Oilfield produced water containing a high concentration of total dissolved solids (TDS) and hardness can successfully be softened for use as oilfield steam-generator feedwater. At the Belridge field in Kern County, CA, the combination of caustic softening and weak-acid cation exchange has been used to soften produced water containing 11,000 TDS and 550-ppm hardness to < I-ppm hardness. The resultant sludge containing calcium carbonate and magnesium hydroxide is concentrated by centrifuging and is disposed of in a landfill. Compared to the use of conventional strong-acid ion exchange followed by weak acid or weak acid followed by weakacid ion exchange systems, the process offers the benefits of lower capital and chemical costs, partial silica removal, and elimination of liquid waste discharge. This paper gives design parameters and operating conditions and discusses future applications in thermal recovery projects.
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