Patent ID: 7306735

Claim:
A method of removing contaminants from water comprising the steps of: (a) providing a water feed directly downstream of and in-line with process water exposed to hydrocarbon and/or chemical processing by hydrocarbon or chemical processing equipment, wherein said water feed contains a large proportion of contaminants to water, the contaminants including one or more of nitrogen-containing compounds, carbonate, hydrogen sulfide, selenium, other sulfur acids and organic acids resultant from said processing equipment; (b) providing a reverse osmosis system in-line with said water feed, said reverse osmosis system capable of withstanding desired process parameters in water feed temperatures up to 185° F. and being directly connected to said water feed, said reverse osmosis system comprising an inlet, at least one reverse osmosis membrane, a permeate outlet, and a reject outlet; (c) applying pressure or adjusting pressure of said water feed to a degree sufficient to force said water feed through said reverse osmosis system and to effect a reverse osmosis process comprising separating said water feed into permeate and reject which includes at least one of said contaminants; (d) directing said permeate to said permeate outlet; and (e) directing said reject to said reject outlet.