JournalofMiningWorldExpressVolume2Issue3,July2013www.mwejournal.

org

TheApplicationofLowpressure
BackwashingFilterinOilfieldProduced
WaterDisposal
XinpengLe1,ZhihuaWang*2,ZhiweiHu3,PengruiZhao4
KeyLaboratoryofEnhancedOil&GasRecoveryunderMinistryofEducation,NortheastPetroleumUniversity
Daqing,HeiLongjiang,P.R.China
3OilRecoveryPlantNo.4,DaqingOilfieldCompanyLimited
Daqing,HeiLongjiang,P.R.China
4OilRecoveryPlantNo.3,DaqingOilfieldCompanyLimited
Daqing,HeiLongjiang,P.R.China
1,*2

lexinpeng@126.com;*2zhihua_wang@126.com;3hzw@126.com;4zhaopr@126.com

Abstract

the various
fundamental.

At the present liquid disposal process during the oilfield

producing,filtrationisessential,anditseffectisdetermined
bythequalityofbackwashing.Inordertosolvetheproblems
of high pressure in backwashing, filter material loss and
difficult regeneration in traditional filtration device, low
pressure backwashing filter is designed by means of the
filtration structure improvement and operation parameter
optimizationonthebasisofbackwashingprinciple.Thepilot
tests in Daqing Oilfield show that by using lowpressure
backwashing filter, the backwashing pressure can be
maintained between 0.03 MPa and 0.08 MPa, the
backwashing can be realized by filtered water in tank and
thefiltermaterialregenerateswell.Thequalityofthefiltered
polymercontainingproducedliquidisimprovedobviously,
and the average oil content is less than 10 mg/L, and the
suspended solids content is less than 20 mg/L, meeting the
reinjection standard of reservoirs with moderate and high
permeabilities.

processes,

filtration

is

Presently,theproducedwaterdisposalprocessusedin
oilfield holds many advantages, such as high oil
removalefficiency,stablequalityoftreatedwater,and
convenient maintenance and management. However,
with the popularization and application of polymer
EOR,chemicalagentconcentrationofproducedwater
increases continuously. So, the absorbility of filter
materialtooilandsuspendedsolidsisontheincrease,
and the relative density of filter material with oil is
decreased.Undertheconventionalbackwashingspeed,
the increase of backwashing pressure, loss and
incompletelyregenerationoffiltermaterialarecaused
by serious filter material expansion. Then the oil and
suspended solids content in the filtered produced
water are difficult to satisfy the standard, influencing
the filtration effect. Therefore, the study and
application of lowpressure backwashing filtration
technologyisextremelyessential.

Keywords
ProducedLiquidDisposal;Filter;Backwashing;DaqingOilfield

Introduction

Principle and Devices of Produced Water

Filtration

In oilfield development, produced water increases

annuallyaswatercontentrises.TakingDaqingOilfield
(China) as example, more than 30 million tons of
producedwaterismadeeveryyear.Withoutdisposal,
the discharged produced water will pollute the
environment,causeseriouseconomiclosses,andeven
threatenhumanlifesafety.Themosteffectivemethod
tosolvethisproblemistoreinjectthetreatedproduced
waterintoreservoirs.Obviously,thereinjectionwater
requirement changes with the different permeabilities
of oil reservoirs and the disposal processes of
producedwaterarevaryingaccordingly.However,in

disposal

FiltrationProcess
As the fundamental process of produced water
disposal in oilfield, filtration has three functions as
follows: First is synergistic effect. Oil and suspended
solids are removed at the same time as they stick
together.Secondiscoarsegrainingeffect.Theparticle
sizes of oil drops are enlarged by filter material, and
then adhered to suspended solids. Third is the filter
materialitselfthathastheinterceptionandabsorption
effect to oil. Therefore, oil and suspended solids in

63

www.mwejournal.orgJournalofMiningWorldExpressVolume2Issue3,July2013

oilfield produced water can be removed efficiently

throughthefiltrationprocess.

viscosity and density of filter material particles is

shownasfollow:
Lexp Pexp /[(1 exp ) g ( s 1 )]

3
U s exp R [ exp /(1 exp )]

U s exp Qexp / A

BackwashingProcess
Filter bed is composed of filter material layer and
supporting layer in filter tank. During the filtration,
filter bed porosity is reduced by impurities removed
from the produced water and stored on filter bed.
Consequently, the filter tank needs regular
backwashing. In this way, the pollutants adhered to
the filter material particles are peeled and discharged
from the filter tank with deposits, making the filter
materialeffectiveandensuringthefiltrationquality.

Inwhich:LexpExpansionheightoffilterbed
sDensityoffiltermaterialparticles
UsexpBackwashingintension
Onthebasisoftheformula,theexpansionoffilterbed
is proportional to backwashing intension, and it is
inverse proportional to density of filter material
particles.Afterfiltration,oilandpolymerareadhered
to the filter material, especially on its upper layer,
causing relative decrease of filter material density.
During the backwashing, when light filter material
(usually is walnut shell) is filled into the tank, the
spacesamongfiltermaterialwouldbeenlargedasthe
stirring paddle started. The two factors make the
expansionrateoffiltermaterialrisefast,andthewater
distribution screen pipe is clogged by the light rising
filter material with the oil and polymer. Then the
pressure increases and backwashing water flow
decreasessharply,andasaresult,backwashingisnot
efficient.Whenheavymultiplemediumfiltermaterial
is filled, strong intensity backwashing is needed to
clean the filter material, for its relative larger density
and harden phenomenon. However, strong
backwashingintensitycanalsocausetheresultsabove.
Therefore, in order to avoid high pressure and clean
filter material completely, the key is to decrease
expansionrateoffiltermaterial.

FiltrationDevice
In oilfield produced water disposal, filter can be
dividedintopressuretypeandgravitytypebymotive
power source in filtration, and according to the filter
medium, it can be classified as quartz sand filter,
walnutshellfilter,multilayerfilter,fiberballfilterand
soon.Filtertankismainlycomposedofthetankbody,
filter material layer, supporting layer, water
distribution system, drainage system and stirring
system. Furthermore, pipelines and valve system are
also designed to satisfy the requirements of filtration
and backwashing. Walnut shell, which has better
lipophilicity, strong interception capacity, lighter
texture and low backwashing energy consumption, is
widely used in oilfield produced water first stage
filtration to mainly remove the oil. In second stage
filtration,thequartzsandiswidelyusedtoremovethe
suspended solids in produced water, due to its small
particle size and strong capability of removing tiny
suspendedsolids.

Filter tank structure and process are elaborately

designedtosolvetheproblemsoftheexistingfilter.In
order to decrease the high pressure in backwashing
and clean the filter material completely, several
equipmentssuchasstereoscopicwaterdistributorand
antiswelling plate have been added in the tank, as
showninFig.1.

Principle and Structure of Low-pressure

Backwashing Filter
DesignPrincipleandBasicStructure
The filtration efficiency of lowpressure backwashing
filterisimprovedonthebasisoflowpressuresteady
flow backwashing licensed technology. Key of this
technology is to reduce the expansion rate during the
backwashing,andcontroltheexpansionheightoffilter
bed efficiently. In the meanwhile, by combining with
differentstirways,filtermaterialcanbecleanedmore
completely, and its assimilative capacity can be
enhanced.Inthisway,thequalityofthetreatedwater
willsatisfythestandard.

1.Oilcollector
2.Stereoscopicwater
distributor
3. Antiswelling plate

Traditional

According to Ergun theory, the relationship among

expansionheightoffilterbed,backwashingfluidflow

64

Lowpressurebackwashing

FIG.1TRADITIONALFILTERANDLOWPRESSURE
BACKWASHINGFILTER

JournalofMiningWorldExpressVolume2Issue3,July2013www.mwejournal.org

StructureImprovement

between paddle and water distribution screen pipe is

shortened from 0.7 m to 0.5 m, then the intensity of
stirring the upper filter material is enhanced. Stirring
paddle electrical machine is replaced to change the
linear velocity of paddle, and then the filter material
canbelessdestroyed.

1)ImprovedScheme
Inthefilterstructureimprovement,antiswellingplate
isaddedbetweenfilterscreenpipeandstirringpaddle,
andsweepingdeviceisdesignedundertheplate.The
antiswellingplatecanpreventthefiltermaterialfrom
enteringintothedeadcornersbetweenthescreenpipe
and tank top during the backwashing. On one hand,
the sweeping device can avoid the filter material
adhering to the screen pipe; on the other hand, filter
materialisgatheredtothelowerpartofthetank,and
thenthefiltermaterialcanbescatteredsufficientlyby
stirring paddle, peeling off the oil adhered to the
upperfiltermaterial.Oilcollectorsaredesignedonthe
tank top. When oil enters into the tank top, it is
discharged into the oil collector directly by pipelines
under the operation of sweeping device. Then the oil
pollutantscanbecleanedintimeandscreenpipewill
not clogged by the falling oil from the tank top. On
bottom,permeablestainlesssteelgravelplateisadded,
and the supporting function loss of the gravel in
backwashing supporting layer is avoided, as it is
scouredbystrongwaterflow.

4)OperationParameterDesign
In order to develop the potential of lowpower
backwashing filter, and further improve the
backwashing
effect,
backwashing
operation
parameters are optimized. The backwashing of filter
material is essential when the filter works 23.5 hours
and the backwashing agent must be added before the
stirrerstart.Itneeds720minutestostirwithagentand
the backwashing time is set to be 30 minutes. Before
normal operation, 10 minutes is needed after
backwashing. In addition, backwashing pressure is
optimized between 0.03 MPa and 0.08 MPa, the
backwashing intensity is controlled between 7.0
L/(s.m2)and9.7L/(s.m2),theinstantaneousflowrateof
backwashing is 180~280 m3/h, water consumption of
backwashing is 100~150 m3/h, and the backwashing
period is 24~36 h. Pilot test indicates that the
backwashing effect is obvious by the optimized
parameters, and the regeneration effect of filter
material is desirable, providing reliable guaranty for
filtration.

2)WaterDistributionSystemImprovement
On the basis of original single horizontal water
distributor, vertical water distribution screen pipe is
added, and the stereoscopic water distributor is
formed. Then the water is well distributed. At the
same time, impurities in backwashing water can be
discharged in time and the pipe clog caused by the
fallingoilfromtanktopcanbepreventedefficiently.

TheApplicationEffectofLowpressureBackwashing
FilterinProducedWaterDisposal
In chemical flooding test area of Daqing Oilfield, the
applicationeffectoflowpressurebackwashingfilteris
studied,andtheimprovementsofitswaterqualityand
backwashingpressureareanalyzed.

3)StirringSystemImprovement
Byimprovingpaddlestructure,adjustingpaddlesize,
shape and angles among paddles, the flow field
structureischangedwhenthepaddlesarespinning.In
addition, the rising speed of filter material is slowed
down, the stirring scopeis expanded,and thestirring
dead corners are reduced. Furthermore, the distance

WaterQualityAnalysis
1)ReinjectionWaterQualityStandard
Reinjection water quality standard changes with the
different permeabilities of each oilfield, as shown in
Table1.

TABLE1REINJECTIONWATERQUALITYSTANDARDINOILFIELDS

MainProjects

OilContent(mg/L)
SuspendedSolids
(mg/L)
Particlesize
ofsuspendedsolids(m)

<0.02
(ExtraLowPermeability
Reservoir)
5.0

RecommendedIndexes
Permeability(m2)
0.02~0.1
(LowPermeabilityReservoir)
Polymer
WaterFlooding
Flooding
8.0
5.0

0.1~0.6
(HighPermeabilityReservoir)
Polymer
WaterFlooding
Flooding
20.0
20.0

1.0

3.0

5.0

10.0

20.0

1.0

2.0

2.0

3.0

5.0

65

www.mwejournal.orgJournalofMiningWorldExpressVolume2Issue3,July2013

Conclusions

2)Disposal Effect of Lowpressure Backwashing

Filter

Lowpressure backwashing filter process is designed

by improving the filtration structure and optimizing
theoperationparameters.Theremovalefficiencyofoil
and suspended solids in the produced water are
enhanced,andthewaterafterdisposalwillsatisfythe
reinjectionstandardsofreservoirswithmoderateand
high permeabilities. Furthermore, the backwashing
pressure can be maintained between 0.03 MPa and
0.08 MPa, and then the facilities in the tank are well
protected. In addition, the backwashing can be
realized by the filtered water in the tank, and the
economic benefit is enhanced. This technology is
significanttotheadvanceddisposalandreinjectionof
oilfield produced water, and the application prospect
isbroad.

Twofiltertanks,markedas1#and2#,areselectedand
transformedbylowpressurebackwashingtechnology.
Then the produced water disposal effect is analyzed.
The results indicate that the median particle sizes of
the two tanks are both under 1.0, and in the 1# tank,
the oil content and suspended solids can be
maintained under 5 mg/L and 10 mg/L, respectively.
In2#tank,thedataofoilcontentinfilteredwaterare
mainlylessthan10mg/L,exceptsomeindividualdata
influenced by the water quality, and the suspended
solidscontentisstabledunder20mg/L.Therefore,the
reinjectionwaterstandardofreservoirswithmoderate
and high permeabilities is satisfied by using the low
pressurebackwashingfilter,andtheeffectisobvious.
BackwashingPressure

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The two filter tanks are transformed and tested. The

backwashingtimevariationwithpressureisshownin
Fig.2.

The work was financially supported by the Scientific and

TechnologicalCooperationProjectsofHeilongjiangProvince
(HZ201205).

0.6

REFERENCES

P ressu re,M P a

0.5

Guo Jinlong, Meng Jun, Li Guiping., Physicochemical

0.4
0.3

Before improvement

Interaction and Its Influence on Deep Bed Filtration

After improvement

Process. Journal of Environmental Sciences (2004): 297

301.

0.2

Guo J.L., Wang Y.L., Liu R.X., Calculation Model of

0.1

Uniform Media Filtration Capacity. Colloids Surf.A

(2002):237245.

0
0

10

Time,h

15

20

LiuShumeng,ZhangZhenjia,JiangMinghu.,Treatmentof

25

ASP Produced Water with Hydrophilic Fibre Ball

Filtration. Journal of Harbin Institute of Technology

FIG.2THERELATIONSHIPBETWEENTIMEANDPRESSUREOF
BACKWASHING

(2007):837841.
Leverenz H.L., Tchobanoglous G., Darby J.L., Clogging in

The result shows that before improvement, the

pressure increase with the passage of backwashing
time, which explains that the backwashing is not
efficient. However, when the lowpressure
backwashing filter is used, the pressure is between
0.03and0.08MPa,andtheflowremainsrelativestable.
In addition, the backwashing can be realized by the
filtered water in the tank without pump, then the
backwashing operation procedure is simplified and
theelectricenergyissaved.

Intermittently Dosed Sand Filters Used for Wastewater

Treatment.WaterResearch(2009):695705.
O. Caliskaner, G. Tchobanoglous., Optimization of
Compressible Medium Filter for Secondary Effluent
Filtration.WaterPracticeandTechnology(2009):18.
Patrick B. Tsang, Christopher J. Martin, Economic
Evaluation of Treating Oilfield Produced Water for
PotableUse.SPE86948(2004):458469.

66