Methods of recovering bitumen from oil sands
US-9840669-B2 · Dec 12, 2017 · US
Enhanced flocculation and clarification of produced water using nanoparticles
US10450208B2 · US · B2
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Publication number | US-10450208-B2 |
| Application number | US-201615170739-A |
| Country | US |
| Kind code | B2 |
| Filing date | Jun 1, 2016 |
| Priority date | Jun 1, 2016 |
| Publication date | Oct 22, 2019 |
| Grant date | Oct 22, 2019 |
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- Title
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Abstract
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Various illustrative embodiments of a process for enhanced flocculation and clarification of produced water from oil and gas wells using nanoparticles are provided herein. Certain nanoparticles can increase the settling rate of solids in produced water when used alone or combined with certain conventional flocculents.
First claim
Opening claim text (preview).
What is claimed is: 1. A method of separating mature fine tailings from a suspension comprising mature fine tailings and water, the method comprising: dispersing inorganic nanoparticles into the suspension such that the inorganic nanoparticles interact with the mature fine tailings, the inorganic nanoparticles having a diameter of 50 nanometers or smaller, wherein the inorganic nanoparticles comprise an amine-terminated nanosilica that promotes coagulation of the mature fine tailings; and introducing a flocculent in the suspension such that the flocculent interacts with the mature fine tailings. 2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the inorganic nanoparticles have a diameter of 20 nanometers or smaller. 3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the flocculent is an anionic polyacrylamide. 4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the inorganic nanoparticles comprise an amine-terminated nanosilica powder. 5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the inorganic nanoparticles comprise an amine-terminated nanosilica colloid. 6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dispersed nanoparticles are adsorbed onto the surfaces of the mature fine tailings in the suspension. 7. A method of separating solid materials from a suspension of produced water comprising solid materials and water from an oil and gas well, the method comprising: dispersing inorganic nanoparticles into the suspension such that the inorganic nanoparticles interact with the solid materials, the inorganic nanoparticles having a diameter of 50 nanometers or smaller, wherein the inorganic nanoparticles comprise an amine-terminated nanosilica that promotes coagulation of the solid materials, and introducing a flocculent into the suspension such that the flocculent interacts with the solid materials. 8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the inorganic nanoparticles have a diameter of 20 nanometers or smaller. 9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the flocculent is an anionic polyacrylamide. 10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the inorganic nanoparticles comprise an amine-terminated nanosilica powder. 11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the inorganic nanoparticles comprise an amine-terminated silica colloid. 12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the dispersed nanoparticles are adsorbed onto the surfaces of the solid materials suspended in the produced water.
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Classifications
Nanoparticles or nanotubes · CPC title
from quarries or from mining activities · CPC title
Silicon compounds · CPC title
- C02F1/5236Primary
using inorganic agents · CPC title
Macromolecular compounds · CPC title
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- What does patent US10450208B2 cover?
- Various illustrative embodiments of a process for enhanced flocculation and clarification of produced water from oil and gas wells using nanoparticles are provided herein. Certain nanoparticles can increase the settling rate of solids in produced water when used alone or combined with certain conventional flocculents.
- Who is the assignee on this patent?
- Baker Hughes, Baker Hughes A Ge Co Llc
- What technology area does this patent fall under?
- Primary CPC classification C02F1/5236. Mapped technology areas include Chemistry & Metallurgy.
- When was this patent published?
- Publication date Tue Oct 22 2019 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) (B2). Legal status and post-grant events are not shown on this page.
- What related patents are in patentsdb?
- We list 1 related publication on this page (citations in our corpus or others sharing the same primary CPC).