Fracture Water Treatment Method and System

Abstract

A method and system for treatment of flow-back and produced water from a hydrocarbon well in which fracturing operations are carried out using a phase separation and creating of positive charge in the water.

1 . A system for treating hydrocarbon well fracture water from a hydrocarbon well, a system comprising:
 means for separating solids from fracture water, wherein a flow of water with suspended solids results;   means for separating the flow of water into a plurality of flows of water;   means for generating positive charge in the plurality of flows of water, wherein a plurality of flows of positively-charged water results; and   means for comingling plurality of flows of positively-charged water.   
     
     
         2 . A system as in  claim 1 , wherein said means for separating comprises a three-phase, four material separator. 
     
     
         3 . A system as in  claim 2 , wherein said means for separating further comprises a second two phase separator, the two-phase separator comprising an input for receiving water flow from the three-phase gas oil separator, and an output for the flow of water with suspended solids. 
     
     
         4 . A system as in  claim 2 , further comprising:
 means for monitoring an oil/water interface level; and   means for controlling the oil/water interface level in the first and second separator.   
     
     
         5 . A system as in  claim 4  wherein said means for monitoring comprises an oil/water interface level indicator and control valve sensor. 
     
     
         6 . A system as in  claim 4  wherein said means for controlling comprises a cascade control system. 
     
     
         7 . A system as in  claim 1 , wherein the means for separating the flow of water into a plurality of flows of water comprises a manifold having an input port to receive the flow of water with suspended solids and a plurality of output ports, each of which has a cross-sectional area that is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the input of the manifold; and
 wherein the sum of the cross-sectional areas of the output ports is greater than the cross-sectional area of the input ports, whereby the flow rate exiting the manifold is less than the flow rate entering the manifold.   
     
     
         8 . A system as in  claim 7  wherein the manifold comprises a 1:12 manifold. 
     
     
         9 . A system as in  claim 1 , wherein the means for separating the flow of water into a plurality of flows of water comprises a water truck having a plurality of compartments, each compartment being positioned to receive a portion of the flow of water. 
     
     
         10 . A system as in  claim 1 , wherein said means for generating positive charge comprises means for treating each of the plurality of flows of water with electromagnetic flux. 
     
     
         11 . A system as in  claim 10 , wherein the means for treating each of the plurality of flows of water with electromagnetic flux comprises:
 a pipe; and   at least one electrical coil having an axis substantially coaxial with the pipe.   
     
     
         12 . A system as in  claim 11  wherein said pipe consists essentially of non-conducting material. 
     
     
         13 . A system as in  claim 11  wherein said pipe consists essentially of stainless steel. 
     
     
         14 . A system as in  claim 11  flirther comprising a ringing current switching circuit connected to the coil. 
     
     
         15 . A system as in  claim 14  wherein said ringing current switching circuit operates in a fullwave mode. 
     
     
         16 . A system as in  claim 14  wherein said ringing circuit has a frequency between about 10 kHz to about 80 kHz. 
     
     
         17 . A system as in  claim 1 , wherein said means for co-mingling comprises a manifold having input ports for a plurality of flows of positively-charged water and an output port. 
     
     
         18 . A system as in  claim 17  wherein said means for co-mingling further comprises a well fracturing water and proppant blender. 
     
     
         19 . A system as in  claim 1  wherein the majority of the suspended solids are less than about 100 microns. 
     
     
         20 . A system as in  claim 19  wherein substantially all the suspended solids are less than about 100 microns. 
     
     
         21 . A system as in  claim 20  wherein the majority of the suspended solids are less than about 10 microns. 
     
     
         22 . A system as in  claim 21  wherein substantially all the suspended solids are less than about 10 microns. 
     
     
         23 . A system as in  claim 1  wherein said means for separating comprises a two-stage separator. 
     
     
         24 . A system as in  claim 23  wherein said two-stage separator comprises:
 a three-phase separator having a water output coupled to an input of a two-phase separator. 
 
     
     
         25 . A system as in  claim 24  wherein said three-phase separator comprises a four-material separator having at least four outputs including: a slurry, water having suspended solids therein, hydrocarbon liquid, and hydrocarbon gas. 
     
     
         26 . A method of treating hydrocarbon well fracture water from a hydrocarbon well, said method comprising:
 separating solids from fracture water, wherein a flow of water with suspended solids results;   separating the flow of water into a plurality of flows of water;   generating positive charge in the plurality of flows of water, wherein a plurality of flows of positively-charged water results;   comingling the plurality of flows of positively-charged water after said generating.   
     
     
         27 . A method as in  claim 26 , further comprising:
 monitoring an oil/water interface level and   controlling the oil/water interface level in the separator.   
     
     
         28 . A method as in  claim 26 , further comprising slowing the flow rate in the plurality of flows of water to be less than the flow rate of the flow of water with suspended solids. 
     
     
         29 . A method as in  claim 26 , wherein said generating positive charge in the flows of water comprises treating each of the plurality of flows of water with electromagnetic flux. 
     
     
         30 . A method as in  claim 26 , wherein the majority of the suspended solids are less than about 100 microns. 
     
     
         31 . A method as in  claim 30 , wherein substantially all the suspended solids are less than about 100 microns. 
     
     
         32 . A method as in  claim 30 , wherein the majority of the suspended solids are less than about 10 microns. 
     
     
         33 . A method as in  claim 32 , wherein substantially all the suspended solids are less than about 10 microns. 
     
     
         34 . A method as in  claim 26 , wherein said separating comprises two-stage separating. 
     
     
         35 . A method as in  claim 34 , wherein said two-stage separating comprises:
 passing the fracture water through a three-phase separator, wherein a water output from the three-phase separator results, and   passing the water output from the three-phase separator through a two-phase separator.   
     
     
         36 . A method as in  claim 35 , wherein said three-phase separator comprises a four-material separator having at least four outputs including: a slurry, water having suspended solids therein, hydrocarbon liquid, and hydrocarbon gas. 
     
     
         37 . A system for treating hydrocarbon well fracture water from a hydrocarbon well, a system comprising:
 means for separating solids from fracture water, wherein a flow of water with suspended solids results;   means for separating the flow of water into a plurality of flows of water;   means for generating positive charge in the plurality of flows of water, wherein a plurality of flows of positively-charged water results; and   means for comingling plurality of flows of positively-charged water.   
     
     
         38 . A system as in  claim 37 , wherein said means for separating comprises a three-phase, four material separator. 
     
     
         39 . A system as in  claim 38 , wherein said means for separating further comprises a second two phase separator, the two-phase separator comprising an input for receiving water flow from the three-phase gas oil separator, and an output for the flow of water with suspended solids. 
     
     
         40 . A system as in  claim 38 , further comprising:
 means for monitoring an oil/water interface level; and   means for controlling the oil/water interface level in the first and second separator.   
     
     
         41 . A system as in  claim 40 , wherein said means for monitoring comprises an oil/water interface level indicator and control valve sensor. 
     
     
         42 . A system as in  claim 40 , wherein said means for controlling comprises a cascade control system. 
     
     
         43 . A system as in  claim 37 , wherein the means for separating the flow of water into a plurality of flows of water comprises a manifold having an input port to receive the flow of water with suspended solids and a plurality of output ports, each of which has a cross-sectional area that is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the input of the manifold; and
 wherein the sum of the cross-sectional areas of the output ports is greater than the cross-sectional area of the input ports, whereby the flow rate exiting the manifold is less than the flow rate entering the manifold.   
     
     
         44 . A system as in  claim 43 , wherein the manifold comprises a 1:12 manifold. 
     
     
         45 . A system as in  claim 37 , wherein the means for separating the flow of water into a plurality of flows of water comprises a water truck having a plurality of compartments, each compartment being positioned to receive a portion of the flow of water. 
     
     
         46 . A system as in  claim 37 , wherein said means for generating positive charge comprises means for treating each of the plurality of flows of water with electromagnetic flux. 
     
     
         47 . A system as in  claim 46 , wherein the means for treating each of the plurality of flows of water with electromagnetic flux comprises:
 a pipe; and   at least one electrical coil having an axis substantially coaxial with the pipe.   
     
     
         48 . A system as in  claim 47 , wherein said pipe consists essentially of non-conducting material. 
     
     
         49 . A system as in  claim 47 , wherein said pipe consists essentially of stainless steel. 
     
     
         50 . A system as in  claim 47 , further comprising a ringing current switching circuit connected to the coil. 
     
     
         51 . A system as in  claim 50 , wherein said ringing current switching circuit operates in a full-wave mode. 
     
     
         52 . A system as in  claim 50 , wherein said ringing circuit has a frequency between about 10 kHz to about 80 kHz. 
     
     
         53 . A system as in  claim 37 , wherein said means for co-mingling comprises a manifold having input ports for a plurality of flows of positively-charged water and an output port. 
     
     
         54 . A system as in  claim 53 , wherein said means for co-mingling further comprises a well fracturing water and proppant blender. 
     
     
         55 . A system as in  claim 37 , wherein the majority of the suspended solids are less than about 100 microns. 
     
     
         56 . A system as in  claim 55 , wherein substantially all the suspended solids are less than about 100 microns. 
     
     
         57 . A system as in  claim 56 , wherein the majority of the suspended solids are less than about 10 microns. 
     
     
         58 . A system as in  claim 57 , wherein substantially all the suspended solids are less than about 10 microns. 
     
     
         59 . A system as in  claim 37 , wherein said means for separating comprises a two-stage separator. 
     
     
         60 . A system as in  claim 59 , wherein said two-stage separator comprises:
 a three-phase separator having a water output coupled to an input of a two-phase separator.   
     
     
         61 . A system as in  claim 60 , wherein said three-phase separator comprises a four-material separator having at least four outputs including: a slurry, water having suspended solids therein, hydrocarbon liquid, and hydrocarbon gas. 
     
     
         62 . A system for treatment of hydrocarbon well fracture water, the system comprising:
 a multi-phase separator;   a manifold having an input port connected to an output of the multiphase separator and having multiple output ports;   a plurality of pipes, each having coils wound on the pipe, wherein each pipe has an input end connected to an output port of the manifold and each pipe has an output end;   a co-mingling manifold having input ports connected to the output ends of the plurality of pipes.   
     
     
         63 . A system as in  claim 62 , further comprising a proppant-water blender connected to an output of the co-mingling manifold. 
     
     
         64 . A system as in  claim 62 , wherein the multi-phase separator comprises a multi-stage separator. 
     
     
         65 . A system as in  claim 64 , wherein the multi-stage separator comprises a two-stage separator, wherein:
 a first stage of the two-stage separator comprises a three-phase separator and   a second stage of the two-stage separator comprises a two-phase separator.   
     
     
         66 . A system as in  claim 65 , wherein the three-phase separator comprises a four-material separator. 
     
     
         67 . A system as in  claim 66 , wherein the four-material separator comprises an oil-water interface control system. 
     
     
         68 . A method of controlling of water/liquid hydrocarbon interface in a three-phase separator, the method comprising:
 establishing a water/liquid hydrocarbon interface in a three-phase separator;   measuring the water/liquid hydrocarbon interface in the three-phase separator,   wherein a water/liquid hydrocarbon interface measurement signal results;   comparing the water/liquid hydrocarbon interface measurement signal to a set point,   wherein a comparison signal results;   reducing the flow-back or produced water into the three-phase separator of hydrocarbon well fracture water when the comparison signal indicates the water/liquid hydrocarbon interface is above the set point; and   increasing flow into the three-phase separator when the comparison signal indicates the water/liquid hydrocarbon interface is below the set point, wherein the increasing flow comprises hydrocarbon well fracture water from a well and make-up water from a storage tank or a lagoon.   
     
     
         69 . A method as in  claim 68 , further comprising:
 decreasing the flow exiting the three-phase separator at the same rate in balance with the flow as it decreases into the three-phase separator, and   increasing the flow exiting the three-phase separator at the same balanced rate as the flow increases into the three-phase separator.   
     
     
         70 . A system for controlling of water/liquid hydrocarbon interface in the three-phase separator, a method comprising:
 means for establishing a water/liquid hydrocarbon interface in a three-phase separator;   means for measuring the water/liquid hydrocarbon interface in the three-phase separator, wherein a water/liquid hydrocarbon interface measurement signal results;   means for comparing the water/liquid hydrocarbon interface measurement signal to a set point, wherein a comparison signal results;   means for reducing the flow into the three-phase separator of hydrocarbon well fracture water when the comparison signal indicates the water/liquid hydrocarbon interface is above the set point and for increasing flow into the three-phase separator when the comparison signal indicates the water/liquid hydrocarbon interface is below the set point, wherein the increasing flow comprises hydrocarbon well fracture water from and make-up water.   
     
     
         71 . A system as in  claim 70 , wherein said means for establishing a water/liquid hydrocarbon interface comprises a diaphragm wier. 
     
     
         72 . A system as in  claim 70 , wherein said means for measuring the water/liquid hydrocarbon interface comprises a liquid level indicator controller-type sensor. 
     
     
         73 . A system as in  claim 70 , wherein said means for comparing the water/liquid hydrocarbon interface measurement signal to a set point comprises a continuous capacitance level transmitter. 
     
     
         74 . A system as in  claim 70 , wherein said means for reducing and for increasing the flow into the three-phase separator comprises a turbine type flow meter and an inlet type control valve in-line with the input of the three-phase separator. 
     
     
         75 . A system as in  claim 70 , further comprising:
 means for decreasing and balancing the flow exiting the three-phase separator at the same rate as the flow decreases into the three-phase separator and for increasing the flow exiting the three-phase separator at the same balanced rate as the flow increases into the three-phase separator.   
     
     
         76 . A system as in  claim 75 , wherein said means for decreasing and increasing the flow exiting the three-phase separator comprises an orifice-type flow meter connected in-line with the water output of the three-phase separator. 
     
     
         77 . A system as in  claim 75 , wherein said means for decreasing and increasing the flow exiting the three-phase separator comprises an orifice-type flow controller controlling the water output of the three-phase separator.