Appendix A

Definition of Key Water Treating Terms

Introduction
Most of these terms were defined in Parts 1 and 2 when initially introduced. This appendix is not intended to be a comprehensive listing of all terms. Dissolved gases Dissolved and dispersed liquid hydrocarbons Various organic compounds Bacteria Toxicants Trace quantities of naturally occurring radioactive materials Other miscellaneous sources of water from within the processing facilities (e.g., from drains, glycol regeneration units, etc.) are sometimes mixed with produced water for treatment and disposal.

Produced Water
The well stream from the reservoir typically contains varying quantities of water, commonly referred to as produced water. Produced water source can be from 1. An aquifer layer underlying the oil and or natural gas zones 2. Connate water found within the reservoir formation sand matrix 3. Water vapor condensing from the gas phase as the result of Joule-Thompson expansion/cooling effects occurring from pressure reduction up the well bore and across wellhead chokes 4. Water-bearing formations not directly in communication with the hydrocarbon reservoir 5. Or a combination of the above Produced water is typically salty and contains varying quantities of: Dissolved inorganic compounds and salts Suspended scales and other particles

Regulatory Definitions
The terminology for total oil and grease, dispersed oil, and dissolved oil may vary with location and specific test standard used by the authorities having jurisdiction. These terms should be applied with caution and should conform to the regulations and test standards applicable to the specific location.

Oil Removal Efficiency

Produced water treating equipment performance is commonly described in terms of its oil removal efficiency. This efficiency considers only the removal of dispersed oil and neglects the dissolved oil content.

DOI: 10.1016/B978-1-85617-984-3.00003-1

204

Produced Water Treatment Field Manual

chemicals. The measurement of total oil and grease is dependent on the analysis method used.

For example, if the equipment removes half of the dispersed oil contained in the influent produced water, it is said to have a 50% oil removal efficiency. For a specific piece of equipment or an overall system, the oil removal efficiency can be calculated using the following equation: E 1 Co =Ci 100, where E oil removal efficiency, % Co dispersed oil concentration in the water outlet (effluent) stream, ppm (mg/l) Ci dispersed oil concentration in the water inlet (influent) stream, ppm (mg/l) The performance can be described by determining the inlet and outlet oil concentrations and the associated oil droplet size distributions at the equipment inlet and outlet. This information can then be used to define the oil removal efficiency for any given oil droplet size or range of droplet sizes. This concept is further discussed in Part 1. A-1

Dispersed Oil
Produced water contains hydrocarbons in the form of dispersed oil droplets, which, under proper conditions, can be coalesced into a continuous hydrocarbon liquid phase and then separated from the aqueous phase using various separation devices. The diameters of these oil droplets can range from over 200 microns to less than 0.5 microns and may be surrounded by a film (emulsifier) that impedes coalescence. The relative distribution of droplet sizes is an important design parameter and is influenced by the hydrocarbon properties, temperature, down-hole operating conditions, presence of trace chemical contaminants, upstream processing and pipe fittings, control valves, pumps, and other equipment that act to create turbulence and shearing action. These oil droplets are collectively defined as dispersed oil. Conventional water treating systems commonly used by the oil and gas industry remove only the dispersed oil. This text focuses on the design of water treating systems that remove and recover dispersed oil.

Total Oil and Grease

Total oil and grease is defined as the combination of both the dispersed and dissolved liquid hydrocarbons and other organic compounds (i.e., dissolved oil plus dispersed oil) contained in produced water. This term is referenced in certain regulatory standards and is commonly used to evaluate water treating system design. Total oil and grease consists of normal paraffinic, asphaltic, and aromatic hydrocarbon compounds plus specialty compounds from treating

Dissolved Oil
Produced water contains hydrocarbons and other organic compounds that have dissolved within the aqueous phase and cannot be recovered by conventional water treating systems. Fatty acids are likely to be present within paraffinic oils and naphthenic acids within asphaltic oils.

Appendix A: Definition of Key Water Treating Terms

These organic acids, aromatic components, polar compounds (also called nonhydrocarbon organics), and certain treating chemicals are slightly soluble in water and collectively make up the organic compounds found in solution of the aqueous phase. The portion of these components that are dissolved into the produced water is defined as dissolved oil. Dissolved oil is microscopically indistinguishable within the aqueous phase since it is solution at the molecular level and cannot be separated from the produced water by means of coalescence and/or gravity separation devices. Treatment methods for removal of dissolved oil are not covered in this text. However, the oil and gas industry is currently evaluating treatment methods such as biotreatment, air stripping, adsorption filtration, and membranes. These designs are typically prototypical in nature and require a larger capital investment, a greater maintenance work effort, and more space, and may result in by-products having disposal problems more onerous than those associated with the disposal of dissolved oil. The confined space typically available on an offshore platform presents a real challenge in developing a suitable water treating process for removing dissolved oil from produced water.

205

When these compounds are found in solution with the produced water, they are referred to as dissolved solids. The most common water-soluble compound in produced water is sodium chloride. A number of other compounds collectively comprise the dissolved solids contained in produced water. These are discussed in Part 1.

Suspended Solids
Produced water and oil contain very small particulate solid matter held in suspension in the liquid phase by surface tension and electrostatic forces. This solid matter is referred to as a suspended solid and may consist of small particles of sand, clay, precipitated salts and flakes of scale, and products of corrosion such as iron oxide and iron carbonate. When suspended solids are measured by weight or volume, the composite measurement is referred to as the total suspended solids (TSS) content. Part 1 provides a detailed discussion on suspended solids.

Scale
Under certain conditions, the dissolved solids precipitate or crystallize from the produced water to form solid deposits in pipe and equipment. These solid deposits are referred to as scale. The most common scales include calcium carbonate, calcium sulphate, barium sulphate, strontium sulphate, and iron sulfide. Scale is further discussed in Part 1.

Dissolved Solids
Several inorganic compounds are soluble in water. The total measure of these compounds found in solution with produced water is referred to as total dissolved solids (TDS).

206

Produced Water Treatment Field Manual

Most emulsions encountered in the oil field are water droplets in an oil continuous phase and are referred to as normal emulsions. Oil droplets in a water continuous phase are referred to as reverse emulsions.

Emulsion
An emulsion is an oil and water mixture that has been subjected to shearing, resulting in the division of oil and water phases into small droplets.