Patent ID: 8088275

Claim:
A process for treating a fluid stream of used fracturing fluid containing contaminants, including one or more of light hydrocarbons and water, for forming a reconditioned fluid stream, the process comprising: distilling the one or more of water and light hydrocarbons from the fluid stream in a vessel at a distillation pressure at or below atmospheric pressure, wherein the distilling further comprises: heating the fluid stream to a temperature at or below about 120° C. sufficient to volatilize the light hydrocarbons and water substantially without volatilizing hydrocarbons greater than about C 8 at the distillation pressure; discharging the fluid stream through a nozzle into the vessel at the distillation pressure, the nozzle creating droplets of the fluid stream of sufficient size to fall by gravity through the vessel; and recovering a distilled fluid stream from the vessel for forming the reconditioned fluid stream.