Cleaning of water from drilling and hydraulic fracturing operations

Abstract

The present disclosure pertains to systems and methods for cleaning water from drilling and hydraulic fracturing operations for reuse and/or release into the environment.

Therefore, at least the following is claimed: 
     
         1 . A system for cleaning water used in drilling or hydraulic fracturing operations comprising:
 a site pad, wherein the site pad is comprised of equipment selected from the group consisting of: a drill rig, fracking equipment, a work over rig, and a combination thereof;   a mobile storage tank, wherein the mobile storage tank is used to store water selected from the group consisting of: fresh water, contaminated water, and a combination thereof, wherein the mobile storage tank is connected to the site pad by at least one supply line and at least one return line;   a cleaning unit, wherein the cleaning unit is connected to the mobile storage tank by at least one supply line and at least one return line;   at least one mobile frac tank, wherein the at least one mobile frac tank is connected to the cleaning unit by at least one supply line and at least one return line, and wherein the at least one mobile frac tank is connected to the site pad by at least one supply line and at least one return line; and   an earth pit, wherein the earth pit is connected to the cleaning unit by at least one supply line and at least one return line, and wherein the earth pit is connected to the site pad by at least one supply line and at least one return line.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile storage tank comprises a capacity of about 500 gallons to about 300,000 barrels of water. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning unit comprises at least one of the group consisting of: a filter, electricity, microbes, bacteria, chemicals, medias, natural cleaners, dilution, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . A system for cleaning water used in drilling or hydraulic fracturing operations comprising:
 a site pad;   at least one supply line;   at least one waste water holding tank;   at least one return line;   at least one cleaning unit; and   at least one clean water storage tank.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one supply line is used for transporting cleaned water in the system and the at least one return line is used for transporting contaminated water in the system. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the cleaning system is comprised of at least one of the following: a filter, a chemical, electricity, microbes, bacteria, all natural cleaners, diluted with fresh water, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the site pad is connected to the at least one waste water holding tank by at least one return line, the waste water holding tank is connected to the at least one cleaning unit by at least one return line, the clean water storage tank is connected to the cleaning unit by at least one supply line, and the site pad is connected to the clean water storage tank by at least one supply line. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 4 , further comprising at least one earth pit, wherein the earth pit comprises a pit dug into the ground at the site, and wherein the earth pit is lined. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 4 , further comprising at least one mobile frac tank, wherein the at least one mobile frac tank is used for storage of fresh or contaminated water. 
     
     
         10 . A method for on-site cleaning of water used in drilling and hydraulic fracturing processes comprising:
 transporting water and fluids resulting from drilling and hydraulic fracturing processes from a site pad to at least one waste water holding tank;   transporting at least a portion of the water and fluids from the at least one waste water holding tank to at least one cleaning unit, wherein the water and fluids are cleaned; and   transporting the clean water to at least one clean water storage tank.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the water and fluids are prescreened prior to entering the at least one waste water holding tank. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one waste water holding tank is lined with a membrane and selected from the group consisting of: a tank, a pond, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the membrane is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of: rubber, plastic, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the cleaning unit is comprised of at least one selected from the group consisting of: a filter, electricity, microbes, bacteria, chemicals, medias, natural cleaners, dilution, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the water and fluids are transported to the waste water holding tank via at least one selected from the group consisting of: a supply line, a return line, a truck, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the water and fluids are transported to the cleaning unit via at least one selected from the group consisting of: a supply line, a return line, a truck, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the cleaned water is transported to the storage tank via at least one selected from the group consisting of: a supply line, a return line, a truck, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the holding tank, cleaning unit, and storage tank are portable. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the holding tank, cleaning system, and storage tank are semi-permanent to the operations site. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the holding tank, cleaning system, and storage tank are permanent to the operations site.