Abstract:
An embodiment of a water reclamation system has at least one water filtration module mounted to a transport vehicle. The at least one water filtration module has a plurality of water treatment vessels with a treatment media positioned therein. A waste water inlet header, a produced water collection header, and a waste water outlet header are all connected to the plurality of water treatment vessels of the at least one water filtration module. A method of reclaiming waste water comprises flowing waste water into the waste water inlet header where it is distributed into the plurality of treatment vessels. The waste water engages the treatment media and the filtered or produced water is collected in the produced water collection header. The waste water is collected in the waste water outlet header.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/223,128, filed on Jul. 6, 2009, and herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to water reclamation, and in particular, to a portable and scalable water reclamation system and method. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Fresh water and affordable energy are two of the most valuable resources on the planet for sustaining economic growth and development. As the demand for oil and gas continues to increase, the consumption of fresh water by exploration and production activities is skyrocketing. Competition for fresh water is becoming an industry-limiting factor in some geography. To ensure that the fresh water needed by the oil and gas industry is available in the future, better water resource management practices must by implemented. 
         [0004]    Currently, the drilling, completion, and stimulation of each horizontal shale well consumes up to 10 million gallons of fresh water, roughly equal to daily water usage of 144,000 people. Once fresh water becomes oilfield waste, the water is typically disposed of into reservoirs below the fresh water table, permanently removing it from the fresh water cycle. Reusing the water is desirable but often presents technical problems with water quality, water management logistics, and cost. 
         [0005]    Water for use in the oil and gas industry is most commonly acquired from surface waters (lakes, ponds, and streams), aquifers (on-site water well), or through the local municipal water supplies. Fresh water is used throughout the process of drilling and completing a well. Once the water has been used in exploration and production activities, the water becomes one of three types of oilfield waste water: drilling waste, completion flow back, or production (geological) saltwater. 
         [0006]    During the drilling phase, fresh water is used as the solute and suspension medium for the drilling mud, which draws the cuttings away from the drill bit, stabilizes the well bore, and cools the bit while drilling. In a typical open-loop system, the mud is circulated by pumps on the drilling rig and the waste water, cuttings, and mud are discharged into the reserve pit, typically a 5,000-25,000 barrel earthen pit adjacent to the drilling rig. Occasionally, the waste fluids in one reserve pit are reused on another drilling location or allowed to settle and discharged onto the land surrounding the well (permitted in limited situations only). Both of these waste disposal practices are currently under tight scrutiny and are becoming less of an option for oil drilling companies. When surface discharge or transfer to another pit is not an option, the waste water must be either injected into the well bore or hauled to a disposal well. Like surface discharge, down hole injection is being tightly regulated, and hauling the waste for disposal is expensive. While injecting the water below the freshwater aquifer protects the ground water from contamination from the exploration and production waste, deep well injection permanently removes the waste water from the fresh water cycle. Further, injecting the water below the freshwater aquifer creates added pressure on underground formations. Although the total dissolved solutes (TDS) in water-based drilling waste is typically less than 5,000 ppm, the primary contaminants in drilling waste that are undesirable to carry forward into reclaimed water for reuse are colloidal suspended solids, hydrocarbons, and heavy metals. For example, the typical drilling rig on a gas well in north Louisiana and east Texas consumes approximately 800,000 gallons of fresh water and produces approximately the same amount of waste water. 
         [0007]    Once the well-bore is drilled, the completion phase of the well begins. The completion phase involves setting pipe in the well bore, connecting the well bore to the hydrocarbon producing geological formations, and stimulating and/or fracturing the formations to facilitate the production of gas and/or oil. Each facet of completion requires fresh water as a lubricant, chemical delivery medium, and hydraulic fracture medium. The waste water from the completion phase is called flow-back, which consists of water mixed with various chemicals, suspended solids, and formation (geological) saltwater. Unlike reserve pit water, which can occasionally be returned to the fresh water cycle through surface disposal (where permitted), flow back water must be treated for reuse or disposed of via deep well injection due to the higher concentrations of salt, minerals, and chemical additives. Reuse requires storage and treatment of the flow-back, which poses logistical, economical, and environmental concerns. For example, a gas well in north Louisiana—east Texas uses approximately 500,000 gallons per completion and produces 20-80% of that amount of flow back water, depending on the specific completion technique and geological formation. Since each horizontal well may have 12 or more completion stages, an additional 6,000,000 gallons of water can be permanently withdrawn from the fresh water cycle. 
         [0008]    After the well has been completed, the production phase begins. Most gas wells produce geological saltwater that naturally flows with the oil and gas as the well is producing. Early during the production stage, the water being co-produced with the gas resembles flow back and as the well reaches a steady production state, the water being produced is primarily geological saltwater. Typically, very little fresh water is consumed while a well is in production. Due to the high salt, mineral, and hydrocarbon content, the produced wastewater is almost always disposed of into an injection well. Thus, the production waste water did not originate from the freshwater cycle, and it is not introduced to the freshwater cycle. Some research groups and service companies are exploring the use of production water from an existing well as the source of saltwater for use during the completion phase of a new well. Utilizing geological saltwater as base fluid for exploration and production activities represents a gain on an operator&#39;s water balance sheet. The amount of produced waste water varies dramatically from well to well but typically ranges between 1,000 and 40,000 gallons per week. Treating production water for reuse requires removal of hydrocarbons, well-bore treatment chemicals, undesirable minerals, and in rare cases—desalination. Two hurdles to overcome in the course of reusing production wastewater are volume and transportation. Some geological formations make relatively large amounts of water and others very little production water. Storing, treating, and moving production water can pose a significant cost and logistical challenge. 
         [0009]    Without costly and energy-intensive processing, most exploration and production waste water is not clean enough for release into the environment via land farming (surface discharge) and is therefore typically disposed of via deep well injection. In order to deep well inject the waste water, the fluids must be trucked or piped to a secondary location where the water is stored in tanks and pumped into a deep formation (below the lowest freshwater aquifer) where the water will never return to the freshwater cycle. Much of the cost for disposal of the waste water comes from hauling the water from the well site to the injection point. As shale gas plays continue to flourish around the United States, the industry&#39;s fresh water demands are continually increasing. Experts and regulatory agencies agree that a key factor in sustaining domestic on-shore oil and gas activity will be developing water conservation strategies for the industry. Several states have implemented regulations and incentives for exploration and production companies to reuse their waste water. In regions such as the Permian Basin and Eagleford Shale of west and south Texas, where exploration and production activities continue to increase, but water resources are already limited, and in densely populated areas where cities and exploration and production operators must share the water (such as the Barnett Shale in the Dallas-Fort Worth area), industry leaders have already begun to develop exploration and waste water reclamation processes. Currently, the public and private agencies developing these processes are focused primarily on adapting technologies and processes that are being effectively used to for waste water treatment in other industries, such as reverse osmosis (RO), evaporation/distillation, electro-coagulation (EC), chemical oxidation, chemical precipitation, serial filtration, and combinations thereof, but the systems developed to employ the technology lack portability, scalability, and versatility. 
         [0010]    Since the waste streams in the oilfield change significantly and rapidly over short periods of time (in both volume and chemical composition), developers have struggled to design a single portable water treatment system that can handle the various waste streams. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    Applicant has recognized a need for a single portable and scalable water reclamation system that can handle various waste streams. 
         [0012]    An embodiment of the water reclamation system of this invention includes at least one water filtration module mounted on a transport vehicle. The water filtration module comprises a bulk container and a plurality of treatment vessels positioned therein. Each treatment vessel has an upper fluid reservoir, a lower fluid reservoir, and a waste water treatment media positioned therebetween. A waste water distribution line is connected to and extends from a waste water inlet header into each of the treatment vessels for distributing waste water into the treatment vessels. A produced water line is connected to and extends from each of the treatment vessels and into a produced water collection header for collecting produced water from each of the treatment vessels. At least one waste water outlet line is connected to and extends from the bulk container and into a waste water outlet header for collecting waste water from the treatment vessels. 
         [0013]    An embodiment of the water reclamation system of this invention includes a plurality of water filtration modules mounted on a transport vehicle. The plurality of water filtration modules each comprises a bulk container and a plurality of treatment vessels positioned therein. Each treatment vessel has an upper fluid reservoir, a lower fluid reservoir, and a waste water treatment media positioned therebetween. A waste water distribution manifold is connected to a waste water inlet header for controlling the distribution of waste water into each of the treatment vessels. A waste water distribution line is connected to and extends from the waste water distribution manifold into each of the treatment vessels for distributing waste water into the treatment vessels. A chemical treatment header is connected to a chemical treatment reservoir. A chemical treatment manifold is connected to the chemical treatment header for controlling the distribution of chemical treatment to each of the treatment vessels. A chemical treatment feed line is connected to and extends from the chemical treatment manifold and into the treatment vessels. A produced water line is connected to and extends from the treatment vessels and into a produced water collection header for collecting produced water from each of the treatment vessels. At least one waste water outlet line is connected to and extends from the bulk container and into a waste water outlet header for collecting waste water from the treatment vessels. 
         [0014]    An embodiment of this invention is directed to a method of reclaiming waste water. The method comprises mounting at least one filtration module on a transport vehicle. The at least one filtration module has a bulk container, a plurality of treatment vessels positioned within the container, and is connected to a waste water inlet header, a produced water collection header, and a waste water outlet header. Each of the treatment vessels has a treatment media positioned therein. The transport vehicle is moved to a water reclamation site. Waste water is flowed into the waste water inlet header, thereby distributing the waste water into the treatment vessels. The waste water is engaged with the treatment media in the treatment vessels, thereby filtering the waste water. The produced water is collected from each of the treatment vessels in a produced water collection header. The waste water is collected from each of the treatment vessels in a waste water outlet header. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    So that the mariner in which the features and benefits of the invention, as well as others which will become apparent, may be understood in more detail, a more particular description of the invention briefly summarized above may be had by reference to the embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings, which form a part of this specification. It is also to be noted, however, that the drawings illustrate only various embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of the invention&#39;s scope as it may include other effective embodiments as well. 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a schematic of a portable and scalable water reclamation system as comprised by an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a water reclamation system module. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is an additional view of the water reclamation system module of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is an additional view of the water reclamation system module of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is view of a single treatment vessel. 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is schematic view of the treatment vessels connected to one another. 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a schematic view of the treatment vessels connected to one another in an alternate embodiment. 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is a schematic view of the tea went vessels connected to one another in an additional alternate embodiment. 
           [0024]      FIG. 9  is a schematic view of the treatment vessels connected to one another in an additional alternate embodiment. 
           [0025]      FIG. 10  is a schematic view of the treatment vessels connected to one another in an additional alternate embodiment. 
           [0026]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the portable and scalable water reclamation system connected to an over-the-road trailer. 
           [0027]      FIG. 12  is a top plan schematic view of the portable and scalable water reclamation system connected to an over-the-road trailer. 
           [0028]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a cat walk assembly as comprised by the present invention in an operational position. 
           [0029]      FIG. 14  is an isolated and exploded view of the cat walk assembly. 
           [0030]      FIG. 15  is an isolated view of the cat walk assembly as comprised by the present invention in the operational position, illustrating a support bar. 
           [0031]      FIG. 16  is a view of the support bar in the extended position. 
           [0032]      FIG. 17  is a view of the support bar in a retracted position. 
           [0033]      FIG. 18  is a perspective view of the cat walk assembly as comprised by the present invention in an access position. 
           [0034]      FIG. 19  is a perspective view of the cat walk assembly as comprised by the present invention in a transport position. 
           [0035]      FIG. 20  is a schematic view of several reclamation system modules connected to one another in an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0036]      FIG. 21  is a schematic view of several reclamation system modules connected to one another in an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0037]      FIG. 22  is a schematic view of several reclamation system modules connected to one another in an additional alternate embodiment. 
           [0038]      FIG. 23  is a schematic view of several reclamation system modules connected to one another in an additional alternate embodiment. 
           [0039]      FIG. 24  is a schematic view of several reclamation system modules connected to one another in an additional alternate embodiment. 
           [0040]      FIG. 25  is a schematic view of several reclamation system modules connected to one another in an additional alternate embodiment. 
           [0041]      FIG. 26  is a schematic view of several reclamation system modules connected to one another in an additional alternate embodiment. 
           [0042]      FIG. 27  is a schematic view of several reclamation system modules connected to one another in an additional alternate embodiment. 
           [0043]      FIG. 28  is a schematic view of several reclamation system modules connected to one another in an additional alternate embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0044]    The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different foams and should not be construed as limited to the embodiment set forth herein; rather, this embodiment is provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. 
         [0045]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of a water reclamation system  21  comprises a water reclamation module  23  which is connected to a series of pools and/or tanks to thereby reclaim water. The water reclamation system  21  may use a number of different treatment methods, individually or in combination, including filtration (course, micro, ultra, or nano), flocculation/settling, chemical precipitation, affinity purification, ion-exchange, and other chemical treatment polishing processes. In this embodiment, the module  23  comprises a waste water inlet header  25 , a chemical treatment header  27 , a produced water collection header  29 , and a waste water outlet header  31 . In this embodiment, the module  23  further comprises a bulk container  32  and a plurality of treatment vessels  33  positioned within the bulk container  32 . The bulk container  32  has a closed bottom end and an open top end, through which the tops of the treatment vessels  33  extend. In this embodiment, the module  23  comprises twenty individual treatment vessels  33 . Each treatment vessel  33  houses a treatment media  37  ( FIG. 5 ) and is appropriately shaped to allow multiple treatment vessels  33  to be nested together into the module  23 . For example, in this embodiment, the treatment vessel  33  has a cylindrical body  35  ( FIG. 5 ) with open ends and the treatment media  37  disposed therein. In alternate embodiments, the treatment vessels  33  may have various shaped bodies. The upstream connection from the waste water inlet header  25  is connected to the module  23  via a quick connect cam-lock coupling or union  39 . The upstream connection from the chemical treatment header  27  is connected to the module  23  via a quick connect cam-lock coupling or union  41 . The downstream connection from the waste water inlet header  25  is connected to a waste water distribution manifold  43  via a valve and union. In this embodiment, the waste water distribution manifold  43  is positioned at a height greater than the treatment vessels  33  to allow for gravity distribution of waste water ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ). However, in alternate embodiments, waste water may be pumped through the waste water distribution manifold  43 , thereby eliminating the need for gravity distribution and allowing the waste water distribution manifold  43  to be positioned at varying heights. A plurality of waste water distribution lines  45  extend from the waste water distribution manifold  43 . Each waste water distribution line  45  extends from waste water distribution manifold  43  and into the corresponding treatment vessel  33 . In this embodiment, each of the twenty individual waste water distribution lines  45  extend from the waste water distribution manifold  43  and into the corresponding treatment vessel  33  for each of the twenty individual treatment vessels  33 . 
         [0046]    The downstream connection from chemical treatment header  27  is connected to a chemical treatment manifold  47 . A plurality of chemical treatment feed lines  49  extend from the chemical treatment manifold  47 . Each chemical treatment feed line  49  extends from the chemical treatment manifold  47  into a chemical treatment feed line chase  51  ( FIG. 5 ) located on a corresponding treatment vessel  33 . In this embodiment, each of the twenty individual chemical treatment feed lines  49  extend from the chemical treatment manifold  47  and into the corresponding chase  51  of the corresponding treatment vessel  33  for each of the twenty individual treatment vessels  33 . 
         [0047]    The upstream connection from the produced water collection header  29  is connected to a produced water collection manifold  53 . The upstream connection from the produced water collection manifold  53  is connected to a plurality of produced water lines  55 . In this embodiment, each produced water line  55  extends from the downstream (treated) outlet of the treatment media  54  of each corresponding treatment vessel  33  to the produced water collection manifold  53  ( FIG. 5 ). In this embodiment, a produced water line  55  extends from the treatment vessel  33  to the produced water collection manifold  53  for each of the twenty individual treatment vessels  33 . The downstream connection from the produced water collection manifold  53  feeds into the produced water collection header  29  via a valve and union. The downstream connection from the produced water collection header  29  is connected to the module  23  via a quick connect cam-lock coupling or union  57 . 
         [0048]    The upstream connection from the waste water outlet header  31  is connected to a waste water collection manifold  59  via a valve and union. The upstream connection from the waste water collection manifold  59  is connected to either a singular and common or multiple waste water outlet lines  61 . Each waste water outlet line  61  collects the unreclaimed waste water into the waste water collection manifold  59  via the lower portion  62  of a corresponding treatment vessel  33  ( FIG. 5 ). In this embodiment, a single waste water collection line  61  collects the waste water for the twenty individual treatment vessels  33  from the bottom of the bulk container  32 . The downstream connection from waste water outlet header  31  is connected to the module  23  via a quick connect cam-lock coupling or union  63 . 
         [0049]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , in this embodiment, each treatment vessel  33  comprises an open upper fluid reservoir  54 , an open lower fluid reservoir  60 , and a treatment media  37  located therebetween. The treatment media  37  contained within the treatment vessels  33  depend on the desired reclamation process. The chemical treatment line chase  51  is connected to the body of each treatment vessel  33  and extends axially along the treatment vessel housing, running parallel to the treatment vessel  33  before entering the lower fluid reservoir  60 . As previously discussed, in this embodiment of the present invention, the chemical treatment feed line  49  passes through the chemical treatment chase  51 . Waste water is fed into the upper fluid reservoir  54  of each treatment vessel  33  through the corresponding waste water distribution line  45 . In this embodiment, the unreclaimed waste water exits each treatment vessel  33  through an opening in the lower fluid reservoir  60 , where it is collected by the single waste collection line  61  which is connected to the bulk container  32 . In alternate embodiments, the unreclaimed waste can be collected through individual waste collections lines  61  connected to each treatment vessel  33  and to the waste collection manifold  59 . The reclaimed/produced water exits each treatment vessel  33  through the corresponding produced water feed line  55 . 
         [0050]    Referring back to  FIG. 1 , in this embodiment, a motor and pump assembly  69  are connected upstream of the waste water header  25 . A waste water source or reservoir  71  is located upstream of the motor and pump assembly  69 . For example, the waste water source  71  may be a pool of low total dissolved solute (TDS) water from oilfield drilling and/or completion waste. The motor and pump assembly  69 , when activated, will draw the waste water from the waste water source  71  and pump it into the waste water header  25  and the waste water distribution manifold  43 . 
         [0051]    In this embodiment, a second motor and pump assembly  73  are connected upstream of the chemical treatment header  27 . A chemical treatment tank or reservoir  75  is located upstream of the motor and pump assembly  73 . For example, the chemical treatment tank  75  may be a tank of sodium chloride or another chemical necessary for chemical treatment of the waste water including, but not limited to pH adjusting chemicals, flocculants, polymers, resin activators, emulsifiers, de-emulsifies, detergents, solvents, catalysts, and/or specialized reactants. The motor and pump assembly  73 , when activated, will draw the contents of the chemical treatment tank  75  from the tank  75  and into the chemical treatment header  27  and the chemical treatment manifold  47 . The motor and pump assemblies  69 ,  73  are powered by a power source, for example, a generator. 
         [0052]    In operation, the waste water inlet header  25  is connected to the waste water source  71  via the quick connect cam-lock coupling or union  39 . The chemical treatment header  27  is connected to the chemical treatment tank  75  via the quick connect cam-lock coupling or union  41 . The waste water outlet header  31  is connected to a waste water tank  77  via the quick connect cam-lock coupling or union  63 . In this embodiment, the waste water is continuously recirculated through the water reclamation system  21  until the desired amount of waste water is reclaimed. In alternate embodiments, the waste water may pass through the reclamation system once  21  and be subsequently stored in a waste water tank for disposal. The motor and pump assemblies  69 ,  73  are activated. Waste water is drawn from the waste water source  71  via the pump and motor assembly  69 , pumped through the waste water inlet header  25 , and into the waste water distribution manifold  43 . In this embodiment, chemical treatment of the waste water is desired. As a result, chemical solution, for example, concentrated sodium chloride, is drawn from the chemical treatment source  75  via the pump and motor assembly  73 , pumped through the chemical treatment header  27 , and into the chemical treatment manifold  47 . 
         [0053]    In this embodiment, when the waste water reaches the upper reservoir  54  of each treatment vessel  33  (via the waste water distribution manifold  43  and water distribution lines  45 ), gravity feeds the waste water through the treatment media  37  ( FIG. 5 ). In an alternate embodiment, the waste water may not merely be gravity fed, for example, an additional pump may be connected to draw the waste water through the treatment media  37 . The treatment media  37  positioned between the upper  54  and lower  60  fluid reservoirs of each treatment vessel  33  creates a semi-permeable or selectively permeable barrier separating the two reservoirs  54 ,  60 . When the chemical solution reaches the chemical treatment manifold  47 , gravity and the difference in hydrostatic pressure feeds the chemical solution through the manifold  47  and into each of the chemical treatment feed lines  49 . In an alternate embodiment, the chemical solution may not merely be gravity fed, for example, an additional pump may be connected to feed the chemical solution into each of the chemical treatment feed lines  49 . The chemical solution flows through each of the chemical treatment feed lines  49  and, in this embodiment, into the lower reservoir  60  of each treatment vessel  33  via the corresponding chemical treatment chase  51 . 
         [0054]    In this particular embodiment, pressure differences on each side of the treatment media  37  and the differences in hydrostatic pressure between the upper  54  and lower  60  reservoirs causes the waste water to be pulled through the treatment media  37  in each treatment vessel  33 , where it becomes produced (i.e., reclaimed) water. In alternate embodiments, hydrostatic pressure, capillary action, differential surface tension, and/or selectively permeability may result in transition of waste water to reclaimed water, depending on the treatment media and the chemical additives. In this embodiment, the produced water is pushed through the produced water lines  55  connected to each of the treatment vessels  33  via gravitational forces on the fluid in the reservoirs  54 ,  60 . In an alternate embodiment, the produced water may not merely be gravity fed, for example, a pump may be connected to draw the produced water through the produced water lines  55 . The produced water travels through the produced water lines  55 , into the produced water collection manifold  53 , and into the produced water collection header  29 . The produced water then travels through the produced water collection header  29 , through the quick cam-lock coupling or union  57 , and into a produced water collection tank  79 . 
         [0055]    The waste water that was not reclaimed passes through an opening in the lower reservoir  60  of each of the treatment vessels  33 , where it enters the waste water outlet line  61 . The waste water then drains into the waste water outlet manifold  59 , and into the waste water outlet header  31 . The waste water continues through the waste water outlet header  31 , through the quick cam-lock coupling or union  63 , and into a waste water tank  81 . As previously indicated, the waste water may be recirculated through the reclamation system  21  until the desired results are achieved.  FIG. 6  illustrates the way in which the chemical solution C, waste water W, treated waste water T, and the produced water P flow through a series of treatment vessels  33  as set up in this embodiment of the reclamation system  21 . 
         [0056]    In an alternate embodiment, the module  23  may further comprise an overflow/volume control header. The overflow/volume control header would either be connected to an overflow/volume control manifold or directly to overflow/volume control lines. The overflow/volume control lines would be connected to an overflow/volume control port or ports in an upper surface portion of the bulk container  32 . In the event that the fluid level in the bulk container  32  reached the port or ports, the excess fluid would travel through the overflow/volume control lines and the overflow/volume control manifold and/or header. The excess fluid could be captured for future reclamation or could be re-circulated back into the current reclamation cycle. 
         [0057]    Depending upon the desired method of filtration and the desired level of treatment, each of the treatment vessels  33  in a treatment module  23  can be connected in various ways to facilitate a particular reclamation process. For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , in an alternate embodiment, the treatment vessels  33  are arranged such that the produced water P out from a first treatment vessel is then added to the treatment chase  51  of each treatment vessel thereafter, which may contain the same or different treatment media. In an additional alternate embodiment as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , waste water W is introduced into a first treatment vessel  33 , and the produced water P is then run through each of the treatment vessels  33  thereafter. In an additional alternate embodiment as illustrated in  FIG. 9 , no chemical treatment is applied to the treatment vessels  33 , and waste water W is fed into each treatment vessel  33 , and produced water P is extracted from each treatment vessel  33 . In an additional alternate embodiment as illustrated in  FIG. 10 , no chemical treatment is applied to the treatment vessels  33 , and waste water W is only fed into the first treatment vessel. The produced water is then fed from the first treatment vessel into the second treatment vessel, and so forth thereafter. 
         [0058]    The water reclamation system  21  as comprised by the present invention is both scalable and portable. Referring to  FIG. 11 , a plurality of modules  23 , in this embodiment, fourteen modules  23  are connected to a trailer  83 . The trailer  83  may be an over-the-road flat-bed style trailer, which allows the water reclamation system  21  to be transported and maneuvered for various applications; for example, reclamation of waste water in decentralized and/or short term industries such as oil and gas and environmental remediation. In this embodiment, the modules  23  are positioned on the trailer  83  to provide access to the modules  23  and the corresponding pipes and headers extending therebetween. 
         [0059]    Referring to  FIG. 12 , in this embodiment, the trailer  83  has a plurality of cat walk assemblies  85  positioned around the perimeter of the trailer  83 . The trailer also comprises a power source  87 , for example, a generator. In this embodiment, a pump and motor assembly  89  are positioned on the trailer  83 . The pump and motor assembly  89  may be either of the pump and motor assemblies  69 ,  73  as previously discussed, or may be an alternative or additional pump and motor assembly. A plurality of retractable or fold-up ladders  91  are connected to the trailer  83  and provide access to the trailer deck  92  and the various components of the trailer  83 . The trailer  83  may additionally comprise hose racks, pump racks, and lights that may be used during the transport and operation of the reclamation system  21 . In this embodiment, the trailer  83  is covered by a roof structure  93  ( FIG. 11 ), while the sides are retractable or removable. For example, in this embodiment, the sides of the trailer  83  are curtained. The trailer  83  comprises a self-sustained and self-contained portable water reclamation system  21 . 
         [0060]    Referring to  FIG. 13 , in this embodiment, each cat walk assembly  85  comprises a cat walk  87  and a hand rail  89  connected to one another. In this embodiment, the cat walk  87  comprises a rectangular frame  91  with expanded metal  93  connected to and extending between the frame  91 . In this embodiment, the frame  91  is comprised of rectangular members, but may be shaped differently in alternate embodiments. A first leg  94  of the frame  91  extends longitudinally along a length of the trailer  83  and is rotatably connected to the trailer  83  by a plurality of hinges or similar devices  95 , thereby enabling the cat walk  87  to rotate relative to the trailer  83  about an axis extending parallel to and with the first leg  94 . The second  97  and third  99  legs of the frame  91  are positioned substantially perpendicular to the first leg  94 , but are parallel to one another, and extend outwardly from opposite ends of the first leg  94  before connecting to the fourth leg  101  of the frame  91 , which is substantially parallel to the first leg  94 . Depending upon the size of the cat walk  87 , the frame  91  may have additional support members that extend between the first  94  and second  97  legs. 
         [0061]    Sleeves  103  are rotatably connected to an outer surface portion of the second  97  and third  99  legs of the frame  91 , near the ends of the legs  97 ,  99  that are connected to the fourth leg  101 . The sleeves  103  are capable of rotation about an axis parallel to the axis of the fourth leg  101 . In this embodiment, the sleeves  103  are rectangular in shape. First cylindrical sleeves  105  are connected to upper surface portions of the fourth leg  101  near the ends of the leg  101  connected to the second  97  and third  99  legs. The cylindrical sleeves  105  extend axially along a length of the fourth leg  101  parallel to the axis of the fourth leg  101 . Second cylindrical sleeves  107  are connected to outer surface portions of the fourth leg  101  near the ends of the leg  101  connected to the second  97  and third  99  legs. The cylindrical sleeves  107  extend axially along a length of the fourth leg  101 , parallel to the axis of the fourth leg  101 . 
         [0062]    In this embodiment, the hand rail  89  is comprised of a substantially rectangular frame  109 . In this embodiment, the frame  109  is comprised of rectangular members, but may be shaped differently in alternate embodiments. The frame  109  comprises first  111  and second  113  legs positioned spaced apart from and parallel to one another, each having first and second ends. A third leg  115  is connected to and extends between the first ends of the first  111  and second legs  113 , substantially perpendicular to the first  111  and second  113  legs. A fourth leg  117  is connected to and extends between the first  111  and second  113  legs, substantially perpendicular to the first  11  and second  113  legs, a select distance from and parallel to the third leg  115 . A first hole or aperture  119  is located in and extends through a medial portion of the first  111  and second legs  113 , parallel to the third  115  and fourth  117  legs. A second hole or aperture  121  is located in and extends through the second end portion of the first  111  and second legs  113 , a select distance from the first holes  119 , and parallel to the third  115  and fourth  117  legs. 
         [0063]    The second ends of the first  111  and second  113  legs of the hand rail  89  are positioned within the sleeves  103 , which are rotatably connected to the cat walk  97 . In the position illustrated in  FIG. 13 , the operational position, the sleeves  103  and first  111  and second  113  legs of the hand rail  89  are positioned substantially perpendicular to the second  97  and third  99  legs of the catwalk frame  91 . In the operational position, the catwalk  87  is positioned substantially parallel with the trailer deck  92 . Referring to  FIG. 14 , a generally L-shaped pin  123  extends through each of the second holes  121  in the hand rail  89  before being inserted into the first cylindrical sleeves  105  on the upper surface portions of the fourth leg  101  of the cat walk  87 . The pins  123  lock the hand rail  89  in an operation position relative to the cat walk  87 . A chain  125  is connected to he pin  123  on one end and the cat walk frame  91  on the other to prevent the loss of the pin  123  when it is not engaged. The pins  123  and sleeves  103  act as a locking device. 
         [0064]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 15 ,  16 , and  17 , a plurality of cantilever like support beams or bars  127  are retractably connected to the trailer  83 . In this embodiment, the support bars  127  are rectangular members designed to extend outwardly from the trailer  83  when needed. In the operational position, the support bars  127  are parallel with the cat walk  87  and have flange portions abuttingly contacting portions of the cat walk frame  91 . The support bars  127  act to support and maintain the cat walk  87  in its operational position. As illustrated in  FIGS. 16 and 17 , when the support bars on not needed, i.e., the cat walk  87  is not in the operational position, the support bars  127  slidingly retract into the trailer  83 . When the support bars  127  are needed, they may be slidingly extended outwardly from the trailer  83 . 
         [0065]    Referring to  FIG. 18 , the cat walk assembly  85  can be moved to an access position that allows access to the side of the trailer  83  to service the system  21 . For example, if one of the modules  23  needs to be removed from the trailer deck  92 , the cat walk assembly  85  will be moved to the access position to permit access to the module  23 . Referring back to  FIG. 13 , to move the cat walk assembly  85  from an operational position to an access position ( FIG. 18 ), the L-shaped pins  123  are removed from each of the second holes  121  in the hand rail  89  and the first cylindrical sleeves  105  on the upper surface portions of the fourth leg  101  of the cat walk frame  91 . The sleeves  103 , and thus, the hand rail  89  may freely rotate relative to the cat walk  87  and the first  111  and second  113  legs of the hand rail  89  may move axially within the sleeves  103 . The support bars  127  are slidingly retracted into the trailer  83 , thereby permitting the cat walk  91  to rotate downward relative to the trailer  83 . The cat walk  87  is rotated downward relative to the trailer deck  92  toward the access position. The first  111  and second  113  legs of the hand rail  89  are extended further through the sleeves  103 , until the first holes  119  are aligned with the second cylindrical sleeves  107 . In the position illustrated in  FIG. 18 , the access position, the sleeves  103  and first  111  and second  113  legs of the hand rail are positioned parallel to the second  97  and third  99  legs of the catwalk frame  91 . The L-shaped pins  123  extend through each of the first holes  119  in the hand rail  89  before being inserted into the second cylindrical sleeves  107  on the outer surface portions of the fourth leg  101  of the cat walk frame  91 . The pins  123  lock the hand rail  89  in an access position relative to the cat walk  87 . The cat walk assembly assembly  85  as illustrated in  FIG. 18  is in an access position. The pins  123  and sleeves  107  act as a locking device. 
         [0066]    Referring to  FIG. 19 , the cat walk assembly  85  can be moved to a travel or transport position for transportation or movement of the trailer  83 . While the cat walk assembly  85  can be moved from the operational position ( FIG. 13 ) to the transport position ( FIG. 19 ), for simplification purposes, the following illustration will move the cat walk assembly  85  from the access position ( FIG. 18 ) to the transport position. Referring back to  FIG. 18 , to move the cat walk assembly  85  from an access position, the cat walk  87  is rotated upward relative to the trailer deck  92  toward the transport position. In the position illustrated in  FIG. 19 , the transport position, the sleeves  103  and the first  111  and second  113  legs of the hand rail are positioned parallel to the second  97  and third  99  legs of the catwalk frame  91 . The L-shaped pins  123  extend through each of the first holes  119  in the hand rail  89  before being inserted into the second cylindrical sleeves  107  on the outer surface portions of the fourth leg  101  of the cat walk frame  91 . The pins  123  lock the hand rail  89  in a transport position relative to the cat walk  87 . The cat walk assembly  85  as illustrated in  FIG. 19  is in a transport position. The cat walk assembly  85  in the transport position can be securely connected to the trailer  85  for transport. For example, the cat walk assembly  85  may be connected to a roof support member  129  by a fastener or other similar device. 
         [0067]    As the individual treatment vessels in a module may be connected in various ways to achieve a desired treatment method and result, the modules in a multi-module system, similar to that illustrated in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , may be connected in various ways to also achieve desired treatment methods and results. For example, in alternate embodiments as illustrated in  FIGS. 20 through 28 , the modules in a multi-module system may be connected to one another in various ways to achieve desired treatment methods and results. 
         [0068]    The invention has significant advantages. The portable and scalable water filtration system uses low pressure (primarily gravity) and differences in hydrostatic head height to control the flow rates through the system. The system can be scaled up and down for various reclamation projects. The water reclamation system has various applications for oil and gas exploration and production, environmental remediation, industrial hygiene, agriculture, and other wastewater producing decentralized or centralized industries. 
         [0069]    In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed a typical preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, the terms are used in a descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. The invention has been described in considerable detail with specific reference to these illustrated embodiments. It will be apparent, however, that various modifications and changes can be made within the spirit and scope of the invention as described in the foregoing specification and as set forth in the following claims.