Abstract: Ozonolysis is an effective process for improving the quality of produced water. A process for reducing the concentration of water soluble organic materials dissolved in produced water consists of introducing into the produced water a sufficient amount of gaseous ozone by use of a means for maximizing the collision frequency of ozone gas and the produced water. The temperature of the produced water is between from about 80.degree. to about 180.degree. F. The process renders a water effluent with markedly reduced oil and grease content. The water effluent can be used on land as a drinking or irrigation water supply source and may be safely discharged into navigable waters.

Abstract: An improved method of removing water soluble organics from produced water is disclosed. In the method, a chemical, selected from the group consisting of sodium bisulfite, hydroxylamine hydrochloride, tallow amine, acetic acid, and combinations thereof, is added to the water in an amount sufficient to adjust the pH of the water to about 6.0 to 6.5. Water soluble organics then separate out from the water for easy removal by conventional phase separation techniques.

Abstract: A method to determine the amount of oil, including dispersed oil, in water at low levels wherein a surfactant is first mixed with water which may contain dispersed oil, the surfactant comprising a non-aromatic surfactant able to solubilize into water the particular oil being tested for, and comparing the emission fluorescence of the surfactant/water mixture to previous correlations drawn between known amounts of oil in water and their emission fluorescence under similar conditions.

Abstract: An improved gas trap for mud logging is vertically mounted such that its lower end is constantly beneath the surface of mud flowing in a tank. The mud is drawn into the housing where it is agitated to release the entrained gases which are drawn off for measurement. The spent mud is returned to the tank through a mud exit port and related pipe to a point below the level of the mud and remote from the mud intake to the gas trap. This gas trap is insensitive to mud level changes and is relatively free of maintenance requirements.