System and method for monitoring disposal of wastewater in one or more disposal wells

Abstract

A system and method for monitoring disposal of wastewater in a disposal well includes: an event monitor sensor configured to identify a wastewater disposal event; and a second sensor configured to collect data about one or more characteristics of the wastewater during the wastewater disposal event. The data from the second sensor at the disposal well is analyzed to determine a classification of the wastewater, which is then reported to an operator or another interested party.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for monitoring disposal of wastewater in a disposal well, comprising:
 an event monitor sensor configured to identify a wastewater disposal event;   a second sensor configured to collect data about one or more characteristics of the wastewater during the wastewater disposal event; and   a water analysis module operable to receive collected data from the second sensor, and further operable to determine a classification of the wastewater from the collected data.   
     
     
         2 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the event monitor sensor is a camera. 
     
     
         3 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the event monitor sensor is a current sensor. 
     
     
         4 . The system as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the current sensor monitors the power consumption of one or more pumps that are associated with the disposal well. 
     
     
         5 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the second sensor is selected from the group consisting of: a total suspended solids (TSS) sensor; a pH sensor; and a conductivity sensor. 
     
     
         6 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the second sensor comprises: a total suspended solids (TSS) sensor; a pH sensor; and a conductivity sensor. 
     
     
         7 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the classification is one of the following: produced water; flow-back water; pit water; or sediment waste. 
     
     
         8 . A method for monitoring disposal of wastewater in a disposal well, comprising the steps:
 identifying a wastewater disposal event at the disposal well;   monitoring a volume of waste being disposed at the disposal well;   collecting data indicative of one or more characteristics of the wastewater;   determining a classification of the wastewater based on the collected data; and   reporting the classification of the wastewater to an operator or another interested party.   
     
     
         9 . The method as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the step of identifying the wastewater disposal event at the disposal well includes the positioning of an event monitor sensor configured to identify the wastewater disposal event. 
     
     
         10 . The method as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the event monitor sensor is a camera. 
     
     
         11 . The method as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the event monitor sensor is a current sensor. 
     
     
         12 . The method as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the current sensor monitors the power consumption of one or more pumps that are associated with the disposal well. 
     
     
         13 . The method as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the step of collecting data indicative of one or more characteristics of the wastewater is accomplished through use of a second sensor. 
     
     
         14 . The method as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the second sensor is selected from the group consisting of: a total suspended solids (TSS) sensor; a pH sensor; and a conductivity sensor. 
     
     
         15 . The method as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the second sensor comprises: a total suspended solids (TSS) sensor; a pH sensor; and a conductivity sensor. 
     
     
         16 . The method as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the classification is one of the following: produced water; flow-back water; pit water; or sediment waste. 
     
     
         17 . A method for monitoring disposal of wastewater in a disposal well, comprising the steps:
 receiving data from an event monitor sensor in order to identify a wastewater disposal event at the disposal well;   receiving data from a second sensor at the disposal well about one or more characteristics of the wastewater during the wastewater disposal event;   analyzing the data from the second sensor at the disposal well to determine a classification of the wastewater; and   reporting the classification of the wastewater to an operator or another interested party.   
     
     
         18 . The method as recited in  claim 17 , and further comprising a step of computing statistics for the wastewater based on the data from the second sensor during the wastewater disposal event. 
     
     
         19 . The method as recited in  claim 17 , in which the step of analyzing the data from the second sensor at the disposal well to determine the classification of the wastewater includes:
 establishing a water classification model based on the data collected from the second sensor during prior wastewater disposal events as compared to accurate information about the wastewater during prior wastewater disposal events acquired from an external source; and   applying the water classification model to data from the second sensor during the wastewater disposal event.   
     
     
         20 . The method as recited in  claim 19 , in which the water classification model is based on a logistic regression model.