Oil-Sands Produced Water Treatment by Electrocoagulation

加拿大使用了几种技术，将蒸汽注入沥青(油砂)储藏层，以降低沥青粘度，使石油生产成为可能。因此，石油是在高温下生产的，与大约**三倍体积的水混合。一旦石油被分离，水就被处理，输送到蒸汽发生器，然后**循环到油井。产出的水含有复杂的无机和有机污染物**，可能会污染锅炉，污染物通常通过物理和化学**处理过程的组合来去除。大约80%的水被回收作为蒸汽，剩下的20%作为**集中的“排污”收集，其中大约一半可以回收，其余的部分被处理。这种**水处理工艺具有较高的资本和运营成本，并严重影响环境**性能，包括处理水量和补充水的消耗。在当前低油价和加强环境监管的环境下，需要新的水处理技术来**降低成本并提高油砂生产的环境绩效。电凝聚对二氧化硅和其他污染物的去除是**有效的，作为一种处理采出水或排污的新解决方案，电凝聚具有很大的应用潜力。然而，产出水系统中复杂的化学成分可能会导致操作和性能问题，需要研究**以了解去除机理和电极结垢过程，以便为这些**应用量身定制技术。我们的行业合作伙伴正计划将电凝聚应用于采出水的处理。**该项目将使他们能够确保尽可能高效地使用电凝聚。**这将降低运营和资本成本，并显著减少水的使用和处置。**项目将调查污染物与电凝聚过程的相互作用，作为操作条件的**函数。最先进的仪器将被用来研究污染物**去除机制，以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.