Abstract:
A wastewater treatment system includes a vessel and a plurality of media canisters contained in series therein. The vessel provides for linear flow of wastewater through the canisters for treating and removing contaminants. The canisters contain seal means to form a fluid tight seal against the inner wall of the vessel. The linear flow provides for increased flow rates and more efficient treatment and removal of contaminants. A method of using the treatment system to treat wastewater to remove or neutralize one or more contaminants therein is also described.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to Provisional Application No. 61/350,175, filed on Jun. 1, 2010, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to wastewater treatment systems and methods, and more particularly to oilfield wastewater treatment systems and methods. 
         [0003]    Wastewater is often a by-product of oil and gas operations, transportation, or storage. The wastewater may contain impurities such as hydrocarbons, solids, toxic materials, and other contaminants. These impurities must be removed from the wastewater before the water may be disposed of or reused. Radial flow wastewater treatment tanks have been developed to remove the impurities from wastewater. Radial flow treatment tanks employ radial flow non-ferrous canisters that contain media capable of removing (e.g., by adsorption) or neutralizing the impurities. 
         [0004]    Despite the development of radial flow wastewater treatment systems, the need still exists for a wastewater treatment system that achieves higher flow rates and greater efficiencies. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a wastewater treatment system and method that achieves a linear flow. 
         [0006]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a wastewater treatment system and method that achieves higher flow rates. 
         [0007]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a wastewater treatment system and method that achieves greater efficiencies. 
         [0008]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a wastewater treatment system and method that achieves more efficient contact between the wastewater and the treatment media. 
         [0009]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a wastewater treatment system and method that enables the application of a variety of treatment media. 
         [0010]    These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are provided by the novel wastewater treatment system described herein. The system may include a vessel having an inlet end, an outlet end, and an inner compartment with an inner wall. The system may also include a plurality of media canisters. The canisters may be housed within the inner compartment of the vessel and in linear fluid communication with each other. Each of the media canisters may contain a bulk treatment media. Each of the canisters may include a seal means forming a fluid tight seal between the canister and the inner wall of the vessel. 
         [0011]    A feature of the present invention is the capability for linear, as opposed to radial, flow of the wastewater within the vessel. Linear flow of wastewater may be accomplished under greater fluid pressures and at higher flow rates. 
         [0012]    Another feature of the present invention is the ability to mix and match various bulk treatment media within a single vessel via the use of more than one canister. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a cutaway side view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a perspective side view of an embodiment of a media canister of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a perspective front view of the embodiment of the canister of the present invention of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a isometric front side view of another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is an isometric side view of the embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 4  positioned on a trailer for transport. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]      FIG. 1  illustrates wastewater treatment system  10 . System  10  may include vessel  12 . Vessel  12  may have inlet end  14  and outlet end  16 . Inlet end  14  may include inlet end cap  18  with inlet portal  20 . A conduit (not shown) may be detachably secured to portal  20  to facilitate fluid communication of wastewater from a wastewater source to vessel  12  for treatment. Outlet end  16  may include outlet end cap  22  with outlet portal  24 . A conduit (not shown) may be detachably secured to portal  24  to facilitate fluid communication of treated water from vessel  12  for disposal or other use. Vessel  12  may include interior compartment  26  with inner wall  28 . Caps  18  and  22  may be detachably connected to vessel  12  by a variety of means such as bolts, screws, latches, or the like. It is intended that caps  18  and  22  may be removed from vessel  12  to gain access to compartment  26 . 
         [0019]    Again with reference to  FIG. 1 , vessel  12  may include air vent  30  for the passage of air from compartment  26  to the atmosphere. Vent  30  is preferably positioned on top side  32  of vessel  12  and more preferably at or near inlet end  14 . Vessel  12  may also include drain portal  34  for the passage of contaminant liquids from compartment  26  for collection and disposal. Portal  34  is preferably positioned on bottom side  35  of vessel  12  and more preferably at or near outlet end  16 . 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  also illustrates that vessel  12  may be detachably or fixedly attached to skid  36 . Skid  36  may include forklift pockets  38  for receipt of forklift prongs of a forklift (not shown) so that skid  36  and attached vessel  12  may be lifted and moved from one position to another. 
         [0021]    As seen in  FIG. 1 , vessel  12  is preferably cylindrical or tubular but could be configured in a variety of shapes. Vessel  12  is also preferably positioned horizontally for operational purposes but could be positioned vertically. Vessel  12  may also be positioned horizontally but with a slight angle so that inlet end  14  is positioned slightly higher than outlet end  16 . In this configuration, contaminate liquid may be more easily drained from vessel  12  through portal  34 . Vessel  12  is preferably made of steel or other hardened metal. 
         [0022]    With further reference to  FIG. 1 , vessel  12  may include media canisters  40 . Canisters  40  are positioned within compartment  26  in series (e.g., aligned back-to-back) such that canisters  40  are in fluid communication. Canisters  40  are designed to contain treatment media  42  that treats or removes contaminants from the wastewater that flows through vessel  12 . Canisters  40  may each contain the same media  42  or may contain different media  42  depending on the type and/or amount of contaminants within the wastewater to be treated or removed. Types of media  42  that may be used within canisters  40  may include carbon, flocculants, coagulants, organophillic clay media, and/or solidification agents, all of which are well known in the art. 
         [0023]      FIG. 2  depicts canister  40 . Canister  40  may include bulk media container  44  having a first end section  46  and a second end section  48 . Removable end plates  50 ,  52  may be detachably secured to respective end sections  46 ,  48 . End plates  50 ,  52  may be detachably secured to respective end sections  46 ,  48  by any suitable means such as bolts, screws, latches, or the like. Screws  54  are the preferable means to accomplish the removable connection of end plates  50 ,  52 . End plates  50 ,  52  may include seal means  56  to form a seal between canister  40  and inner wall  28  of vessel  12  when canister  40  is inserted in vessel  12 . End plates  50 ,  52  may also include handling means  58  which may be grasped and pulled to remove canister  40  from vessel  12  or to assist in the removal of end plates  50 ,  52  from container  44 . Handling means  58  may be any type of device that may be grasped such as a strap. Canister  40  also may include one or more skids  59  to facilitate the insertion and removal of canister  40  from vessel  12 . Skids  59  may be made of Teflon®. 
         [0024]    With reference to  FIG. 3 , end plates  50 ,  52  may include screen support plate  60  with one or more openings  62  that permit fluid communication into and out of container  44 . Plates  50 ,  52  may also include perforated screen  64  that covers openings  62 . Screen  64  contains media  42  within container  44  but permits fluid communication into and out of container  44 .  FIG. 3  also shows seal means  56  extending around outer edge  57  of end plate  50 ,  52 . Seal means  56  may be composed of any type of material capable of forming a fluid tight seal. Preferably, seal means  56  is a made of an elastomeric material that rolls back when canister  40  is inserted within compartment  26  of vessel  12  to form a positive seal with inner wall  28 . Seal means  56  also forms a fluid tight seal between adjacent canister  40  when placed in series (i.e., back-to-back) within vessel  12 . 
         [0025]    Canisters  40  may be cylindrical or tubular in shape so they may be inserted into vessel  12  that may also be cylindrical or tubular. However, it is to be understood that canisters  40  may be formed in a variety of other shapes. Container  44  may be made of PVC material. Preferably, canisters  40  are made of material that may be disposable so that canisters  40  may be discarded after their use and recycled. End plates  50 ,  52  may be made of steel or PVC. Canister  40  may be 12 inches by 2 feet; but its dimension may be varied depending on the shape or dimensions of vessel  12  and the desired size of canister  40  or the sizes of seal means  56 . It is also to be understood that while a plurality of canisters  40  are described herein, canister  40  could be constructed of a single unit with separate compartments formed therein to house bulk media  42 . 
         [0026]      FIGS. 4 and 5  reveal an embodiment of system  10  in which three vessels  12  are positioned on skid  36 . Conduits  66  are shown in fluid communication with vessels  12  via inlet portals  20 . Conduits  68  are shown in fluid communication with vessels  12  via outlet portals  24 . Conduits  66  transport wastewater under pressure to vessels  12 . Pump  70  pumps wastewater (via conduits  66 ) under pressure into and through vessel  12 . Pump  72  is option and may be included as a back-up pump for pump  70 . 
         [0027]    While the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5  contains three vessels  12 , it is to be understood that a plurality of vessels  12  may be used and configured in series so that wastewater entering the first vessel  12  exits first vessel  12  and then enters second vessel  12  for further treatment, and exits second vessel  12  and then enters third vessel  12  for final treatment. The treated water exiting third vessel  12  may be disposed of or otherwise reused. Alternatively, vessels  12  could be configured in parallel arrangement so that wastewater enters each of vessels  12  with treated water exiting each of vessels  12  for disposal or reuse. Again, it is to be understood that any number of vessels  12  may be configured as part of the system  10  and in a variety of arrangements (e.g., in series, parallel, or combination thereof). 
         [0028]    Again with reference to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , skid  36  may include a frame assembly  74  that includes bottom plate  76 , vertical support beams  78 , and lateral supports  80  interconnecting beams  78 . Upper end  82  of beams  78  may contain lifting eyelets  84  for hoisting skid  36 . As seen in  FIG. 5 , skid  36  has been hoisted on trailer  86  for transport. 
         [0029]    System  10  may be used on a land or offshore platforms (e.g., land drilling or production rigs, offshore production platforms, floating vessels, offshore drilling rigs, etc.). System  10  is designed for easy mobility and set up. In operation, canisters  40  are each filled with bulk media  42  depending on the type and amount of impurities in the wastewater. Each canister  40  is then inserted into compartment  26  of vessel  12 . Seal means  56  form a fluid tight seal between each canister  40  and inner wall  28  of vessel  12 . Seal means  56  also form a fluid tight seal between adjacent canisters  40 . Wastewater is pumped under pressure in vessel  12  through inlet portal  20 . Wastewater then enters first canister  40  in the series where the wastewater intermixes and comes into contact with media  42 . The treated wastewater in first canister  40  is then transmitted under pressure into second canister  40  in the series where the treated wastewater undergoes further treatment due to intermixing and/or contact with media  42  in second canister  40 . In like fashion the treated water flows through the remaining canisters  40  in the series where the treated wastewater undergoes additional treatment in each of the remaining canisters  40  in vessel  12  until the treated water exits vessel  12  through outlet portal  24 . The treated water may then be sent through another system  10 , back through the same system  10 , or to a container or the like for storage. The treated water may then be disposed or reused if treatment is completed. 
         [0030]    While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, it is to be understood that the embodiments described are illustrative only and that the scope of the invention is to be defined solely by the appended claims when accorded a full range of equivalents, many variations and modifications naturally occurring to those skilled in the art from a perusal hereof.