Microfiltration method and system

Abstract

A microfiltration method and system for treating production water, for example, from oil and gas operations so that the treated water can be put to a beneficial user(s) such as agriculture, irrigation, industrial or municipal or potable applications. The production water is treated using a ceramic microfilter after pretreatment, for example, to remove volatile hydrocarbons and heavier oils, such as paraffins and asphaltenes, that could foul the ceramic filter. The effluent from the ceramic microfiltration can be further treated, for example, with activated charcoal or otherwise for the intended end use.

1 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A microfiltration method comprising:
 in a pretreatment, aerating production water, and then filtering the aerated water;   filtering pretreated water using a ceramic filter to remove volatile organic compounds to produce purified water.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  further comprising in a post-treatment, finishing the purified water for an application. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  wherein finishing the purified water is for an agricultural application. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27  wherein finishing the purified water is for a subsurface discharge application. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27  wherein finishing the purified water is for use as potable water. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 26  further comprising in a post-treatment of the purified water, removing residual benzene. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31  wherein removing residual benzene is with activated carbon. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31  wherein removing residual benzene is with ion exchange. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31  wherein removing residual benzene is with surface modified zeolites. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34  wherein the surface modified zeolites have a mesh size of about 14 to 100. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 31  wherein removing residual benzene is with reverse osmosis. 
     
     
         37 . A microfiltration system comprising:
 a pretreatment aerator with an inlet for production water;   a pretreatment filter with an inlet for aerated water;   a ceramic microfilter with an inlet for pretreated water, the ceramic microfilter removing volatile organic compounds from the pretreated water and producing purified water.   
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 37  further comprising a pretreatment concentrator in-line between the pretreatment filter and the ceramic microfilter. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 37  further comprising a post-treatment activated carbon contactor to further treat the purified water prior to discharge. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 37  further comprising a post-treatment ion exchange contactor to further treat the purified water prior to discharge. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 37  further comprising a post-treatment reverse osmosis system to further treat the purified water prior to discharge. 
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 37  further comprising a post-treatment finished water facility for holding water prior to discharge. 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 37  further comprising a post-treatment storage facility for holding water prior to discharge. 
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 37  further comprising a post-treatment tank for adding blend water prior to discharge. 
     
     
         45 . A microfiltration system comprising:
 a pretreatment aerator with an inlet for treating production water;   a pretreatment filter with an inlet for processing aerated water from the pretreatment aerator;   a pretreatment concentrator in-line after the pretreatment filter;   a ceramic microfilter with an inlet for pretreated water from the pretreatment aerator, the ceramic microfilter removing volatile organic compounds from the pretreated water and producing purified water; and   a post-treatment system to further treat the purified water and remove residual benzene from the purified water prior to discharge, the post-treatment system selected from an activated carbon contactor, an ion exchange contactor to further treat the purified water prior to discharge, and a reverse osmosis system.