Showing papers on "Brine published in 1996"

Interfacial Tension of Hydrocarbon + Water/Brine Systems under High Pressure

Abstract: Interfacial tensions of 10 normal alkane + water/brine and hydrocarbon mixture + water/brine systems were measured by using a pendent drop instrument The temperature and pressure ranges of measurements are (25 to 80) °C and (1 to 300) bar, respectively The effects of temperature, pressure, and salt content have been studied It was found that the interfacial tension is sensitive to temperature and salt concentration but weakly dependent on pressure and salt species

Heat pump system and method for air conditioning

Abstract: There is provided a heat pump system including two (4, 6), at least similar units in fluid communication with each other, each unit having a housing (8, 8'), a first air/brine heat exchanger (12, 12'), a second brine/refrigerant heat exchanger (24, 24'), a brine inlet (10, 10') for applying brine onto at least one of the heat exchangers, a brine reservoir (14, 14') and a pump (28) for circulating the brine from the reservoir to the inlet. The first and second heat exchangers are in closed loop fluid communication with each other and have a compressor (44) for circulating a refrigerant therethrough in selected directions. A method for air-conditioning is also disclosed and claimed.

Production system of electrolyzed water

Abstract: A production system of electrolyzed water includes an electrolyzer the interior of which is subdivided into an anode chamber and a cathode chamber by means of a cation permeable membrane, a diluted brine tank arranged to store an amount of diluted brine to be supplied into the anode and cathode chambers of the electrolyzer, first and second water supply conduits connecting the brine tank to the anode and cathode chambers respectively, and first and second electrically operated hydraulic pumps provided on the first and second water supply conduits to supply the diluted brine from the brine tank into the anode and cathode chambers. To prevent an electric motor for the hydraulic pumps from corrosion caused by backward flow of electrolyzed water in the production system, the hydraulic pumps are deactivated upon the lapse of a predetermined time after application of the DC voltage to an anode and a cathode in the anode and cathode chambers has been interrupted.

Hydrophilic hollow fiber membranes for water desalination by the pervaporation method

Abstract: Hydrophilic ion-exchange membranes based on sulfonated polyethylene hollow fibers were manufactured, and their suitability for a water pervaporation process was studied for possible application in water desalination systems. The effects of the following parameters on the average water flux were determined: membrane properties (diameter (0.4–1.8 mm) and wall thickness (0.05–0.18 mm)); charge density (0.6–1.2 meq g −1 ); and operating conditions (brine inlet temperature (30–68°C), air sweep velocity (0–6 m s −1 ), and salt concentration in the feed brine (0–3 M)). A water flux of 0.8–3.3 kg m −2 h −1 was obtained using this type of hollow fiber with an inlet brine temperature of 25–65°C. It was found that, for our application, the optimal specifications for the ion-exchange hollow fibers were an outside diameter of 1.2 mm, a wall thickness of 0.1 mm, and an ion-charge density of about 1.0 meq g −1 . This information is required as basic data for the design of a prototype water desalination system based on a pervaporation system that uses this type of ion-exchange hollow fiber membrane.

Brine fluids having improved rheological characteristics

Abstract: The invention provides brine based well drilling and servicing fluids which exhibit relatively thermally stable rheological and filtration characteristics. The fluids comprise a brine, an amorphous silica viscosifier, a biopolymer viscosifier, a fluid loss control additive, and a bridging agent. By utilizing both a silica viscosifier and a biopolymer viscosifier to provide the desired rheological characteristics, the fluids have enhanced thermal stability thus maintaining their suspension and hole cleaning properties over an extended temperature range.

Production of sodium carbonate from solution mine brine

Abstract: A process for forming useful sodium salts by uniquely processing dilute mine brines obtained by solution mining of a sodium bicarbonate containing ore deposit with an aqueous solvent is disclosed. The dilute mine brine is reduced in sodium bicarbonate content to prevent precipitation of the sodium bicarbonate in subsequent crystallization of sodium carbonate decahydrate. The reduced mine brine is directed to a crystallizer operated to form pure sodium carbonate decahydrate crystals and a carbonate/bicarbonate containing mother liquor in which the bicarbonate content is less than 4.5% by weight. The mother liquor is then steam stripped to convert a portion of the dissolved sodium bicarbonate in the mother liquor to sodium carbonate to form a carbonate enriched brine. The carbonate enriched brine is then recycled as a portion of said aqueous solvent to be used in the solution mining of the ore deposit.

Methods and compositions for reducing water production from subterranean formations

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for reducing the production of water from water and oil producing subterranean formations The methods basically comprise the introduction of an aqueous polymer composition into the water producing zones of the formation which cross-links after being placed therein The compositions of the invention are comprised of a heavy brine and a graft copolymer of a hydrophilic polymer and a phosphonate

Solution mining of carbonate/bicarbonate deposits to produce soda ash

Abstract: A solution mining process for recovering sodium values from an underground deposit of a sodium bicarbonate containing ore is disclosed. The process involves contacting the ore with an aqueous sodium carbonate-containing solution to produce a dilute brine which is stripped with steam to reduce the bicarbonate content and increase the carbonate content. The dilute carbonate/bicarbonate solution from the stripper is fed to a sodium carbonate decahydrate crystallizer to produce pure sodium carbonate decahydrate crystals and a mother liquor containing less than about 4% sodium bicarbonate.

Salt extraction process and device

Abstract: A process is disclosed for extracting salt from brine (2) contained in at least one open evaporation basin (1). At least part of the brine (2) is heated in a heating unit (4) located outside the evaporation basin and returned to the evaporation basin (2). The heating unit is driven by waste heat from a recooling industrial plant. According to this process, climatic values and the degree of recooling are measured and evaluated in a control unit. At least part of the heated brine and some non-heated brine are sprayed by a spraying device (6) of the evaporation basin(s) (2). The amount of sprayed brine is regulated by the control unit depending on the measured data.

Ion exchange with denitrified brine reuse

Abstract: Ion exchange with chloride-form anion resin is recommended as a best available technology for removing nitrate from drinking water. Disposal of spent regenerant brine remains a difficult problem, however. A pilot study focused on a new ion exchange process with batch biological denitrification and reuse of the spent brime. Spent regenerant brine from regeneration of the nitrate-loaded ion exchange column was denitrified in a sequencing batch reactor using methanol as a carbon source. After deinitrification, the spent brine was filtered, compensated with NaCl, and reused. Brine denitrification and reuse proved feasible only when using the nitrate-selective thriethyl- and tributyl-amine resins. Compared with the conventional ion exchange process, brine reuse reduced the salt consumption and waste discharge by more than 90 percent.

Effect of Simple Polar Compounds and Salinity on Interfacial Tension and Wettability of Rock/Oil/Brine System

Abstract: The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of polar compounds and salinity on the interfacial tension and wettability characteristics of rock/oil/brine systems Crude oil and core samples from Safaniya formation in Saudi Arabia were used in the study The concentration of polar compounds in the crude oil was varied by adding different amounts of oleic acid and octadecylamine to the crude oil Results showed that, the interfacial tension between crude oil and brine was lowered to a minimum value when oleic acid concentration of 0028 gm-mole/lit and brine salinity of 40,000 ppm NaCl were used In case of using octadecylamine, the optimum salinity for obtaining the minimum interfacial tension lies between 4,000 and 10,000 ppm NaCl The studied rock/oil/brine system is water-wet when oleic acid concentrations of 0007 and 00105 gm-mole/lit were used for brine salinities of 10,000 and 00 ppm NaCl, respectively The existence of octadecylamine in oil and sodium chloride in water reverses the system wettability from oil-wet to water-wet

Chemical Separation Process for Highly Saline Water. 1. Parametric Experimental Investigation

Abstract: The separation of highly saline waters under various conditions is carried out using a nonconventional partial-desalting process. The method utilizes a series of chemical reactions involving the conversion of sodium chloride, the major constituent in saline waters, into sodium bicarbonate, which precipitates under the experimental conditions, and ammonium chloride, which can be separated by crystallization. Experiments of absorption of carbon dioxide in an ammoniated brine have demonstrated the efficiency of the method. Interpretations using conversion parameters such as temperature, initial concentrations of ammonia, sodium chloride, and the ratio of NH3/NaCl are discussed.

Direct osmotic concentration contaminated water

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for recovering pure water from aqueous contaminated streams containing high levels of salts and suspended solids, such as landfill leachate, comprising (a) contacting the aqueous stream with one side of a semipermeable membrane, the other side of which is in contact with an aqueous brine solution at a higher osmotic pressure, wherein the aqueous stream is provided at a pressure less than 350 kPa, whereby pure water passes through the membrane from the aqueous stream into the aqueous brine solution, and (b) recovering pure water from the aqueous brine solution by a reclamation procedure selected from the group consisting of (1) a reverse osmosis (RO) process, (2) and electrodialysis process, (3) an evaporation process, and (4) a combination thereof, thereby reconcentrating the aqueous brine solution.

Apparatus for desalinating salt water

Abstract: A desalination system (10) using hydrostatic pressure formed in a vertical mine shaft (12) to function reverse osmosis membranes (33, 35) plumbed so that permeate water from the last membrane is input water to the next. The hydrostatic pressure forces the brine water from the first membrane nearby to the earth's surface. The second brine water is likely usable as drinking water. The final water product is pure enough to be agriculturally usable.

Ribbon-freezing method and apparatus

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improved control of ice-crystal formation in solid and semi-solid organic materials during freezing in a bath containing a cruciferous-oil slush is disclosed. Ribbon racks are used both to separate the items being frozen from each other and to efficiently distribute the items across the bath. This separation and distribution of the items in a ribbon improves control of the rate of freezing by preventing brine shock when the items are immersed in the brine and preventing cumulative localized thermal exhaustion during the freezing process. The ribbon rack freezing apparatus is adjustable to accommodate the variations in dwell times and flow rates required by different materials.

Screening of Adsorbents for Boron in Brine

Abstract: Boron adsorptivity was measured on 46 kinds of inorganic and 12 kinds of organic adsorbents, using the residual brine after salt production from seawater. Hydrous cerium oxide, hydrous zirconium oxide, and N-glucamine type resin with N-methyl (polyhydroxyl) amino group each showed a high adsorptive capacity (above 5 mg/g) for boron. Adsorption isotherms of boron on these samples suggested that hydrous cerium oxide and glucamine type resin had adsorption sites selective for boron in a diluted solution. A column adsorption study of the resin showed that boron was effectively removed from the brine by passing it through the resin at a space velocity of 4 h-1. The adsorbed boron could be effectively eluted by using a 2 M HCl solution as an eluent.

The Impact of Ion Exchange Processes on Subsurface Brine Transport as Observed on Piper Diagrams

Abstract: An experimental study was conducted to assess how ion exchange processes, which occur during subsurface transport of oilfield brines, manifest themselves on graphical water quality diagrams. Concentrated brine soil column studies indicated sodium in the brine solution is able to exchange for calcium and magnesium on the soil, thereby retarding transport of sodium relative to the average ground-water velocity and resulting in the development of a “hardness halo” at the leading edge of the brine plume. In this zone, calcium and magnesium concentrations exceed the values for both the brine and the fresh ground water. The hardness halo manifests itself as a characteristic deviation away from the mixing lines on the Piper diagram. Initially, the hardness halo causes concentrations to plot left of the fresh-water end member in the cationic triangle. Chloride domination in oilfield brine causes concentrations to plot in the lower right corner of the anionic triangle almost immediately. After the hardness halo passes through the column, the sampling results show a characteristic pattern of movement parallel to the mixing line in the cation triangle or along the (decreasing) hardness axis of the upper diamond of the Piper diagram. The laboratory results were similar to those exhibited by monitoring well samples taken at a field site involving oilfield brine contamination. The results of this study show the Piper diagram to be potentially useful for early detection of brine contamination episodes.

Defining the wettability state of mixed wet reservoirs: Measurement of critical capillary pressure for crude oils

Abstract: The wetting properties of crude oils are measured using a new technique that measures the capillary pressure required to rupture thin films of brine on mineral substrates. An Atomic Force Microscope is used to record the force required to rupture thin brine films on quartz surfaces. Low values of critical capillary pressure imply that large sections of the reservoir may be rendered mixed-wet because the brine films are unstable. High critical capillary pressures imply water-wet reservoir. The technique also provides a direct indication of the height above the water table, i.e., the capillary pressure at which mixed-wet conditions may be expected in the reservoir. Data presented for a pure hydrocarbon (octadecane) and a Prudhoe Bay crude oil indicate that the critical capillary pressure varies with pH, salinity oil composition and mineralogy. The pH and salinity dependence is explored in some detail in this paper.

Validation of the algorithm for ice-on-pipe brine thermal storage systems

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to present results generated from the IceTES computer program, which was developed to predict the dynamic performance of ice-on-pipe brine thermal energy storage systems. A set of parametric studies is presented to show the predicted trends during both charge and discharge cycles. The qualitative behavior for the brine outlet temperature, charge or discharge rate, and state of charge is displayed for a typical thermal storage system. To validate the model, performance predictions generated with IceTES are compared to experimental data from a national laboratory for two ice thermal storage systems. The predicted and measured results for the brine exit temperatures and load profiles are in good agreement throughout most of the charge and discharge cycles. Additional results are presented to show a complete system simulation for a typical day in which the thermal energy storage component is coupled with a chiller and load.

Gel Systems for Controlling CO2 Mobility in Carbon Dioxide Miscible Flooding

Abstract: Conformance control for carbon dioxide miscible flooding using gel has not been widely attempted. Laboratory research efforts at the University of Kansas have produced promising in-situ gelation techniques aimed at this application. Three in-situ gel systems were developed and tested in laboratory cores. Two systems are based on a new biopolymer, termed KUSP1, and the third gel system uses the reaction of sulfomethylated resorcinol and formaldehyde to form a gel. KUSP1 gel systems were studied using two different methods of inducing in-situ gelation. In the first method, gelation was accomplished by injecting CO2 at low pressure into the Berea sandstone core saturated by alkaline polymer solution. Permeability reduction to the brine and CO2 in the range of 80% was achieved. Stability of the gel was tested in the presence of supercritical CO2 . When supercritical CO2 was used to induce in-situ gelation, the same degree of permeability reduction was achieved. The gel remained stable after the injection of many pore volumes of supercritical CO2 . The second method of initiating in-situ gelation involved the use of an ester. Hydrolysis of the ester, monoethylphthalate, in the alkaline polymer solution caused the pH to drop to levels where in-situ gelation occurred. The permeability of the treated core to supercritical carbon dioxide was about 1 md which was equivalent to a permeability reduction of 95%–97% of the initial brine permeability. The third gel system, based on the reaction of sulfomethylated resorcinol and formaldehyde ~SMRF!, was gelled in situ and contacted with both brine and supercritical CO2 . Permeabilities to carbon dioxide on the order of 1 md or less were observed. This permeability is equivalent to a reduction of about 99% in the initial brine permeability. Reduced permeabilities were maintained after injecting many pore volumes of supercritical CO2 and brine.

Brine-Rich Corner of the Phase Diagram of the Ternary System Cetylpyridinium Chloride−Hexanol−Brine

Abstract: The brine-rich side (mass fraction of brine is 0.75 < Φ < 0.98) of the phase diagram of the ternary system cetylpyridinium chloride−hexanol−brine (1% NaCl by weight) is studied. The hexanol-to-surfactant ratios η at which the isotropic micellar L1−liquid crystal lamellar Lα−isotropic sponge L3−multiphasic state phase transitions occur on the η versus (1 − Φ) orthogonal phase diagram vary like a hyperbola with dilution. The solubility of hexanol in brine is found to be responsible for the variation of η values with dilution. An expression which well describes the experimental phase boundaries is found taking into account the hexanol solubility in brine. The hexanol mass fraction β in brine outside the surfactant aggregates is deduced from the experimental phase boundaries. The β value is somewhat lower than the hexanol solubility in brine. The hexanol-to-surfactant ratio η0 which describes the bilayer composition is found to be constant with dilution at the Lα−L3 phase transition but varies at the L1−Lα ph...

Combination flash-bottoming cycle geothermal power generation: a case history

Abstract: High- and low-enthalpy, liquid-dominated geothermal resources are commonly exploited by steam flash and binary power cycles, respectively. Cooled brine from both flash and binary power plants is typically reinjected into the geothermal reservoir to replenish the aquifer, maintain reservoir pressure and to protect the environment. Silica tends to precipitate from geothermal brine at almost every stage of brine processing as the temperature is reduced, either as hydrous, amorphous opal or as metal silicate. In 1994, binary cycle units comprising 16 MWe were installed at the Bulalo, Philippines geothermal field utilizing flashed waste brine that was previously injected directly to the reservoir. The binary bottoming cycle consists of six energy converters each employing a preheater and a vaporizer. The brine temperature is reduced across the heat exchangers from 450/spl deg/ to 408/spl deg/. During the heat recovery process, over-saturation of silica in the injection brine increases from 100%, and scaling rates are predicted to increase thirty-fold from 0.1 to 3 mm/yr. Siliceous scaling in heat exchangers, cooled injection brine piping, injection wells and near-wellbore formation is inhibited by acidification of brine sent to the binary plant. The brine pH is reduced from 6.5 to 5.5 by treatment with only 10 mg concentrated sulfuric acid per kg of brine. The heat recovery process, incorporating silica scale control by pH modification has successfully operated at the Bulalo field for two years. Silica scaling, as a result of flashing and cooling brine has been reduced to less than 1 mm/yr.