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Note: Information is from vendor, however specifications may have changed. Contact vendor for updates. Water Treatment Catalog and Decision Tool 

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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 t he 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 c alcium 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 foo d grade use.

Technical Limitations

For economic reasons , crystallizers are seldom applied to

low

- TDS water sources because of the ir high operational
energy input requirements and subsequent treatment

costs. In addition, crystallizers are often non

- mobil e 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, s ettling or filtration is often requir ed 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 l ower TDS concentrations

in water

.

 Crystallizers are seldom applied to low

- TDS

water sources because of the ir high operational energy input requirements and subsequent

treatment costs.

Intevras evaporative reduction and
solidification (EVRAS) system
ALL Consulting

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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; Z ero L iquid D ischarge 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
producti on.

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 31 st

– April 1 st , 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

Cry stallization 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.