The technical and economic viability has been determined for cross flow ultrafiltration of oilfield produced water with the goal of producing oil-free water for steam generation. Experiments with produced water supplied from various oil producing sites of Western Canada have been performed with successful permeation rates and permeate quality. The resistance to membrane fouling and other factors that decrease permeation rate have been determined in long term experiments. These results have been used to prepare a cost survey of the cross flow ultrafiltration process, and this has been compared to conventional treatment. The results indicate the level of performance that must be maintained in the ultrafiltration process to be economically advantageous.

The technical and economic viability has been determined for cross flow ultrafiltration of oilfield produced water with the goal of producing oil-free water for steam generation. Experiments with produced water supplied from various oil producing sites of Western Canada have been performed with successful permeation rates and permeate quality. The resistance to membrane fouling and other factors that decrease permeation rate have been determined in long term experiments. These results have been used to prepare a cost survey of the cross flow ultrafiltration process, and this has been compared to conventional treatment. The results indicate the level of performance that must be maintained in the ultrafiltration process to be economically advantageous.