An oilfield in Libya: A new model to enhance waste water disposal

Abstract

The water produced at the Amal oil field in Libya is directly stored for evaporation in in-ground-pits. As there are a large number of oil production wells, there is a risk of environmental pollution because of the waste water’s eventual penetration into subsoil and surface waterways. From a technical point of view, the existing system of reservoir water disposal into storage pits will not be adequate to meet the increasing water production. Besides, the discharge of produced water without previous treatment is ecologically unacceptable. In this paper, a modern concept of produced water preparation is proposed, and the method of its disposal defined, applying an integrated approach to solving this problem, including technological, economic and environmental aspects. Produced water preparation in an oil field in Libya was chosen for the proposed implementation of an option with the lowest operating costs (storage tanks and liquid hydrophobic filter tank).

Overview of produced water in oilfield

“…Separation of dispersed oil is the primary process of water treatment. The permitted quantities of dispersed oil vary from country to country, for example, in the USA concentration varies in the range of 15 to 58 mg (Danilovic et al 2016).…”

“…The proposed solution supports the system of waste water disposal into brine storage pits, but with crucial difference in that the disposed water will no longer be environmental harmful. (Danilovic et al 2016). On (Figure 1) it can be seen one example of cost-effective process for the preparation of produced water at the Amal oil field on the basis of existing solutions and studies.…”

“…Treatment of produced water is done in the separator, using hydrophobic filtration and gravitation sedimentation with a liquid hydrophobic coalescing medium. The treated water from coalescing filter with a hydrophobic filter medium passes through a buffer tank and than to pumps which re-inject it into the geological formation (Danilovic et al 2016). Figure 1 A scheme of preparation process of waste water (Danilovic et al 2016) Another operational system based on separation of oil, gas and water can be found at PT Caltex Pacific Indonesia oil field.…”

“…The treated water from coalescing filter with a hydrophobic filter medium passes through a buffer tank and than to pumps which re-inject it into the geological formation (Danilovic et al 2016). Figure 1 A scheme of preparation process of waste water (Danilovic et al 2016) Another operational system based on separation of oil, gas and water can be found at PT Caltex Pacific Indonesia oil field. PT Caltex Pacific Indonesia (CPI) is the local unit of Caltex which in October 2001 was renamed to Chevron Taxaco Asia.…”