Application of ceramic membranes for water management in offshore oil production platforms: Process design and economics

The application of the ceramic membrane separation processes are suitable for the generation of a treated effluent with high quality, enabling the reuse of the effluent and consequently reducing the emission of contaminants into the sea, the chemical consumption and the need to capture and treat seawater. Besides these advantages, membrane systems represent a reduction in weight and footprint, which are very limited on oil platforms. In this study, a technical analysis of an industrial unit to treat produced water was integrated with the seawater treatment system and carried out using data obtained from pilot scale tests, conducted with an industrial zirconia oxide ceramic membranes module, and from actual conventional systems operating data. Considering the integrated configuration, the additional investment cost was estimated at MUS$ 7.3 and it was possible to estimate that the extra cost would be recovered in about seven years, considering a unit capable of generating 1500 m3 h−1 of treated effluent. This scenario represents a favorable condition for the application of ceramic membranes for oilfield produced water treatment on industrial units and its potential used on offshore oil production platforms.