Application of membrane-coupled sequencing batch reactor for oilfield produced water recycle and beneficial re-use

• Main Authors: Ahmadun, Fakhru'l Razi, Pendashteh, Alireza, Zainal Abidin, Zurina, Abdullah, Luqman Chuah, Awang Biak, Dayang Radiah, Madaeni, Sayed Siavash
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2010
• Online Access: http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/13235/1/Application%20of%20membrane.pdf; http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/13235/
• Institution: Universiti Putra Malaysia

Oil and gas field wastewater or produced water is a significant waste stream in the oil and gas industries. In this study, the performance of a membrane sequencing batch reactor (MSBR) and membrane sequencing batch reactor/reverse osmosis (MSBR/RO) process treating produced wastewater were investigated and compared. The MSBR was operated in different hydraulic residence time (HRT) of 8, 20 and 44 h. Operation results showed that for a HRT of 20 h, the combined process effluent chemical oxygen demand (COD), total organic carbon (TOC) and oil and grease (O&G) removal efficiencies were 90.9%, 92% and 91.5%, respectively. The MSBR effluent concentration levels met the required standard for oil well re-injection. The RO treatment reduced the salt and organic contents to acceptable levels for irrigation and different industrial re-use. Foulant biopsy demonstrated that the fouling on the membrane surface was mainly due to inorganic (salts) and organic (microorganisms and their products, hydrocarbon constituents) matters.