Process for single system electrocoagulation, magnetic, cavitation and flocculation (emc/f) treatment of water and wastewater

Abstract

The current invention provides a novel process for the treatment and reclamation of drilling frac flowback and produced wastewater from the drilling industry. The wastewater is delivered to the EMC/F System from a frac tank or other reservoir. The wastewater is pumped into the system and is treated sequentially by passing through a mechanical hydrocavitation unit, an electromagnetic unit, an electrocoagulation unit and/or a hydrocyclone and a flocculation-sedimentation tank. Polishing of the final effluent is accomplished by passing the water through a mixed media tank.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A mobile or portable water treatment process for capturing and removing suspended and dissolved solids, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, volatile and non-volatile organic compounds, oxides and hydroxides of heavy metals, metal carbonates, petroleum products, or a mixture thereof from a frac flowback or produced water, the process comprising:
 a) pumping the frac flowback or produced water through a pair of filters having a plurality of inlets, the inlets being hydraulically connected to a source of the frac flowback or produced water, wherein the filters capture macroscopic debris for disposal giving a filtered flowback or produced water;   b) pumping the filtered flowback or produced water from the pair of filters through an outlet having a connection to a pair of first flowlines with probes inserted into the flowlines to monitor temperature, pH, flow, and conductivity;   c) pumping the filtered flowback or produced water through the pair of first flowlines, wherein the pair of first flowlines is in hydraulic communication with a magnetic field produced by an around-the-pipe electromagnet, or by a permanent magnet, to give a second flowback or produced water;   d) pumping the second flowback or produced water through a divided second flowline having two or more divided lines wherein each divided line is in hydraulic connection to one of two mechanical hydrocavitation devices to produce a treated second flowback or produced water;   e) pumping the treated second flowback or produced water through a third flowline in fluid connection to a horizontal surge separation tank having a horizontal surge separation tank outlet to give a third flowback or produced water;   f) flowing the third flowback or produced water from the horizontal surge separation tank outlet into a fourth flowline, wherein the fourth flowline has two or more divided lines and each divided line is in hydraulic communication with one of two electrocoagulation devices to give a fourth flowback or produced water;   g) pumping the fourth flowback or produced water into a fifth flowline which is in fluid communication with a horizontal atmospheric separation tank to give a fifth flowback or produced water;   h) flowing the fifth flowback or produced water from the horizontal atmospheric separation tank into a sixth flowline to give a sixth flowback or produced water, wherein the sixth flowline is in fluid communication with one of two pumps;   i) pumping the sixth flowback or produced water via a seventh flowline to give a seventh flowback or produced water, wherein the seventh flowline is in fluid communication with a hydrocyclone;   j) discharging the seventh flowback or produced water via an eighth flowline to a flocculation/sedimentation tank separating any remaining formed solids from the seventh flowback or produced water, wherein said eighth flowline is equipped with means for monitoring pH, flow, and conductivity; and   k) removing the seventh flowback or produced water from the flocculation/sedimentation tank for recycle in well fracing operations.   
     
     
         19 . The process of  claim 18 , wherein the around-the-pipe electromagnet or the permanent magnet of step c) is located around the third flowline and prior to the horizontal surge separation tank. 
     
     
         20 . The process of  claim 18 , wherein the step of pumping the frac flowback or produced water through a pair of filters of steps a) further comprises pumping the frac flowback or produced water through a hydrocyclone before reaching the pair of filters. 
     
     
         21 . The process of  claim 18 , wherein the fourth flowline of step f) further comprises a hydrocyclone located before the two or more divided lines. 
     
     
         22 . The process of  claim 18 , wherein the around-the-pipe electromagnet or the permanent magnet of step c) is in hydraulic communication with at least one of the two mechanical hydrocavitation devices of step d). 
     
     
         23 . The process of  claim 18 , wherein the around-the-pipe electromagnet or the permanent magnet of step c) is in hydraulic communication with at least one of the two electrocoagulation devices of step f). 
     
     
         24 . The process of  claim 18 , wherein the around-the-pipe electromagnet or the permanent magnet of step c) is in hydraulic communication with at least one of the two mechanical hydrocavitation devices of step d). 
     
     
         25 . The process of  claim 18 , wherein at least one of the two mechanical hydrocavitation devices of step d) is in hydraulic communication with at least one of the two electrocoagulation devices of step f). 
     
     
         26 . The process of  claim 18 , wherein the hydrocyclone of step i) is in hydraulic communication with at least one of the two mechanical hydrocavitation devices of step d). 
     
     
         27 . The process of  claim 18 , wherein the hydrocyclone of step i) is in hydraulic communication with at least one of the two electrocoagulation devices of step f). 
     
     
         28 . A mobile or portable water treatment system for capturing and removing suspended and dissolved solids, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, volatile and non-volatile organic compounds, oxides and hydroxides of heavy metals, metal carbonates, petroleum products, or a mixture thereof from a frac flowback or produced water, the system comprising, connected in series:
 a filtration device;   a flocculation/sedimentation device; and   a device selected from the group consisting of an electromagnetic device, a hydrocavitation device, an electrocoagulation device, and a combination thereof.   
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the filtration device is located at an inlet, or beginning position of the system and the flocculation/sedimentation device is located at a terminal end of the system.