Abstract: Heat transfer equipment often loses heat transfer capacity due to fouling and scaling which results in lost economic value in the form of lost heat, production, and the labor required for cleaning the equipment. A heat exchanger is provided, including: a first means of fluid communication to a shell (5); a second means of fluid communication to the shell; a flow diverter (2) for reversing the flow of fluid from the shell and the first and second means of communication; a tube (6) within the shell in fluid communication with both the first and second means of fluid communication; and a brush positionable within first and second brush housings (3), the brush housings positioned respectively on the first and second means of fluid communication, the brush moveable with the flow of fluid through the tube; wherein the tube is expandable independent of the shell. The tube is fixed to only one end of the shell without using tubesheets.

Abstract: Heat transfer equipment often loses heat transfer capacity due to fouling and scaling which results in lost economic value in the form of lost heat, production, and the labor required for cleaning the equipment. A heat exchanger is provided, including: a first means of fluid communication to a shell (5); a second means of fluid communication to the shell; a flow diverter (2) for reversing the flow of fluid from the shell and the first and second means of communication; a tube (6) within the shell in fluid communication with both the first and second means of fluid communication; and a brush positionable within first and second brush housings (3), the brush housings positioned respectively on the first and second means of fluid communication, the brush moveable with the flow of fluid through the tube; wherein the tube is expandable independent of the shell. The tube is fixed to only one end of the shell without using tubesheets.

Abstract: An oil recovery process which utilizes chemical precipitation and complexation reactions to remove dissolved organics and silica from waste water streams. The process produces brine suitable for deep well injection and solids suitable for Class II landfill. The treatment process can be used in combination with a concentrator and in addition to producing brine suitable for deep well injection and solids suitable for Class II landfill, the concentrator also produces a clean water stream for reuse. By including a crystallizer for the brine processing the system has zero liquid discharge.

Abstract: An oil recovery process which utilizes chemical precipitation and complexation reactions to remove dissolved organics and silica from waste water streams. The process produces brine suitable for deep well injection and solids suitable for Class II landfill. The treatment process can be used in combination with a concentrator and in addition to producing brine suitable for deep well injection and solids suitable for Class II landfill, the concentrator also produces a clean water stream for reuse. By including a crystallizer for the brine processing the system has zero liquid discharge.

Abstract: A method of recovering oil from an oil well and producing steam for injection into an injection well is provided. After recovering an oil-water mixture from the oil well, oil is separated from the mixture to produce an oil product and produced water. In one process, the produced water is directed to an indirect fired steam generator which is powered by an independent boiler or steam generator. As water moves through the indirect fired steam generator, the same is heated to produce a steam-water mixture. The steam-water mixture is directed to the steam separator which separates the steam-water mixture into steam and water. The separated water is directed from the steam separator back to and through the indirect fired steam generator. This separated water is continued to be recycled through the indirect fired steam generator. Steam separated by the steam separator is directed into the injection well.

Abstract: A method of recovering oil from an oil well and producing steam for injection into an injection well is provided. After recovering an oil-water mixture from the oil well, oil is separated from the mixture to produce an oil product and produced water. In one process, the produced water is directed to an indirect fired steam generator which is powered by an independent boiler or steam generator. As water moves through the indirect fired steam generator, the same is heated to produce a steam-water mixture. The steam-water mixture is directed to the steam separator which separates the steam-water mixture into steam and water. The separated water is directed from the steam separator back to and through the indirect fired steam generator. This separated water is continued to be recycled through the indirect fired steam generator. Steam separated by the steam separator is directed into the injection well.

Abstract: A method of recovering oil from an oil well and producing steam for injection into an injection well is provided. After recovering an oil-water mixture from the oil well, oil is separated from the mixture to produce an oil product and produced water. In one process, the produced water is directed to an indirect fired steam generator which is powered by an independent boiler or steam generator. As water moves through the indirect fired steam generator, the same is heated to produce a steam-water mixture. The steam-water mixture is directed to the steam separator which separates the steam-water mixture into steam and water. The separated water is directed from the steam separator back to and through the indirect fired steam generator. This separated water is continued to be recycled through the indirect fired steam generator. Steam separated by the steam separator is directed into the injection well.

Abstract: A process is provided for treating produced water recovered from an oil recovery process. An oil-water mixture is collected from an oil bearing formation. The oil-water mixture is directed to a separator that separates the oil-water mixture to yield produced water and an oil product. The produced water includes water, dissolved organics and dissolved inorganic solids. The produced water is directed to a crystallizer. In the crystallizer, the produced water is concentrated by heating the produced water. Concentrating the produced water causes the organic and inorganic solids to precipitate from the produced water and form solid crystals, including salt crystals. Further, concentrating the produced water in the crystallizer produces an organic melt including the solid crystals. Thereafter, the method or process entails cooling the organic melt such that the organic melt solidifies into an organic solid structure, and wherein substantially no free water is present in the organic solid structure.

Abstract: A process is provided for treating produced water recovered from an oil recovery process. An oil-water mixture is collected from an oil bearing formation. The oil-water mixture is directed to a separator that separates the oil-water mixture to yield produced water and an oil product. The produced water includes water, dissolved organics and dissolved inorganic solids. The produced water is directed to a crystallizer. In the crystallizer, the produced water is concentrated by heating the produced water. Concentrating the produced water causes the organic and inorganic solids to precipitate from the produced water and form solid crystals, including salt crystals. Further, concentrating the produced water in the crystallizer produces an organic melt including the solid crystals. Thereafter, the method or process entails cooling the organic melt such that the organic melt solidifies into an organic solid structure, and wherein substantially no free water is present in the organic solid structure.

Abstract: A process for treatment of an aqueous stream to produce a low solute containing distillate stream and a high solute/solids containing blowdown stream utilizing a method to increase the efficiency of an evaporator while providing an essentially scale free environment for the heat transfer surface. Multi-valent ions and non-hydroxide alkalinity are removed from aqueous feed streams to very low levels and then the pH is increased preferably to about 9 or higher to increase the ionization of low ionizable constituents in the aqueous solution. In this manner, species such as silica and boron become highly ionized, and their solubility in the concentrated solution that is present in the evaporation equipment is significantly increased. The result of this is high allowable concentration factors and a corresponding increase in the recovery of high quality reusable water with essentially no scaling.

Abstract: An oil recovery process utilizes one or more membranes to remove silica and/or oil from produced water. In one method, the process includes separating oil from produced water and precipitating silica. The produced water having the precipitated silica is directed to a membrane, such as a ceramic membrane, which removes the precipitated silica from the produced water. In some cases, residual oil is present and is also removed by the membrane.

Abstract: An oil recovery process utilizes one or more membranes to remove silica and/or oil from produced water. In one method, the process includes separating oil from produced water and precipitating silica. The produced water having the precipitated silica is directed to a membrane, such as a ceramic membrane, which removes the precipitated silica from the produced water. In some cases, residual oil is present and is also removed by the membrane.

Abstract: An oil recovery process utilizes one or more membranes to remove silica and/or oil from produced water. In one method, the process includes separating oil from produced water and precipitating silica. The produced water having the precipitated silica is directed to a membrane, such as a ceramic membrane, which removes the precipitated silica from the produced water. In some cases, residual oil is present and is also removed by the membrane.

Abstract: A process for recovery oil includes recovering an oil/water mixture from an oil well. Thereafter, the method includes separating oil from the oil/water mixture to produce an oil product and produced water having dissolved silica therein. The produced water is directed to an evaporator and produces steam and a concentrated brine. The method or process entails mixing a precipitant or crystallizing reagent with the produced water or the concentrated brine and causing the silica to precipitate from the produced water or the concentrated brine. Steam produced by the evaporator is condensed to form a distillate which is directed to steam generator. At the steam generator the distillate is heated to produce steam which is injected into an injection well, giving rise to the formation of the oil/water mixture.

Abstract: A method of recovering oil from an oil well and producing steam for injection into an injection well is provided. After recovering an oil-water mixture from the oil well, oil is separated from the mixture to produce an oil product and produced water. In one process, the produced water is directed to an indirect fired steam generator which is powered by an independent boiler or steam generator. As water moves through the indirect fired steam generator, the same is heated to produce a steam-water mixture. The steam-water mixture is directed to the steam separator which separates the steam-water mixture into steam and water. The separated water is directed from the steam separator back to and through the indirect fired steam generator. This separated water is continued to be recycled through the indirect fired steam generator. Steam separated by the steam separator is directed into the injection well.

Abstract: An oil recovery process utilizes one or more membranes to remove silica and/or oil from produced water. In one method, the process includes separating oil from produced water and precipitating silica. The produced water having the precipitated silica is directed to a membrane, such as a ceramic membrane, which removes the precipitated silica from the produced water. In some cases, residual oil is present and is also removed by the membrane.

Abstract: An oil recovery process utilizes one or more membranes to remove silica and/or oil from produced water. In one method, the process includes separating oil from produced water and precipitating silica. The produced water having the precipitated silica is directed to a membrane, such as a ceramic membrane, which removes the precipitated silica from the produced water. In some cases, residual oil is present and is also removed by the membrane.

Abstract: An evaporation based method for generation of high pressure steam from produced water in the heavy oil production industry. De-oiled produced water is processed through a high pH/high pressure evaporator driven by a commercial watertube boiler. The vapor produced by the evaporator is suitable for the steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) method being utilized by heavy oil recovery installations, without the use of once through steam generators that require extensive chemical treatment, and without requiring atmospheric distillation, which requires high power consuming compressors. Evaporator blowdown may be further treated in a crystallizing evaporator to provide a zero liquid discharge (ZLD) system and, with most produced waters, at least 98% of the incoming produced water stream can be recovered in the form of high pressure steam.

Abstract: A method for recovering oil includes recovering an oil-water mixture from a well and separating oil from the oil-water mixture to produce an oil product and produced water. The produced water is directed to an evaporator which produces steam that is condensed to form a distillate. Thereafter the distillate is directed to a steam generator and is heated to form steam and water. At least a portion of the water is recirculated through the steam generator. Another portion of the water is mixed with the steam to form a steam-water mixture that is injected into an injection well.

Abstract: A method for recovering heavy oil including recovering an oil-water mixture from a well and separating oil from the oil-water mixture to produce an oil product and produced water. The produced water is separated into a series of produced water streams. Each produced water stream is directed into each of a plurality of interconnected evaporators in a multiple effect evaporator. A first produced water stream is heated and vaporized to form a first vapor stream. The first vapor stream then heats and vaporizes a second produced water stream to form a second vapor stream. This process may continue wherein the second vapor stream heats and vaporizes a third produced water stream. The vapor streams are condensed to form a distillate that is directed to a steam generator. The steam generator then heats the distillate and produces steam to inject into an oil injection well.