Abstract: A method for using produced water (PW), for example, for use in a fracturing fluid. The method includes performing ultrafiltration on the PW to form filtered PW, filtering seawater (SW) to form filtered SW, and blending the filtered PW with the filtered SW to form an aqueous blend.

Abstract: An oil-water separation system including a vessel for receiving an oil-water mixture and passing a treated water having a lower concentration of oil than the oil-water mixture. The system further includes a first overflow baffle for directing the oil-water mixture fluid flow over the first overflow baffle, and a first underflow baffle positioned downstream along a fluid flow pathway of the first overflow baffle for directing the oil-water mixture fluid flow under the first underflow baffle, and a second overflow baffle positioned downstream along the fluid flow pathway of the first underflow baffle having a mesh with a plurality of perforations which directs fluid flow over the second overflow baffle and through the plurality of perforations. The second overflow baffle permits a water portion of the oil-water mixture to traverse through the mesh and an oil portion of the oil-water mixture to traverse over the mesh.

Abstract: A method for using an accelerated solvent extractor to study ion reaction parameters is provided. The method includes entering a solution mixture and reaction parameters for each of a plurality of extraction cells, wherein the solution mixture includes a ratio of a first ion solution to a second ion solution. The solution mixture is reacted in each of the plurality of extraction cells at the reaction parameters for that extraction cell. Effluent and solids are collected from each of the plurality of extraction cells. The effluent and the solids are analyzed to obtain composition results. The composition results are correlated to the solution mixture for each of the plurality of extraction cells and the reaction parameters for each of the plurality of extraction cells.

Abstract: A dendrimeric carbon dot-polyamide membrane, a method for making the dendrimeric carbon dot-polyamide membrane, and a method for producing purified water are provided. An exemplary carbon dot-polyamide membrane includes polyamidoamine dendrimeric carbon dots and a polyamide membrane. The polyamidoamine dendrimeric dots are dispersed throughout the polyamide membrane.

Abstract: Provided is a composition that may include an alkylamine modified graphene having a formula R[—CH2-alkylamine)]x, where R is a graphene core, [—CH2-alkylamine)] is an alkylamine functional group, and x is a non-zero integer. The alkylamine functional group may include [—CH2-n-propylamine)], [—CH2-n-hexylamine)], or [—CH2-n-dodecylamine)]. Trace amounts of an oxygen and nitrogen functional group may be coupled to the graphene core. Further provided is a method that may include introducing alkylamine modified graphene into a hydrocarbon-contaminated water. The method may further include separating a hydrocarbon-absorbed alkylamine modified graphene from the recovered water. Further provided is a system that may include a holding tank, a pump, a membrane housing, and a collection tank. The membrane housing may include membranes and a filtration media.

Abstract: A method of desulfating seawater includes adding a produced water to a sulfated seawater, forming a first precipitate, separating the first precipitate from the sulfated seawater, measuring the sulfate ion concentration of the desulfated seawater, adding a precipitating agent to the sulfated seawater, and separating a second precipitate from the sulfated seawater. Another method of desulfating seawater includes determining concentrations of sulfates in a sulfated seawater and a precipitating agent in a produced water, adding the produced water to the sulfated seawater based on the determined concentrations of sulfates in the sulfated seawater and the precipitating agent in the produced water, forming a first precipitate, separating the first precipitate from the sulfated seawater, measuring the sulfate ion concentration of the desulfated seawater, adding a precipitating agent to a sulfated seawater, and separating a second precipitate from the sulfated seawater.

Abstract: Methods and systems for sequestering carbon dioxide and growing algae can include: producing fluids from a subsurface formation; separating the fluids into hydrocarbons and produced water; transferring the produced water to a treatment pond; transferring the hydrocarbons to a gas fractionation plant; separating the hydrocarbons resulting in a carbon dioxide side stream; and discharging the carbon dioxide side stream into the treatment pond.

Abstract: A system and method for generating base water and precipitate, including combining produced water with seawater to precipitate barium sulfate from barium in the produced water and from sulfate in the seawater, and separating the precipitate to give the base water and the precipitate. The base water may have less than a specified amount of sulfate and be utilized for hydraulic fracturing fluid. The precipitate may give a weighting agent for drilling.

Abstract: A process of treating nano-filtration membrane retentate comprises introducing seawater comprising a sulfate ion concentration of greater than or equal to 3000 mg/l to the NF membrane to produce a retentate stream and a permeate stream, wherein the retentate stream has a sulfate ion concentration greater than or equal to 10,000 mg/l, and mixing barium additives comprising barium chloride dehydrate (BaCl2.2H2O), barium chloride (BaCl2), or both with the retentate stream to precipitate sulfate from the retentate stream to form barite (BaSO4) and reduce the sulfate ion concentration, wherein the barium additives are added into the retentate stream at a barium ion concentration of greater than 10,000 mg/l.

Abstract: A method is provided herein for using produced water (PW), for example, for use in a fracturing fluid. The method includes performing ultrafiltration on the PW to form filtered PW, filtering seawater (SW) to form filtered SW, and blending the filtered PW with the filtered SW to form an aqueous blend.

Abstract: A system an oil-water separation system including a vessel for receiving an oil-water mixture and passing a treated water having a lower concentration of oil than the oil-water mixture. The system further includes a first overflow baffle for directing the oil-water mixture fluid flow over the first overflow baffle, and a first underflow baffle positioned downstream along a fluid flow pathway of the first overflow baffle for directing the oil-water mixture fluid flow under the first underflow baffle, and a second overflow baffle positioned downstream along the fluid flow pathway of the first underflow baffle having a mesh with a plurality of perforations which directs fluid flow over the second overflow baffle and through the plurality of perforations. The second overflow baffle permits a water portion of the oil-water mixture to traverse through the mesh and an oil portion of the oil-water mixture to traverse over the mesh.

Abstract: A system and method for generating water concentrated in calcium bromide from produced water, to provide for drilling fluid having the calcium bromide. The technique includes flowing the produced water through a bed of ion-exchange resin to sorb bromide ions from the produced water onto the ion-exchange resin, and then regenerating the ion-exchange resin to desorb the bromide ions for combination with calcium ions to acquire an aqueous solution with calcium and bromide.

Abstract: Provided is a composition that may include an alkylamine modified graphene having a formula R[—CH2-alkylamine)]x, where R is a graphene core, [—CH2-alkylamine)] is an alkylamine functional group, and x is a non-zero integer. The alkylamine functional group may include [—CH2-n-propylamine)], [—CH2-n-hexylamine)], or [—CH2-n-dodecylamine)]. Trace amounts of an oxygen and nitrogen functional group may be coupled to the graphene core. Further provided is a method that may include introducing alkylamine modified graphene into a hydrocarbon-contaminated water. The method may further include separating a hydrocarbon-absorbed alkylamine modified graphene from the recovered water. Further provided is a system that may include a holding tank, a pump, a membrane housing, and a collection tank. The membrane housing may include membranes and a filtration media.

Abstract: A system and method for generating base water and precipitate, including combining produced water with seawater to precipitate barium sulfate from barium in the produced water and from sulfate in the seawater, and separating the precipitate to give the base water and the precipitate. The base water may have less than a specified amount of sulfate and be utilized for hydraulic fracturing fluid. The precipitate may give a weighting agent for drilling.

Abstract: Composite materials for removing hydrophobic components from a fluid include a porous matrix polymer, carbon nanotubes grafted to surfaces of the porous matrix polymer, and polystyrene chains grafted to the carbon nanotubes. Examples of porous matrix polymer include polyurethanes, polyethylenes, and polypropylenes. Membranes of the composite material may be enclosed within a fluid-permeable pouch to form a fluid treatment apparatus, such that by contacting the apparatus with a fluid mixture containing water and a hydrophobic component, the hydrophobic component absorbs selectively into the membrane. The apparatus may be removed from the fluid mixture and reused after the hydrophobic component is expelled from the membrane. The composite material may be prepared by grafting functionalized carbon nanotubes to a porous matrix polymer to form a polymer-nanotube composite, then polymerizing styrene onto the carbon nanotubes of the polymer-nanotube composite.

Abstract: A system and method for generating water concentrated in calcium bromide from produced water, to provide for drilling fluid having the calcium bromide. The technique includes flowing the produced water through a bed of ion-exchange resin to sorb bromide ions from the produced water onto the ion-exchange resin, and then regenerating the ion-exchange resin to desorb the bromide ions for combination with calcium ions to acquire an aqueous solution with calcium and bromide.

Abstract: Composite materials for removing hydrophobic components from a fluid include a porous matrix polymer, carbon nanotubes grafted to surfaces of the porous matrix polymer, and polystyrene chains grafted to the carbon nanotubes. Examples of porous matrix polymer include polyurethanes, polyethylenes, and polypropylenes. Membranes of the composite material may be enclosed within a fluid-permeable pouch to form a fluid treatment apparatus, such that by contacting the apparatus with a fluid mixture containing water and a hydrophobic component, the hydrophobic component absorbs selectively into the membrane. The apparatus may be removed from the fluid mixture and reused after the hydrophobic component is expelled from the membrane. The composite material may be prepared by grafting functionalized carbon nanotubes to a porous matrix polymer to form a polymer-nanotube composite, then polymerizing styrene onto the carbon nanotubes of the polymer-nanotube composite.

Abstract: Systems and methods include a Gas and Oil Separation Plant (GOSP)-embedded treatment system for recycling desalter wash water. The system includes: 1) an inlet system providing an inlet stream of desalter water effluent received from at least one desalter of a source; 2) a filtering system in the GOSP including a nanofiltration (NF) membrane configured to filter the desalter water effluent to attain filtered desalter water effluent within a pre-determined wash water threshold for wash water reuse, including: partially desalinating the desalter water effluent to attain a Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) of the desalter water effluent within a pre-determined TDS threshold; and 3) a pump system configured to pump the desalter water effluent through the NF membrane and pump the filtered desalter water effluent to a supply line of the desalter.

Abstract: Separators for separating a multi-phase composition include a separator casing defining a chamber and a permeate outlet, at least one hydrocyclone within the separator casing, and at least one ceramic membrane. Each hydrocyclone includes a hydrocyclone inlet, a tapered section downstream of the hydrocyclone inlet, an accepted outlet, and a reject outlet. The ceramic membrane may be disposed within the separator casing and downstream of the accepted outlet of the hydrocyclone or may be disposed within at least a portion of the tapered section of the hydrocyclone. The ceramic membrane includes a retentate side and a permeate side, where the permeate side is in fluid communication with the chamber. Systems and methods for separating a multi-phase composition into a lesser-density fluid, a greater-density fluid, and a medium-density fluid using the separators are also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods include a Gas and Oil Separation Plant (GOSP)-embedded treatment system for recycling desalter wash water. The system includes: 1) an inlet system providing an inlet stream of desalter water effluent received from at least one desalter of a source; 2) a filtering system in the GOSP including a nanofiltration (NF) membrane configured to filter the desalter water effluent to attain filtered desalter water effluent within a pre-determined wash water threshold for wash water reuse, including: partially desalinating the desalter water effluent to attain a Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) of the desalter water effluent within a pre-determined TDS threshold; and 3) a pump system configured to pump the desalter water effluent through the NF membrane and pump the filtered desalter water effluent to a supply line of the desalter.