Licensable Technologies : Security & Defense

Treatment of produced or contaminated water using an SMZ-VPB-MBR combined system

Abstract
During the oil drilling and production process, large amounts of hydrocarbon contaminated saline water come up with the oil. Currently this water must be disposed of as a hazardous waste. LANL has developed and field tested a process that removes hydrocarbon contaminants from the contaminated saline water. The result is that the water becomes clean enough for power plant cooling, irrigation, or even animal watering. Not only are waste transport costs reduced, but the water produced is now a saleable commodity, particularly in arid areas.

Application(s)

• In-field treatment of hydrocarbon contaminated saline water from oil operations 
• Treatment of other hydrocarbon contaminated water streams

Advantages

• Creates �clean� water from a former waste stream 
• Greatly reduces waste transportation and disposal costs 
• Scaleable system that can be fielded at even relatively small produced water sites 
• System has been field tested on multiple sources of produced water

IP Status: Available both Exclusively and Non Exclusively

Commercialization Strategy: Available for license both exclusively and non-exclusively.

Seeking a commercial partner in the oil/natural gas industry interested in licensing the technology and engaging with the LANL in further refinement and deployment.

Available for license both exclusively and non-exclusively.

Reference Number: 767

S Number: DOE reference no.(s): 109,100

Patents & Applications:
Application(s) Filed

Posted: 09-07-2006

Contact
Erica Sullivan
Technology Transfer Division
Los Alamos National Laboratory
P.O. Box 1663, MailStop C334
(505) 667-9219
eab@lanl.gov