Abstract:
A process comprising receiving production saltwater comprising water, salt, and hydrocarbons, separating substantially all of the hydrocarbons from the production saltwater, evaporating at least some of the water in the production saltwater to obtain the salt, and collecting the salt. Also disclosed is a facility comprising a settling pit, an evaporator in fluid communication with the settling pit and comprising a nozzle configured to emit a stream along a path, and a collection pit positioned under the path.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     None. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Water occurs naturally in subterranean formations, and as such may be produced in conjunction with hydrocarbons from oil and gas wells. Water also may be used to stimulate hydrocarbon production in oil and gas wells. When the water is produced from oil or gas wells, it typically comprises sufficient amounts of dissolved salts to make it unsuitable for agriculture and other purposes. The produced saltwater may also comprise several harmful compounds, such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, transition metals, or combinations thereof. As such, oil and gas well operators generally have to pay to dispose of any produced saltwater. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one embodiment, the disclosure includes a process comprising receiving production saltwater comprising water, salt, and hydrocarbons, separating substantially all of the hydrocarbons from the production saltwater, evaporating at least some of the water in the production saltwater to obtain the salt, and collecting the salt. 
     In another embodiment, the disclosure includes a facility comprising a settling pit, an evaporator in fluid communication with the settling pit and comprising a nozzle configured to emit a stream along a path, and a collection pit positioned under the path. 
     These and other features will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more complete understanding of this disclosure, reference is now made to the following brief description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and detailed description, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts. 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view of an embodiment of a subterranean well production field. 
         FIG. 2  is a flowchart of an embodiment of a production saltwater separation process. 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view of an embodiment of the salt production station. 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view of embodiments of the reception area, the storage area, and the separation area. 
         FIG. 5  is a section view of an embodiment of the separation area taken across line  5 - 5  in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a section view of an embodiment of the separation area taken across line  6 - 6  in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 7  is a section view of an embodiment of the separation area taken across line  7 - 7  in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 8  is a section view of an embodiment of the separation area taken across line  8 - 8  in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 9  is a section view of an embodiment of the separation area taken across line  9 - 9  in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 10  is a plan view of embodiments of the evaporation area and the storage area. 
         FIG. 11  is a section view of an embodiment of the evaporation area taken across line  11 - 11  in  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 12  is a section view of an embodiment of the evaporation area taken across line  12 - 12  in  FIG. 10 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     It should be understood at the outset that although an illustrative implementation of one or more embodiments are provided below, the disclosed systems and/or methods may be implemented using any number of techniques, whether currently known or in existence. The disclosure should in no way be limited to the illustrative implementations, drawings, and techniques illustrated below, including the exemplary designs and implementations illustrated and described herein, but may be modified within the scope of the appended claims along with their full scope of equivalents. 
     Disclosed herein is a method and apparatus for recovering salt from saltwater produced from subterranean wells, such as oil and gas wells. The production saltwater may be received in a reception area and subsequently stored in a storage area. The production saltwater may undergo an initial separation in the storage area to remove some of the hydrocarbons from the saltwater. The saltwater may then be passed to a separation area comprising one or more settling pits. In the settling pits, solids may settle out of the saltwater and any residual hydrocarbons may be removed from the saltwater. The saltwater may then be sent to an evaporation area where the saltwater is sprayed into the air. While in the air, substantially all of the water in the saltwater may evaporate and the salt may fall into a collection pit. The salt may be periodically moved from the collection pit to a storage area, where the salt may be kept until it is loaded into a storage container or vehicle. 
       FIG. 1  depicts an embodiment of a subterranean well field  100 . The subterranean well field  100  may comprise a plurality of wells  102  coupled to a salt production station  110  via a plurality of pipelines  104 . The wells  102  may be hydrocarbon, e.g. oil and/or natural gas, wells that produce production saltwater as a byproduct. For example, each well  102  may produce at least about 1 barrel per day, from about 5 to about 50 barrels per day, or about 25 barrels per day of production saltwater. The production saltwater may comprise water and one or more salts, perhaps in combination with other compounds. The saltwater present in the effluent from the wells  102  may be the result of subterranean water deposits that are in fluid communication with the subterranean hydrocarbon deposits. Alternatively, the saltwater present in the effluent from the wells  102  may be the result of water and/or steam injection into the subterranean formation, for example to increase hydrocarbon production from the well  102 . The wells  102  may comprise a separation system that separates the well effluent into a hydrocarbon-rich stream and a production saltwater-rich stream, which may be sent to the salt production station  110 . In other embodiments, the wells  102  may be water wells or any other apparatus that produces saltwater. 
     The wells  102  may transport the production saltwater to the salt production station  110  via the pipelines  104 . The pipelines  104  are similar to those well-known in the art and may comprise metal or composite piping having a diameter appropriate for the production saltwater flow. The length of the pipeline  104  may vary depending on the distance between the wells  102  and the salt production station  110 . For example, the pipelines  104  may be as short as a few yards or as long as several hundred miles. Typically, the pipelines  104  may have a length less than about 100 miles. 
     The salt production station  110  may be any device or apparatus configured to produce salt from production saltwater. For example, the salt production station  110  may implement a production saltwater separation process, such as the production saltwater separation process  200  illustrated in  FIG. 2 . In the production saltwater separation process  200 , a batch or continuous stream of production saltwater may be received in a reception area  120 , stored in a production saltwater storage area  130 , and any hydrocarbons and/or solids may be separated from the saltwater in a separation area  140 . The production saltwater separation process  200  may also separate the water from the salt in an evaporation area  160  and store the salt in a salt storage area  180 . In an embodiment, the hydrocarbons, solids, and salt may be suitably disposed or preferably sold, while the water may be evaporated into the atmosphere. 
     The production saltwater may comprise water and at least one salt. As used herein, a salt may be any compound that comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of an ionic bond, such as the bond formed between an anion and a cation. The salts may include alkaline metals, alkaline earth metals, halides, transition metals, poor metals, non-metals, oxides, hydroxides, or combinations thereof. The salts with greater solubility in water may be included in the salt produced by the salt production station  110 , while the salts with less solubility in water may be removed from the water in the separation area  140  along with any non-salt solids. 
     The saltwater may comprise a substantial amount of salts. For example, the saltwater may comprise at least about 5 grams per liter (g/L), from about 10 to about 100 g/L or about 34 g/L dissolved salts. In an embodiment, the saltwater may comprise an alkaline metal, such as at least about 5,000 parts per million (ppm), from about 10,000 ppm to about 20,000 ppm, or about 15,000 ppm dissolved sodium. As such, the saltwater may have a sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) of at least about 50, from about 100 to about 400, or about 240. Additionally or alternatively, the saltwater may comprise an alkaline earth metal, such as at least about 25 ppm, from about 50 ppm to about 150 ppm, or about 74 ppm magnesium, at least about 50 ppm, from about 100 to about 300 ppm, or about 180 ppm calcium, and/or at least about 5 milligrams per liter (mg/L), from about 10 to about 100 mg/L, and/or about 52 mg/L barium. Additionally or alternatively, the saltwater may comprise at least 5 g/L, from about 10 g/L to about 100 g/L, or about 23 g/L of chloride. Additionally or alternatively, the saltwater may comprise a transition metal, such as at least about 0.1 micrograms per liter (μg/L), from about 0.5 to about 10 μg/L, or about 2 μg/L cadmium and/or at least about 0.1 μg/L, from about 0.5 to about 10 μg/L, or about 2 μg/L chromium. The saltwater may also comprise less than about 20 μg/L, less than about 10 μg/L, or less than about 5 μg/L silver and/or less than about 10 μg/L, less than about 5 μg/L, or less than about 0.8 μg/L mercury. Additionally or alternatively, the saltwater may comprise a poor metal, such as at least about 0.5 μg/L, from about 1 to about 20 μg/L, or about 8 μg/L lead. Additionally or alternatively, the saltwater may comprise a non-metal, such as at least about 10 ppm, from about 25 to about 100 ppm, or about 54 ppm sulfate, less than about 10 μg/L, less than about 5 μg/L, or less than about 1 μg/L arsenic, and/or less than about 100 μg/L, less than about 50 μg/L, or less than about 20 μg/L selenium. 
     The production saltwater may also comprise various organic compounds. For example, the saltwater may comprise less than about 20 mg/L, less than about 10 mg/L, or less than about 5 mg/L of C 6 -C 12  hydrocarbons, and less than about 20 mg/L, less than about 10 mg/L, or less than about 5 mg/L C 12+  hydrocarbons. The saltwater may also comprise benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, or combinations thereof. For example, the saltwater may comprise at least about 0.02 mg/L, from about 0.04 to about 0.2 mg/L, or about 0.08 mg/L benzene and related compounds, at least about 0.02 mg/L, from about 0.04 to about 0.2 mg/L, or about 0.06 mg/L toluene and related compounds. In addition, at least about 0.001 mg/L, from about 0.005 to about 0.1 mg/L, or about 0.01 mg/L xylene and related compounds, and at least about 0.001 mg/L, from about 0.002 to about 0.05 mg/l, or less than about 0.005 mg/L ethylbenzene and related compounds. In a specific embodiment, the saltwater may comprise at least about 0.01 μg/L, from about 0.1 μg/L to about 5 μg/L, or about 0.6 μg/L of naphthalene, at least about 0.01 μg/L, from about 0.1 μg/L to about 5 μg/L, or about 0.3 μg/L 1-methylnaphthalene, at least about 0.01 μg/L, from about 0.1 μg/L to about 5 μg/L, or about 0.4 μg/L 2-methylnaphthalene, at least about 0.01 μg/L, from about 0.1 μg/L to about 1 μg/L, or about 0.2 μg/L penanthrene, at least about 0.01 μg/L, from about 0.1 μg/L to about 1 μg/L, or about 0.2 μg/L pyrene, and less than about 5 μg/L, less than about 1 μg/L, or less than about 0.2 μg/L each of acenaphthylene, acenaphthene, dibenzofuran, fluorene, anthracene, fluoranthene, benzo(a)anthracene, chrysene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(k)fluoranthene, benzo(a)pyrene, indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene, dibenzo(a,h)anthracene, benzo(g,h,i)perylene, or combinations thereof. 
     The hydrocarbons, solids, and salt produced by the production saltwater separation process  200  may each comprise substantially pure products. For example, the hydrocarbons produced by the production saltwater separation process  200  may comprise at least 80 weight percent, at least 95 weight percent, or at least 99 weight percent organic compounds, such as hydrocarbons. Similarly, the solids produced by the production saltwater separation process  200  may comprise at least 80 weight percent, at least 95 weight percent, or at least 99 weight percent non-dissolvable solids. Finally, the salt produced by the production saltwater separation process  200  may comprise at least 80 weight percent, at least 95 weight percent, or at least 99 weight percent salts, such as alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, and halides. 
     The hydrocarbons, solids, and salt produced by the production saltwater separation process  200  may also each comprise substantial amounts of their respective components from the production saltwater received in the reception area  120 . For example, the hydrocarbons produced by the production saltwater separation process  200  may comprise at least 80 weight percent, at least 95 weight percent, or at least 99 weight percent of the organic compounds present in the production saltwater. Similarly, the solids produced by the production saltwater separation process  200  may comprise at least 80 weight percent, at least 95 weight percent, or at least 99 weight percent of the solids present in the production saltwater. Finally, the salt produced by the production saltwater separation process  200  may comprise at least 80 weight percent, at least 95 weight percent, or at least 99 weight percent of the salts present in the production saltwater. 
       FIG. 3  depicts an embodiment of the salt production station  110 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the salt production station  110  comprises the reception area  120 , the production saltwater storage area  130 , the separation area  140 , the evaporation area  160 , and the salt storage area  180 . The reception area  120  may receive the production saltwater from the pipeline  104  or other sources, and may pass the production saltwater to the production saltwater storage area  130  for storage. The production saltwater storage area  130  may store the production saltwater, and may subsequently pass the production saltwater to the separation area  140  where the hydrocarbons and solids are removed from the saltwater. The hydrocarbons may be returned to the production saltwater storage area  130 , while the solids may accumulate in and may be periodically removed from the separation area  140 . The saltwater may then be transferred to the evaporation area  160  where the water may be separated from the salt, for example by evaporation. The salt may then be moved to the salt storage area  180  where it is stored for later transportation and/or sale. The salt production station  110  may be surrounded as appropriate by security fencing  106 , berms  108 , and wind-deflecting fencing  109  to provide site security, privacy, fluid containment in case of leaks, and/or wind protection. In addition, the salt production station  110  may comprise piping, valves, pumps, filters, controls, lighting, and safety equipment as is necessary to carry out the processes described herein. 
       FIG. 4  depicts a more detailed embodiment of the reception area  120 . The reception area  120  may be configured to intake production saltwater from the pipeline  104  or at least one intake connection  121 , which may be configured to connect to a vehicle such as a truck, train, ship, or combinations thereof. While the pipeline  104  and the intake connection  121  may pipe the production saltwater directly to the production saltwater storage area  130 , more typically the production saltwater may pass through metering equipment configured to measure the volume and amount of production saltwater received by the reception area  120 . In addition, the reception area  120  may comprise composition evaluation equipment that can evaluate the composition of the production saltwater, and/or authorization equipment that can determine whether the vehicle is authorized to transfer the production saltwater to salt production station  110 . Furthermore, the reception area  120  may be configured to transfer hydrocarbons, saltwater, solids, or combinations thereof from the salt production station  110 . For example, the reception area  120  may comprise a hydrocarbon effluent connection  124  that may be configured to transfer the hydrocarbons from the production saltwater storage area  130  to one of the aforementioned vehicles. Alternatively or additionally, the reception area  120  may comprise a vacuum discharge connection  125  that may be configured to transfer the solids and/or saltwater from the separation area  140  and/or the production saltwater storage tanks  131  to one of the aforementioned vehicles. Moreover, the reception area  120  may comprise accounting equipment configured to make or receive payment associated with the transfer of production saltwater, hydrocarbons, and/or solids into or out of the salt production station  110 . There may be several components of the reception area  120  that may need to be accessible by persons who do not necessarily need to access the remainder of the salt production station  110 . As such, some components of the reception area  120 , e.g. connections and authorization equipment, may be on the outside of the security fence  106 , while other components of the reception area  120 , e.g. sampling equipment, metering equipment, pumps, valves, etc., may be on the inside of the security fence  106 . 
       FIG. 4  also depicts a more detailed embodiment of the production saltwater storage area  130 . The production saltwater storage area  130  may comprise a plurality of production saltwater storage tanks  131  that may receive production saltwater from the reception area  120  and store the production saltwater until it is transferred to the separation area  140 . The production saltwater storage tanks  131  may be configured such that either or both production saltwater storage tanks  131  may be used to store the production saltwater. Such a configuration allows one of the production saltwater tanks  131  to be down for maintenance while the other is operating. The production saltwater storage tanks  131  also may allow the salt production station  110  to operate at a discontinuous or substantially continuous rate, e.g. independent of the intake rate of production saltwater at the reception area  120 . In other words, the production saltwater storage area  130  may allow the salt production station  110  to operate only when economically favorable conditions exist. 
     When the production saltwater leaves the production saltwater storage tanks  131 , it may pass through a gun barrel separator  132 . The gun barrel separator  132  may allow the production saltwater to remain relatively still, thereby allowing some of the hydrocarbons to form an organic phase that is predominately hydrocarbons and salts having an affinity for the organic phase on top of the aqueous phase that is predominantly water and salts having an affinity for the aqueous phase. The gun barrel separator  132  may also comprise monitoring equipment that maintains the organic-aqueous phase boundary at a substantially constant level or within a predetermined range, and a siphon or a weir skimmer or pipe to remove the organic phase. The organic phase may be transferred to a hydrocarbon storage tank  133 , while the aqueous phase saltwater may be removed from a point below the organic-aqueous phase boundary and away from the inlet, and may be transferred to the separation area  140 . The hydrocarbon storage tank  133  may also receive hydrocarbons from the separation area  140  and may store the hydrocarbons until they are ready to be transferred to a vehicle via the hydrocarbon effluent connection  124 . 
     The production saltwater storage tanks  131 , gun barrel separator  132 , and hydrocarbon storage tank  133  may be constructed of materials and sized appropriate for the composition and amount of production saltwater flowing through the salt production station  110 . For example, the production saltwater storage tanks  131 , gun barrel separator  132 , and hydrocarbon storage tank  133  may be made of fiberglass, steel, or any other suitable material and may have a volume of at least about 100 barrels, from about 200 barrels to about 1,000 barrels, or about 500 barrels. In addition, the production saltwater storage tanks  131 , gun barrel separator  132 , and hydrocarbon storage tank  133  may be surrounded by a berm  135  and a trough  136  that are lined with a liner, such as a polymer liner about 0.06 inches thick, and downwardly graded towards the separation area  140 . As such, any rupture or leakage from the production saltwater storage tanks  131 , gun barrel separator  132 , and/or hydrocarbon storage tank  133  may be routed into the separation area  140 . 
       FIGS. 4-9  depict a more detailed embodiment of the separation area  140 . The separation area  140  may comprise a first settling pit  141 , a second settling pit  143 , and a third settling pit  145  (collectively, the settling pits). The saltwater generally flows from the first settling pit  141  to the second settling pit  143  to the third settling pit  145 , and as it does so solids and hydrocarbons are removed from the saltwater. Specifically, the first settling pit  141  may receive the saltwater from the gun barrel separator  132  via a discharge pipe  134 . The trough  136  may also be configured to discharge into the first settling pit  141 . Solids settle to the bottom of the first settling pit  141 , and if desired, various compounds can be added to first settling pit  141  to promote the settling and/or precipitation of the solids, e.g. by reacting with the solids, changing the temperature of the saltwater, changing the pH of the saltwater, or combinations thereof. The saltwater and any hydrocarbons subsequently pass through a first weir skimmer  142  positioned between the first settling pit  141  and the second settling pit  143 . The first weir skimmer  142  skims any hydrocarbons off the saltwater, while the saltwater passes through to the second settling pit  143 . Piping connected to the first weir skimmer  142  transports any collected hydrocarbons back to the hydrocarbon storage tank  133 . Similarly, solids settle to the bottom of the second settling pit  143 , and the saltwater and any remaining hydrocarbons pass through a second weir skimmer  144  positioned between the second settling pit  143  and the third settling pit  145 . The second weir skimmer  144  skims any hydrocarbons off the saltwater, while the saltwater passes through to the third settling pit  145 . Piping connected to the second weir skimmer  144  transports the hydrocarbons back to the hydrocarbon storage tank  133 . In a specific embodiment, the first weir skimmer  142  and the second weir skimmer  144  are both stainless steel DRAGONFLY MICRO OIL SKIMMERS. Like the first settling pit  141  and the second settling pit  143 , solids settle out of the saltwater in the third settling pit  145 , and the saltwater, which is substantially free of solids and hydrocarbons, is removed from the third settling pit  145  via a discharge pipe  146 . The discharge pipe  146  may be a flexible pipe configured to remove saltwater from the top of the third settling pit  145 , e.g. such that it does not suck up substantially any solids. 
     The settling pits may be sized as appropriate for the flow of production saltwater through the salt production station  110 . For example, each of the settling pits may have a volume of at least about 5,000 barrels, from about 10,000 barrels to about 100,000 barrels, or about 25,000 barrels. In addition, one or more of the settling pits may be sloped to promote migration of the solids towards a certain direction, and the slope of each settling pit may be the same or different. For example, the settling pits may have a slope of from about 0.1 percent to about 60 percent, from about 0.5 percent to about 10 percent, or about 1 percent. The slope direction may be to one side of the settling pits, e.g. up, down, left, or right in  FIG. 4 , may be towards the center of the settling pit, may be towards the perimeter of the settling pit, or combinations thereof. In a specific embodiment, the settling pits have a 1 percent slope in the downward direction in  FIG. 4 , and have a 1 percent slope from the left and right sides in  FIG. 4  towards the center of the settling pits. In an embodiment, the settling pits may comprise a primary liner such as a polymer liner having a thickness of at least about 0.01 inches, from about 0.02 inches to about 0.1 inches, or about 0.06 inches. In addition, the settling pits may comprise and a leakage detection system. For example, a secondary liner, such as a polymer liner having a thickness of at least about 0.005 inches, from about 0.01 inches to about 0.1 inches, or about 0.02 inches, may be laid under the primary liner, and a drainage material, e.g. gravel or synthetic material, may be positioned therebetween. In addition, a leakage detection pipe may extend from the surface into the drainage material so that an operator may visually inspect the drainage material to determine whether the primary liner is leaking. Alternatively, an automatic leakage detection system may be positioned within the leakage detection pipe. The settling pits may also be covered with netting to prevent operators or wildlife from falling into the settling pits. 
       FIGS. 10-12  depict a more detailed embodiment of the evaporation area  160 . The evaporation area  160  may comprise a plurality of substantially identical evaporation stations. The evaporation stations may be configured such that either or both evaporation station may be used to evaporate the saltwater. Such a configuration allows one of the evaporation stations to be down for maintenance while the other is operating. Each evaporation station may comprise an evaporator  164  and a collection pit  162 . The evaporator  164  may be any device configured to separate the water from the salt in the saltwater. For example, the evaporator  164  may be a TURBO-MIST evaporator manufactured by SLIMLINE manufacturing. The evaporator  164  may comprise an upward-directed nozzle that is configured to spray the saltwater received from the separation area  140  into the air. The nozzle may be configured to produce at least one fine stream that allows at least some of the water to evaporate while in the air, which leaves the salt to fall into the collection pit  162 . For example, the evaporator  164  may be configured to spray at least about 10 barrels per hour, from about 20 barrels per hour to about 500 barrels per hour, or about 50 barrels per hour of saltwater. As such, the salt production station  110  may produce at least 1,000 pounds per day, from about 2 tons per day to about 50 tons per day, or about 10 tons per day of salt. In an embodiment, the horizontal and/or vertical orientation of the nozzle may be adjustable and perhaps controlled automatically to account for wind, temperature, relative humidity, and so forth. The collection pit  162  may be oriented such that the prevailing winds blow across or behind the evaporator  164  effluent. The collection pit  162  may be sized to collect substantially all of the salt produced by the evaporation. For example, the collection pit  162  may be from about 50 feet to about 200 feet, from about 70 feet to about 125 feet, about 90 feet wide, from about 50 feet to about 600 feet, from about 150 feet to about 500 feet, about 350 feet long, and from about 1 foot to about 20 feet, from about 2 feet to about 10 feet, about 5 feet deep. The collection pit  162  may also be configured with a drain  163  as well as pumps and piping appropriate to recover any unevaporated water and return such to the evaporators  164 , separation area  140 , and/or production saltwater storage area  130 . 
     In addition, one or more of the collection pits  162  may be sloped to promote migration of the salt and/or any residual water towards a certain direction, and the slope of each collection pit  162  may be the same or different. For example, the collection pit  162  may have a slope of from about 0.1 percent to about 60 percent, from about 0.5 percent to about 10 percent, or about 1 percent. The slope direction may be to one side of the collection pit  162 , e.g. up, down, left, or right in  FIG. 10 , may be towards the center of the collection pit  162 , may be towards the perimeter of the collection pit  162 , or combinations thereof. In a specific embodiment, the collection pit  162  may have a 1 percent slope from right to left in  FIG. 10 , e.g. towards to the evaporator  164 , and may have a 1 percent slope from the top and bottom sides in  FIG. 10 , e.g. towards the center of the collection pit  162 . Furthermore, the collection pit  162  may comprise a liner similar to the primary or secondary liner described above. Finally, the evaporation area  160  may be surrounded by the berm  108  and/or wind-deflecting fence  109 , e.g. an 8-foot high berm and/or a 15-foot high wind-deflecting fence, to prevent the wind from blowing the water stream and/or salt away from the collection pit  162 . The berm  180  and/or fencing  109  may be installed between individual evaporations stations, if desired. 
     Each evaporation station may comprise a salt conveyor that is configured to move the salt from the collection pit  162  to the salt storage area  180 . For example, the evaporation station may comprise a blade  168 , a motor  172 , and a cable  170 . The blade  168  may be a box blade or any other apparatus configured to scrape the salt across the collection pit  162 . If desired, the blade  168  may have a horizontal and/or vertical concavity to promote collection and movement of the salt. The blade  168  may be connected to the motor  172  by the cable  170 , which may extend from the motor  172  through a pulley  184  in the salt storage area  180  and to the blade  168  from one side of the motor  172 , and directly to the blade  168  on the other side of the motor  172 . As such, when the motor  172  is actuated in a forward direction, the blade  168  may be pulled across the collection pit  162  in a first direction, e.g. towards the pulley  184 , and may move the salt from the collection pit  162  to the salt storage area  180 . Similarly, when the motor  172  is actuated in a reverse direction, the blade  168  may be pulled across the collection pit  162  in a second direction, e.g. towards the motor  172 , and may return to its initial location proximate to the evaporators  164 . If desired, the blade  168  may also be fitted with a vertical actuation mechanism the raises and lowers the blade  168 . The blade  168  may be actuated as needed to prevent excessive build-up of salt in the collection pit  162 . Also, the blade  168  may be actuated when the evaporators  164  are not in operation, e.g. to limit the amount of salt build-up behind the blade  168 . Additionally or alternatively, the evaporation station may use backhoes, bulldozers, front-end loaders, or other mobile equipment to move the salt from the collection pit  162  to the salt storage area  180 . 
       FIGS. 10 and 12  also depict a more detailed embodiment of the salt storage area  180 . The salt storage area  180  may comprise a salt storage pad  182  and the pulley  184 . The salt storage pad  182  may be used as a storage and/or additional drying area for the salt until the salt can be loaded into a storage container or vehicle. If desired, a roof or tarp may be used to cover the salt, e.g. to prevent rain from wetting or wind from blowing away the salt. Additionally or alternatively, the salt storage pad  182  may be surrounded by the aforementioned berm  108  and/or fencing  109 . The salt may meet or exceed various federal and/or state regulations for agricultural and livestock use, and as such the salt may be suitable for agricultural use and/or animal consumption. 
     The efficiency with which the salt production station  110  produces the salt may be dependent on the environmental conditions at the salt production station. In an embodiment, the salt production station  110  may be operated when the ambient temperature is at least about 50° F., at least about 70° F., or at least about 90° F. In addition, the salt production station  110  may be operated when the relative humidity is no more than about 60 percent, no more than about 30 percent, or no more than about 10 percent. Such conditions, along with the wind, may cause at least about 40 weight percent, at least about 60 weight percent, or at least about 90 weight percent of the water in the saltwater to evaporate. 
     At least one embodiment is disclosed and variations, combinations, and/or modifications of the embodiment(s) and/or features of the embodiment(s) made by a person having ordinary skill in the art are within the scope of the disclosure. Alternative embodiments that result from combining, integrating, and/or omitting features of the embodiment(s) are also within the scope of the disclosure. Where numerical ranges or limitations are expressly stated, such express ranges or limitations should be understood to include iterative ranges or limitations of like magnitude falling within the expressly stated ranges or limitations (e.g., from about 1 to about 10 includes, 2, 3, 4, etc.; greater than 0.10 includes 0.11, 0.12, 0.13, etc.). For example, whenever a numerical range with a lower limit, R 1 , and an upper limit, R u , is disclosed, any number falling within the range is specifically disclosed. In particular, the following numbers within the range are specifically disclosed: R=R 1 +k*(R u −R 1 ), wherein k is a variable ranging from 1 percent to 100 percent with a 1 percent increment, i.e., k is 1 percent, 2 percent, 3 percent, 4 percent, 5 percent, . . . , 50 percent, 51 percent, 52 percent, . . . , 95 percent, 96 percent, 97 percent, 98 percent, 99 percent, or 100 percent. Moreover, any numerical range defined by two R numbers as defined in the above is also specifically disclosed. Use of the term “optionally” with respect to any element of a claim means that the element is required, or alternatively, the element is not required, both alternatives being within the scope of the claim. Use of broader terms such as comprises, includes, and having should be understood to provide support for narrower terms such as consisting of, consisting essentially of, and comprised substantially of. Accordingly, the scope of protection is not limited by the description set out above but is defined by the claims that follow, that scope including all equivalents of the subject matter of the claims. Each and every claim is incorporated as further disclosure into the specification and the claims are embodiment(s) of the present disclosure. The discussion of a reference in the disclosure is not an admission that it is prior art, especially any reference that has a publication date after the priority date of this application. The disclosure of all patents, patent applications, and publications cited in the disclosure are hereby incorporated by reference, to the extent that they provide exemplary, procedural, or other details supplementary to the disclosure. 
     While several embodiments have been provided in the present disclosure, it should be understood that the disclosed systems and methods might be embodied in many other specific forms without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. The present examples are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive, and the intention is not to be limited to the details given herein. For example, the various elements or components may be combined or integrated in another system or certain features may be omitted, or not implemented. 
     In addition, techniques, systems, subsystems, and methods described and illustrated in the various embodiments as discrete or separate may be combined or integrated with other systems, modules, techniques, or methods without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Other items shown or discussed as coupled or directly coupled or communicating with each other may be indirectly coupled or communicating through some interface, device, or intermediate component whether electrically, mechanically, or otherwise. Other examples of changes, substitutions, and alterations are ascertainable by one skilled in the art and could be made without departing from the spirit and scope disclosed herein.