WATER TREATMENT TECHNOLOGY

FACT SHEET

Note: Information is from vendor, however specifications may have 

changed. Contact vendor for updates. Water Treatment Catalog and Decision Tool

CR YSTAL LIZATION

Process Description

Crystallization is an equilibrium-based separation and 

evaporation technology that uses energy as the separating 

agent and can be comprised of a combination of treatment 

processes that are more energy efficient at removing 

water from lower TDS waters. For instance, RO is 

commonly used for an initial pass through if TDS levels 

are sufficiently low. Crystallization processes can then be 

used to further concentrate the RO concentrate stream by 

extracting water from the brine solution; the total 

volume of the liquid concentrate is reduced while the 

associated TDS increases significantly. 

The water (extract phase) can be re-circulated through 

the RO and concentrate (sludge-water) flows through 

evaporators. Water is evaporated with heat or pressure 

differential and the dissolved solids remain in sludge state, 

which effectively eases the handling and disposal of 

reduced volume of waste in slurry/sludge form.

Technical Capabilities

Crystallization can generate clean water from saturated or 

even crystallizing brines with total dissolved solids (TDS) 

at concentrations up to 650,000 mg/L. In a salt 

crystallizer, typical analysis of the resulting condensate 

shows a typical content of residual salt not higher than 50 

ppm; 95%+ return rates of frac flowback and produced 

waters can be achieved. This process also efficiently 

removes sodium and calcium chlorides as well as the 

heavy metals in the effluent generated in shale gas 

production.

In commercial salt applications, slurry generated from the 

crystallization process can be centrifuged to dry for 

industrial use or heat dried for human or food grade use. 

Technical Limitations

For economic reasons, crystallizers are seldom applied to 

low-TDS water sources because of their high operational 

energy input requirements and subsequent treatment 

costs. In addition, crystallizers are often non-mobile 

facilities and require water to be transported to them, 

which may equate to higher treatment costs relative to 

other treatment technologies with mobile capabilities. 

To minimize the effects of corrosion or scaling, settling or 

filtration is often required to remove settable solids from 

the inflow stream. 

Treatment Company

Crystallization

Shale Gas Basin

Marcellus

Barnett

Haynesville

Fayetteville

Woodford

Veolia √

INTEVRAS √ √

212 Resources √ √

KEY CONSIDERATIONS

 Crystallization can generate clean water from 

saturated brines with TDS at concentrations up to 

650,000 mg/L. 

 Crystallization is often paired with other

treatment processes that are more energy 

efficient at removing lower TDS concentrations 

in water. 

 Crystallizers are seldom applied to low-TDS 

water sources because of their high operational 

energy input requirements and subsequent 

treatment costs.

Intevras evaporative reduction and 

solidification (EVRAS) system

ALL Consulting
WATER TREATMENT TECHNOLOGY

FACT SHEET

Note: Information is from vendor, however specifications may have 

changed. Contact vendor for updates. Water Treatment Catalog and Decision Tool

Costs

Cost information associated with crystallization was not 

reported by the major treatment vendors. However, cost 

considerations for use of this treatment technology will 

include: feed water quality versus target TDS 

concentrations, a factor that can dictate the number of 

evaporation steps; Zero Liquid Discharge objectives, high 

energy input, limited non-mobile facilities; and disposal 

of solid waste.

References

ALL Consulting and Interstate Oil and Gas Compact 

Commission. 2006. A Guide to Practical Management of 

Produced Water from Onshore Oil and Gas Operations 

in the United States. Prepared for the U.S. Department 

of Energy National Petroleum Technology Office.

Industry-animatd.org. Brine evaporators and salt 

production. 

Dylan, Jon., A. Bnet. 9 things to know about zero liquid 

discharge. Business Publications.

Shaw, Bill. Veolia Water. Evaporation & Crystallization 

Options for Flowback and Produced Waters. Society of 

Petroleum Engineers. Water Management Workshop.

March 31st– April 1st, 2009. 

A.W. Gaudlip, L.O. Paugh, SPE, Range Resources 

Appalachia LLC., T.D. Hayes, Gas Technology Institute. 

2008. Marcellus Shale Water Management Challenges in 

Pennsylvania. SPE 119898.

HPD (a Veolia Company). Evaporation and 

Crystallization Technology for the Oil & Gas Industry..

Veolia Water Systems. Total Water & Wastewater 

Management for Shale Gas Production. Treatment and 

Operation Solutions.

Colorado School of Mines. Produced Water Treatment 

and Beneficial Use Information Center. Treatment 

Options. Enhanced distillation/evaporation.

Harris, Jeff P.E. and Adams, Andy. Personal 

Communications on October 8, 2009. INTEVRAS

Management. 2009.