water-treatment systems
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Reliable and highly efficient CFU
technology delivers increased
revenue from improved oil recovery
Field proven
Since 1999, CFU technology has been
under development and in joint
testing with oil companies operating
in the North Sea. Today, it is a well-
proven environmental solution to
treat the increasing volumes of pro-
duced water. Major operators world-
wide have tested and/or installed the
EPCON CFU technology.
See for yourself how the
EPCON process from
M-I SWACO is reducing
produced-water costs
for operators worldwide
Your M-I SWACO* representative
can tell you how your projects
can benefit from the cost-efficient
CFUtechnology.

A P P L I C A T I O N S
Onshore and offshore installations
where hydrocarbons must be effec-
tively removed from produced water.

P R O B L E M S
Produced water is the largest-volume
waste stream in oil and gas produc-
tion, with an estimated 240 mmbod
produced globally. Water cut is fore-
cast to increase rapidly in key oil
and gas areas, steadily increasing
water-handling costs.

S O L U T I O N S
The EPCON* Compact Flotation Unit
(CFU) is a reliable and highly efficient
technology for separating water, oil
and gas to achieve a high standard of
treated water. It requires no external
energy and the CFU also has a smaller
volume and shorter retention time
than traditional flotation units cur-
rently in use.

E C O N O M I C S
Produced water reduces oil and gas
production, displacing potential
oil- and gas-processing capacity.
Traditional processing systems
cannot handle increasing water cut,
a key driver of wells being shut in.
With the EPCON Compact Flotation
Unit, operators see increased revenue
from improved oil recovery.

E N V I R O N M E N T A L
Depending on local regulations,
water from the CFU process can
be discharged with little or no
additional treatment.
System Capacity Wet weight Footprint Performance
Traditional water train 19,070 ft
3
49.6 tons 322.9 ft
2
<40 ppm
(HC + degassing drum) (540 m
3
/hr) (45 metric tons) (30 m
2
) (<40 mg/L)
81,000 bbl/day
One-stage EPCONCFU 19,070 ft
3
8.8 tons 64.6 ft
2
<20 ppm
(1 vessel, CFU 300) (540 m
3
/hr) (8 metric tons) (6 m
2
) (<20 mg/L)
81,000 bbl/day
Two-stage EPCONCFU 19,070 ft
3
17.6 tons 129.2 ft
2
<10 ppm
(2 vessels in series, (540 m
3
/hr) (16 metric tons) (12 m
2
) (<10 mg/L)
2 x CFU 300) 81,000 bbl/day
EPCON CFU vs Traditional Produced-Water-Treatment Systems
(Hydrocyclones and Degassing Drum)
Oil
Water
Gas
Oil
Reject
Hydrocyclone
Gas
Gas
and
oil
Gas
Water
directly
to sea
Water to
re-injection
1st stage
separator
Degassing
vessel
A typical EPCON CFU
installation working in
parallel with a traditional
water-treatment system
to increase total produced-
water-treatment capacity.
How it works
Features and Benefits
Relatively small footprint
and lowweight
Rugged construction
Straightforward design
Long operating life
Wide operational range
Simple to operate
Oil in water reduced to
<10 ppm (<10 mg/L)
Minimum maintenance
No small bore openings
No rotating parts
No external energy required
Design adaptable to
any installation
Several combined processes, including
gas flotation and induced centrifugal
inertia forces, act on the fluid compo-
nents of different specific gravities. The
small oil droplets are made to agglomer-
ate and coalesce, facilitating separation
from the water. The separation process
is aided by internal devices in the cham-
ber and a gas flotation effect caused
by the release of residual gas from the
water. Process optimization can also
be achieved by the introduction of
external gas and/or flocculants. The
separated oil and gas is removed in a
continual process via an outlet pipe at
the top of the vessel.
Compared to traditional separation
techniques, the CFU delivers higher
capacity and better performance at a
lower cost. The single-step separation
has been proven to reduce the Oil-in-
Water (OiW) content to below 20 ppm
(20 mg/L), while simultaneously
degassing the water. Two CFUs in
series have been proven to reduce
the OiWcontent to below 10 ppm
(10 mg/L). The process requires a reten-
tion time of less than 30 sec to perform
effectively. A vessel with an operation
volume of only 70.6 ft
3
(2 m
3
) can treat
a water flow up to 8,829 ft
3
(250 m
3
/hr).
The EPCON CFU from M-I SWACO is
carefully engineered to interface with
other offshore production installations.
The technology can be designed to fit
all pipes and can easily be adapted to
local conditions and requirements.
2006 M-I L.L.C. All rights reserved. *Mark of M-I L.L.C.
DBR.0502.0608.R1 (E)
This information is supplied solely for informational purposes and M-I SWACO makes no
guarantees or warranties, either expressed or implied, with respect to the accuracy and use
of this data. All product warranties and guarantees shall be governed by the Standard Terms
of Sale. Nothing in this document is legal advice or is a substitute for competent legal advice.
P.O. Box 42842
Houston, Texas 77242-2842
Tel: 2815611300
Fax: 2815611441
www.miswaco.com
E-mail: questions@miswaco.com
M-I EPCONAS
P.O. Box 2595
N-3908 Porsgrunn
Norway
Tel: 4735924540
Fax: 4735924541
www.epconoffshore.com
E-mail: epconmail@miswaco.com
Technology Centers:
HOUSTON, TEXAS
Tel: 2815611300 Fax: 2815611441
ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND
Tel: 441224334634 Fax: 441224334650
STAVANGER, NORWAY
Tel: 4751577300 Fax: 4751570605