WATER DESALINATION

TECHNOLOGIES
OIL & GAS INDUSTRY APPLICATIONS
By:
Mr. C Fernandez-Salgado
Global Provider of Process Engineering Consultancy
Services and Skid Mounted Electro-Mechanical Packages – Oil & Gas
www.c-fernandez-salgado.wixsite.com/cfs-spe

Laufenburg, Feb. 12th.-2019

 INTRODUCTION

 Water desalination is a process that removes salt

and minerals from a salt water source. The water
final usage can be to human consumption,
irrigation or industrial consumption.

 Salt water sources are seawater, produced water

into the oilfield, groundwater sources, etc.
 ADVANTAGES AND
IMPORTANCE
 The water desalination processes and technologies are so important because of:

 Distribution of water in the earth - Roughly, 96.5% is salt water from oceans, seas and
bays; 1.76% is ice and snow from Glaciers and ground ice; 1.69% is groundwater;
0.013% are lakes; 0.00093% from the atmosphere; 0.00083% from swamps; 0.00015%
from rivers and 0.000081% is biological water.
The above data means, we are so dependents of water cycle and such technologies
make we less dependent about such a water cycle and normal salt balance.
 Some places have serious shortages of fresh water (i.e.: Australia, Middle East or North
of Africa).
 Alternative in the oil & gas industry (upstream facilities) to use the produced water in the
oilfield operations: (1) for producing steam (purposes of power generation or steam
injection into the formation), (2) treatment of required water to the hydraulic fracturing
and/or (3) producing service/potable water
 DISVANTAGES

 Basicaly, the disvantages of water desalination are:

 Due energy consumption, desalination water is more expensive than fresh water from
rivers, lakes and other fresh water sources.
 Environmental issues due to:
 Damages or injures to organisms, fishes and shellfishes due carryover during the
water intake.
 Discharge of brine (sub-product), this one has a high salinity and high temperature
(case of termal technologies).
 WATER DESALINATION AND
OIL & GAS
 Applications:

 Service water in refineries or other installations near the shoreline where fresh water sources are not availables.

 Power generation.

 Desalination of produced water in order to produce power according the oilfield requirements or fluid to reservoir
stimulation (steam injection or hydraulic fracturing).

 Importance:

 Nowadays, the oil & gas industry is pursuing or investing in renewable technologies in order to supply Energy internal
demands. This tendency is in order to get fiscal benefits and optimize cash flow. Obviously, water desalination
processes are inside this tendency

 The oil & gas industry is a big water consumer on internal operations and important oil production processing levels are
in:

 Offshore reservoirs (i.e.: Gulf of Mexico, North Sea, Persian Gulf).

 Zones or regions with high water scaricity (i.e.: MENA).

 Unconventional reservoirs which ones require high amount of fresh water to hydraulic fracturing. Also, too many
reservoirs need thermal stimulation (steam injection). (i.e.: Gulf of Mexico, South America, etc.).
 DESALINATION BY FIGURES
(Source: Internet)

 Currently, aproximately 1% of world’s population is dependent of desalinated water, UN expects this

percentage will be increased until 14% in 2025.
 In June 2015:
 18’426 desalination plants were operated worldwide.

 Worldwide installed capacity around 23’000 MMGPD.

 300 MM people served worldwide.

Middle East and North of Africa (MENA) are typical consumers to these processes due to several
shortages in the region.
 Largest plant worldwide: Outlet capacity around 271 MMGPD (Ras Al-Khair in Saudi Arabia, 201).
 Saudi Arabia is the world’s largest producer of desalinated water with 2’000 MM GPD (2012).
 Arab countries will expect to spend between 30’000 to 40’000 mio US$ until 2025 in new desalination
developments.
 Kuwait produces 100% of required water from desalination technologies.
 Roughly, desalination water costs are around 2 to 4 US$ per each 1’000 US gallons. More than half of this
cost is coming from the energy costs.
 Roughly, the total energy costs to water local supply from fresh water sources can be more or less, 10% of
energy costs required to water desalination.
TYPICAL PROCESSES
 Thermal Processes: These processes are based in the reduction of boiling point due to pressure
reduction. There are three processes:

 Multi stage flash distillation (MSF).

 Multi effects distilation (MED).

 Mechanical Vapor Compression (MVC).

 Membrane processes:

 Reverse Osmosis (RO).

 Electrodialysis reversal. (EDR).

 Nanofiltration (NF).

 Membrane distillation (MD).

 Forward Osmosis (FO).

 Ion Exchange.

 Other processes like freezing desalination, geothermal desalination, solar desalination and others
less known.
THERMAL PROCESSES
 MULTI STAGE FLASH
DISTILLATION (MSF)
 The equipment is formed by several heat
exchanges in serie called stages.
 Water is evaporated and separated from
salt water through flash distillation in each
stage.
 The energy used (steam) in each stage is
coming from the hot brine of the previous
stage. Source of the picture: Internet

 The seawater enters by the tubes and the

steam by shell in each stage.
 The vacuum is made in the coolest stage
and the steam enters by the hotest stage.
 The total evaporation in all stages is about
15%.
Source of the picture: Internet
 MULTI EFFECT DISTILLATION
(MED)
 This consists of several stages (heat exchangers)
in serie called effects.
 The seawater is outside the tubes and the steam is
inside the tubes in each effect.
 The seawater in each effect evaporates and enters
into the next effect to heat the feed seawater there.
This steam condensates and it is recolected like
distillated. Source of the picture: Internet

 The configuration can be vertical or horizontal.

 The relation product to feed is around of 40%.
 The live LP steam enters by the condenser (before
first effect) and this is partialy sucked from any
effect in the middle to creates the vacuum.
 The steam from last effect is used to pre-heat the
seawater.

Source of the pictures: Internet

 MECHANICAL VAPOR
COMPRESSION (MVC)
 This consists of two or three effects.
 The seawater is outside the tubes and the
steam is inside the tubes in each effect.
 The seawater in each effect evaporates
and enters into the next effect to heat the
feed seawater there. This steam
condensates and it is recolected like
distillated.
Source of the picture: Internet
 The steam from last effect is sucked out by
the compressor and sent out to first effect.
 The relation product to feed is around of
40%.

Source of the picture: Internet

 THERMAL DESALINATION
GENERAL SCHEME DISTILLATE
(PRODUCT)
MED present less electrical
ELECTRICITY
consumption in relation with Make up in CW Systems.
the others Thermal Process Make up in Steam & Condens. Systems.
Potable Water.
Utility Water.

SEA WATER

MED have less chemical consumption Always in relation

that MSF process with co-generation process
Source of the picture: Internet
(Combined Cycles, etc.)
BRINE

EXCESS
CONDENSATE In MED, Brine Temperature in 1st. Effect < 158 °F.
(Not in MVC) In MSF the Brine Temperature in
1st. Effect can be up to 220 °F
MEMBRANES PROCESSES
Here, it will be only discussed the Reverse
Osmosis processes.

This is because the rest of processes are normally

dowstream and to lower salinity contents.
 REVERSE OSMOSIS (RO)

 This process consists in pump the salt water

against a membranes package to discharge
pressure over the osmotic pressure.
 Then, the fresh water is separated the salt
(concentrated brine).
 The discharge pressure of HP pressure is
around 1’000 psig in the first stage and around
300 psig in the second stage.
 Normaly there is used the ERD in the HP
pumps 1st. Stage. It is a device to save energy
costs. Flow through ERD is around 40 to 60%.
 The recovery is around 35 to 45% in the first
stage and 50 to 90% to second stage.
 Electrical consumption is around 0.0006 to
0.001 hp/GPD.

Source of the pictures: Internet

COMPARISON THERMAL
PROCESSES WITH RO
 Reverse Osmosis:
 No steam is needed.
 Low-moderate electrical
consumption.
 High maintenance and strong
pre-treatment is needed.
 Higher chemicals consumption.
 Lot of vendors to supply RO
membranes and more common
technology.
 Roughly 60% market is RO.
 Brine sub-product is to ambient
temperature.
 Thermal processes:
 Equipment operates to vacuum
conditions.
 LP Steam is needed with exception
in MVC.
 Requirements to thermal energy.
 Scale problems shall be to avoid.
 Brine sub-product is to high
temperature.
 Lower chemical consumption and
pre-treatment.
 Lower maintenance costs.
 Roughly 26% market is MSF, 8% is
MED and MVC is not recorded.
TECHNOLOGIES COMPARISON

Desalination Technology
MSF MED MVC RO
Size per unit (MM USGPD) 2.00 - 16.38 0.79 - 9.25 0.092 - 1.06 No limit
CAPEX (US$/US GPD) 0.19 - 0.24 0.14 - 0.16 0.15 - 0.16 0.11 - 0.14
OPEX (US$/US MGal) 4.16 - 4.73 2.88 - 3.22 3.29 - 3.60 2.57 - 3.10
Electricity (hp/US MGPD) 0.85 - 1.27 0.32 - 0.53 1.48 - 2.54 0.63 - 1.16
Thermal Energy (Btu-h/US GPD) 26.86 - 59.09 32.23 - 59.09 None None
High
maintenance
Brine Temp.
Limitations Large Sizes Small Sizes and strong
< 158 °F
pre-
treatment
 INTEGRATION WITH
CONCENTRATED SOLAR

POWER UNITS
The concentrated solar power (CSP) units are mirrors in parabolic shape in order to concentrate the solar
energy to a pipe in the centre of arraglement. The fluid inside the pipe is warmed and the thermal energy
will used in other aplications.

 Generally the fluid inside can be water in order to produce steam or thermal oil. The most common case is
water converted to steam.

 The main applications are production of:

 Steam in order to produce energy in a steam turbine.

 Steam to be injected into the formation in order to enhanced oil recovery (solar enhanced oil recovery
or solar EOR).

 Steam, hot water or hot termal oil in order to get process heat required for any industrial process.

 Low pressure steam into Multi-Effect Distillation (MED) units or Multi-Stage Flash (MSF) units to
produce desalinated water.

 Steam or thermal oil in order to evaporate/cristalize the brine in multiple effect evaporators, produce
more desalinated water and solid salt like sub-product. Such schemes are named zero liquid
discharge (ZLD).
 ADVANTAGES WITH
CONCENTRATED SOLAR
POWER UNITS
 The thermal technologies to water desalation and/or brine cristalization require high amounts of steam,
this means:

 High costs of fuel gas and//or liquid fuels to produce steam.

 Environment impact due to high releases of CO2 and other gases tnto the atmosphere.

 High dependence from crude oil & gas producer countries.

 The steam production via solar is very effective in order to minimize the above:

 The concentrated solar power (CSP) units can be used during the sun daily frame or there is posible
to increase capacity in order to operate only during this frame.

 The standard technologies for producing steam will be used during cloudy days or nights.

 Also, there is posible produce excess of energy for storing during dunny times and to be used when
sun is not available.
EXAMPLE WITH
CONCENTRATED SOLAR
POWER UNITS
CONDENSATE

FROM EXISTING
MSF TRAINS
(NOTE 4) PROJECT BY VENDOR BY VENDOR PROJECT

PROJECT CLIENT
4

WATER MAKE-UP TANK ATM PK-1001

(EXISTING) MAKE-UP WATER CSP-1UNITS ISLE 12 LOW PRESSURE STEAM
FEED PUMPS (NEW) - 400 x 0.25%
BOILER FEED WATER
(EXISTING) (NOTE 1)
LPS
(PROVIDED BY ARTIC TO EXISTING MSF TRAINS
6
SOLAR INC)
FROM EXISTING
SWRO & DEMINERALIZATION TRAINS 1.5 MM Lb/h OF
(NOTE 4)
M DEAERATOR LOW PRESSURE STEAM
LC (EXISTING)
V-1001 A/B/C/D/E/F TO 300 °F
LC (NOTE 3)
2-PHASE SEPARATOR
BOILER FEED WATER (NEW) - 6 x 17%
3
BD 2
1 11
TO EXISTING
HRSG FEED WATER PUMPS P-1001 A/B/C 7
HRSG SYSTEM M
(EXISTING) CSP-1 UNITS M 5-U
ISLE FEED PUMPS GENERAL NOTES:
CLIENT PROJECT (NEW) - 3 x 50%
BY-PASS DURING NIGHT HOURS 5-D - THIS PFD IS JUST IN FEL-1 PHASE,
CLIENT PROJECT
FLUE GAS 16 AND CLOUDY DAYS (NOTE 2) TC PRELIMINARY BUDGETARY LEVEL AND TO
FC
THERMAL OIL BE CONFIRMED BY CLIENT.
FROM EXISTING 14_U 14_D
POWER PLANT (NOTE 5) B-1001 A/B/C/D & B-1002 A/B/C/D
THERMAL OIL WASTE HEAT BOILER LEGEND:
E-1001 A/B/C/D/E/F/G/H
HE WATER/THERMAL OIL
(NEW) - 8 x 12.5%
(NEW) - (4 x 25%) & (4 x 25%) 18-U ATM: ATMOSPHERE.
BD: BLOW-DOWN.
FLUE GAS P-1002 A/B/C LPS: LOW PRESSURE STEAM.
HOT WATER PUMPS FC: FLOW CONTROL.
17 (NEW) - 3 x 50% LC: LEVEL CONTROL.
TO EXISTING
POWER PLANT (EXIT TO ATM)
15-U
THERMAL OIL MAKE 13 10 9
THERMAL OIL M
FROM SUPPLY (NOTE 6) NOTES:
FACILITIES PROJECT, 2nd. STAGE PROJECT, 1s t. STAGE 18-D
1.- DELETED.
THERMAL OIL
THERMAL OIL TO HEAT BRINE ONLY DURING SUN TIMES
2.- DURING SUN TIMES, THE WATER SHALL BE TO THE CSP UNITS FARM PK-1001. DURING NIGHT OR CLOUDY
DAYS SHALL BE USED THIS BY-PASS.
TO BRINE HEATING AT EXISTING 3.- CLIENT SHALL CONFIRM AMOUNT AND OPERATING CONDITIONS OF REQUIRED STEAM.
WATER DESALINATION UNITS 4.- DESALINATED WATER FROM EXISTING SWRO TRAINS SHALL BE WITH A TYPICAL BOILER FEED WATER
(BFW) QUALITY. THIS IS CLIENT'S RESPONSABILITY.
THERMAL OIL 15-D 5.- THE CLIENT SHALL CONFIRM/DEFINE AVAILABILITY AND OPERATING CONDITIONS OF FLUE GAS.
THERMAL OIL
6.- TYPICAL SUPPLY SYSTEM IS NOT SHOWN IN THIS PFD. THIS IS INSIDE THE SUPPLY SCOPE.
TO SUPPLY FACILITIES

ISSUES: REFERENCES CLIENT CONTRACTOR

REV. DESCRIPTION DATE REV. DESCRIPTION DATE N°. DWG. REV.: BY: REV.: BY: PROCESS FLOW DIAGRAM
Rev.: 1
0 ISSUE FOR INTERNAL REVISION 22.06.2018 0 CF-S PROJECT: THERMAL ENERGY CONSUMPTION
1 ISSUE FOR BUDGET. PROPOSAL 18.07.2018 CHECK: APP. CHECK: APP. OPTIMIZATION AT WATER DESALINATION FACILITIES
DB AC-S CF-S LP STEAM PRODUCTION - EXISTING WATER PAGE 1 OF
N°. DRAWING: 1808O590.001 DESALINIZATION FACILITIES 1
 ABOUT MYSELF
 I am Cristobal Fernandez-Salgado, a Hispanic American, independent (freelance/self-employed) and
unbiased global provider of engineering consultancy services and skid mounted electro-mechanical
package systems to oil & gas industry, power generation and water desalination (all mentioned sectors
specifically focused in oil & gas surface upstream facilities).

 I have over 20 years of experience at oil & gas like process engineering consultant and international sales
specialist. Now, with operative basis in Germany, I represent and I have alliances with several American
companies, my main geo market is EMEA (specifically in GCC countries) and LATAM regions (including
the Caribbean). EMEA is as per geographic reasons and LATAM as per native language.

 Contact Data:
 Phone (Americas / Europe) +1 917 893 7010 / +41 55 551 9347.

 E-Mal: fernandez.c1968@bluewin.ch

 Web: www.c-fernandez-salgado.wixsite.com/cfs-spe
THANK YOU SO MUCH BY
YOUR INTEREST!!!