Abstract: The invention relates to a system for use in the treatment of produced water, e.g., water treatment in connection with hydrocarbon production operations. Silica in produced water produces undesirable scaling in processing equipment, which causes excess energy usage and maintenance problems. Electrocoagulation (EC) at relatively high water temperature, followed by any of membrane distillation (MD) or forward osmosis (FO), may be combined with a process of ceramic ultra-filtration (UF filtration) to treat water. Water to be treated may be produced water that has been pumped from a subterranean reservoir. The treated water may be employed to generate steam. The system comprises a plurality of units (e.g., EC, forward osmosis, membrane distillation unit, UF filtration, etc) which can be configured as an on-site installation or a mobile unit for on-site or off-site water treatment.

Abstract: A high carbon content membrane and method for making the same are disclosed. The carbon membrane includes an asymmetric hollow filamentary carbon membrane, including a partial carbonization product of an asymmetric hollow filament including an aromatic imide polymer material. The carbon membrane is at least 95 weight percent carbon, and has a dense layer located in the outside surface portion of the hollow filamentary membrane and a porous base layer continued from the dense layer and located in the inside portion of the hollow filamentary membrane. A process for separating CO2 from natural gas is described including: contacting a mixture of CO2 and natural gas with a first side of a carbon membrane in a manner to cause a portion of the mixture to pass through the carbon membrane to a permeate side. The resulting mixture on the permeate side becomes enriched in CO2 over that of the mixture on the first side. The contacting step occurs at a pressure of at least about 200 psia.

Abstract: Carbon dioxide (CO2) is separated from natural gas in a downhole environment. An asymmetric hollow-carbon fiber membrane is positioned in a production string within a wellhole through which a CO2-containing natural gas is being conducted. The carbon fiber comprises a partial carbonization product of a hollow filament including an aromatic imide polymer material. The carbon membrane is at least 90 weight percent carbon, and has a dense fiber layer located in the outside surface portion of the membrane and a porous base fiber layer contiguous with the dense layer and located in the inside portion of the membrane. The natural gas is passed through the membrane at a pressure of at least about 200 psia.

Abstract: The invention includes a process for separating CO2 from natural gas including: contacting a mixture of CO2 and natural gas with a first side of a carbon membrane in a manner to cause a portion of the mixture to pass through the carbon membrane to a permeate side. The resulting mixture on the permeate side becomes enriched in CO2 over that of the mixture on the first side. The carbon membrane includes an asymmetric hollow filamentary carbon membrane, including a partial carbonization product of an asymmetric hollow filament including an aromatic imide polymer material. The carbon membranes is at least 95 weight percent carbon, and has a dense layer located in the outside surface portion of the hollow filamentary membrane and a porous base layer continued from the dense layer and located in the inside portion of the hollow filamentary membrane. The contacting in step occurs at a pressure of at least about 200 psia.

Abstract: The invention includes a process for separating CO2 from natural gas including: contacting a mixture of CO2 and natural gas with a first side of a carbon membrane in a manner to cause a portion of the mixture to pass through the carbon membrane to a permeate side. The resulting mixture on the permeate side becomes enriched in CO2 over that of the mixture on the first side. The carbon membrane includes an asymmetric hollow filamentary carbon membrane, including a partial carbonization product of an asymmetric hollow filament including an aromatic imide polymer material. The carbon membrane is at least 95 weight percent carbon, and has a dense layer located in the outside surface portion of the hollow filamentary membrane and a porous base layer continued from the dense layer and located in the inside portion of the hollow filamentary membrane. The contacting step occurs at a pressure of at least about 200 psia.