Reviewing Advanced Treatment of Hydrocarbon-Contaminated Oilfield-Produced Water with Recovery of Lithium

Abstract

The global demand for lithium, which is indispensable for electric cars and electrical devices, has increased. Lithium recovery from oilfield-produced water is necessary to meet the growing need for lithium-ion batteries, protect the environment, optimize resource utilization, and cut costs to ensure a successful energy transition. It is useful for keeping water supplies in good condition, adhering to legal requirements, and making the most of technological advances. Oil and gas companies might see an increase in revenue gained through the lithium extraction from generated water due to the recouping of energy costs. Therefore, this review focuses on contamination and treatment strategies for the oilfield-produced water. It includes a discussion of the global lithium trade, a financial analysis of lithium extraction, and a comparison of the various methods currently in use for lithium extraction. It was evaluated that economic considerations should be given priority when selecting environmentally friendly methods for lithium recovery from oilfield-produced water, and hybrid methods, such as adsorption–precipitation systems, may show promising results in this regard. Lastly, future prospects for the lithium industry were also discussed.

Oilfield Brine as a Source of Water and Valuable Raw Materials—Proof of Concept on a Laboratory Scale

“…However, reinjection into the well is not always feasible and it may also have an adverse effect on the environment, causing induced seismic activity and groundwater contamination [1]. Therefore, the idea of using brine as a source of valuable raw materials (especially lithium) [14,18,19] and potable and non-potable water is becoming more and more popular [7,8,17]. The production of potable water from oilfield brine will both ensure freshwater supplies as well as minimize the volume of the concentrate reinjected into disposal wells.…”