Oil-Sands Produced Water Treatment by Electrocoagulation

加拿大采用了几种技术，将蒸汽注入沥青（油砂）储层，以降低沥青粘度，提高石油产量。因此，这种油是在高温下生产的，混合了大约三倍体积的水。一旦油被分离，水就会被处理，送入蒸汽发生器，然后再循环到油井中。采出水中含有一种复杂的无机和有机污染物的混合物，这些污染物可能会污染锅炉，通常通过物理和化学处理过程的结合来去除污染物。大约80%的水以蒸汽的形式被回收，剩下的20%被收集成浓缩的“排污物”，其中大约一半可以被回收，剩下的部分被处理掉。这种水处理工艺具有很高的资金和运营成本，并严重影响环境性能，包括处理水量和补充水的消耗。在当前低油价和环保法规不断加强的环境下，需要新的水处理技术来降低成本并提高油砂生产的环保性能。电絮凝对去除二氧化硅和其他污染物是有效的，电絮凝作为处理采出水或排污的新解决方案有很大的应用潜力。然而，采出水系统中复杂的化学成分可能会导致操作和性能问题，因此需要进行研究，以了解去除机制和电极结垢过程，从而为这些应用定制技术。我们的行业合作伙伴正计划应用电凝法处理采出水。**该项目将使他们能够确保尽可能高效和有效地使用电凝。**这将减少运营和资本成本，并大大减少水的使用和处置。该项目将调查污染物与电凝过程的相互作用，作为操作条件的**函数。最先进的仪器将用于研究污染物去除机制，提供可靠的性能数据并推荐合适的操作条件。

Several technologies are used in Canada whereby steam is injected into bitumen (oil-sands) reservoirs to reduce**bitumen viscosity and enable oil production. The oil is thus produced at high temperatures, mixed with about**three times the volume of water. Once the oil is separated, the water is treated, fed to the steam generators and**recycled to the wells. The produced water contains a complex mixture of inorganic and organic contaminants**that can foul the boilers and contaminants are typically removed by a combination of physical and chemical**treatment processes. Around 80% of the water is recycled as steam, the remaining 20% collected as a**concentrated 'blowdown', around of half of which can be recycled and the remaining part is disposed of. This**water treatment process has high capital and operating costs, and critically effects the environmental**performance including the amount of disposal water and the consumption of make up water. In the current**climate of low oil prices and increasing environmental regulation, new water treatment technology is needed to**reduce costs and enhance the environmental performance of oil sands production. Electrocoagulation is**effective for removal of silica and other contaminants, and there is significant potential for the application**electrocoagulation as a new solution for treatment of produced water or blowdown. However, the complex**chemistry in produced water systems can lead to operational and performance problems, and research is needed**to understand removal mechanisms and electrode fouling processes to tailor the technology for these**applications. Our industry partner is planning to apply electrocoagulation for the treatment of produced water.**The project will enable them to ensure that electrocoagulation is used as efficiently and effectively as possible.**This will reduce operating and capital costs and lead to a significant reduction in water use and disposal. The**project will involve investigation of the interaction of contaminants with the electrocoagulation process, as a**function of the operating conditions. State of the art instruments will be used to investigate the contaminant**removal mechanisms, to provide reliable performance data and recommend suitable operating conditions.