Chemical Technology May 2016 low res1

11 / 36

Technology Bacteria CH3OH O/G DRO GRO TA HCO3 TH Ca Mg Fe Ba St SO 4 Cl TDS TSS Polymers
API Separators X
DAF X X
Activated Carbon X X X X
Nut Shell Filters X
Clay Adsorbents X
Chemical Oxidation X X X
UV Disinfection X
Biological X X X
Air Stripper X X X
Chemical Precipitation X X X X X X X
Lime/Soda Softening X X X X X X X
Clarifiers X
Settling Ponds X
Ion Exchange X X X X X X X X X
Multi-Media Filtration X
Membrane Filtration X X
Sand Filters X X
Cartridge Filters X
Reverse Osmosis X X X X X X X X
Evaporation X X X X X X X X X
Steam Stripping X X X
Acidification X X
WATER TREATMENT
When the study, ‘Modern Shale Gas Development in
the United States of America’ [12], was developed, there
were plans to construct commercial wastewater treatment
facilities specifically designed for the treatment of produced
water associated with shale gas development in some loca-
tions around the country. The success of such plants will
be closely tied to the successful expansion of production
in the various shale gas plays.
New water treatment technologies and new applications
of existing technologies are being developed and used to
treat shale gas produced water. The treated water can be
reused as fracturing make-up water, irrigation water, and
References
1 Modern Shale Gas Development in the United States for the U.S. Depart-
ment of Energy by GWPC and ALL Consulting – Tulsa Oklahoma, USA
April 2009- Extensively quoted in this article by kind permission of GWPC –
Ground Water Protection Council, Dan Yates – Associate Director.
2 Ibid
3 REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, NATIONAL WATER ACT, Act No 36 of 1998
4 South African National Standard for DrinkingWater, SANS 241-1:Edition 1.
5 Satterfield, J., M. Mantell, D. Kathol, F. Hiebert, K. Patterson, and R.
Lee. 2008. Chesapeake Energy Corp. Managing Water Resource’s
Challenges in Select Natural Gas Shale Plays. Presented at the GWPC
Annual Meeting. September 2008.
6 Geographical differences in the relationship between total dissolved
solids and electrical conductivity in South 0African rivers, H van Niekerk;
MJ Silberbauer; MMaluleke, Resource Quality Services, Department of
Water Affairs
7 Water Management in Unconventional Natural Gas Exploration & Pro-
duction, May 2011, Presentation, C Hunter Nolen
8 SRBC, 18 CFR 806.5, December, 2008
9 SRBC, ―Aquifer Testing Guidance, Policy No. 2007-01 (December 5,
2007),
htm (accessed April 2010).
10 Harper, J. 2008. The Marcellus Shale – An Old “New” Gas Reservoir in
Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Geology. v 28, no 1. Spring 2008. Published
by the Bureau of Topographic and Geologic Survey, Pennsylvania Depart-
ment of Conservation and Natural Resources.
11 Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC). v2008.v Water Use in the Barnett
Shale.
html. Updated: June 30, 2008. Accessed: October 2008.
12 Modern Shale Gas Development in the United States for the U.S. De-
partment of Energy by GWPC and ALL Consulting – Tulsa, Oklahoma,
USA April 2009- Extensively quoted in this article by kind permission of
GWPC –GroundWater Protection Council, Dan Yates – Associate Director.
13 Ewing, J. 2008. Devon Energy Corp. Taking a Proactive Approach toWater
Recycling in the Barnett Shale. Presented at the Fort Worth Business
Press Barnett Shale Symposium. February 29, 2008.
9
Chemical Technology • May 2016
in some cases even drinking water. This allows natural
gas-associated produced water to be viewed as a potential
resource in its own right [13]. Current levels of interest in
recycling and reuse are high, but new approaches and more
efficient technologies are needed to make treatment and
re-use a widespread reality.
In early 2009, studies were underway to determine the
minimum quality of water that could successfully be used
in hydraulic fracturing. If hydraulic fracturing procedures
or fluid additives can be developed that will allow use of
water with a high TDS content, then more treatment options
become viable and more water can be reused. ■
Table 3: Water treatment technologies and their relevance to composition of the water