Mobile water treatment and method

Abstract

A system for treating water from oil and gas drilling operations at a well site includes a mobile treatment facility that may be installed at a well site. The mobile treatment facility includes a plurality of treatment tanks and a controller for controlling the treatment.

1 . A system for treating water from oil and gas drilling operations at a well site, comprising:
 a mobile treatment facility comprising:
 a plurality of treatment tanks in series; and 
 a controller for controlling the treatment. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile treatment facility is automated. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller comprises a process optimization algorithm to dynamically adjust chemical usage in the plurality of treatment tanks. 
     
     
         4 . A method of treating water from oil and gas drilling operations at a well site, the method comprising:
 processing water discharged from a well in a mobile treatment facility at the well site, the mobile treatment facility comprising:
 a plurality of treatment tanks; and 
 a controller for controlling the treatment. 
   
     
     
         5 . A method of treating water from oil and gas drilling operations at a well site, the method comprising:
 placing a mobile treatment facility in a first location, the mobile treatment facility comprising:
 a plurality of treatment tanks in series; and 
 a controller for controlling the treatment; 
   processing water in the mobile treatment facility at the first location;   moving the system to a second location; and   processing water in the mobile treatment facility at the second location.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein substantially all the water in the system at the first location is filtered through the plurality of treatment tanks prior to moving the system to the second location. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of treatment tanks include mixers, and the controller comprises a process optimization algorithm to dynamically adjust the speed of the mixers. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile treatment facility comprises a variable speed inlet pump configured to pump contaminated water into the mobile treatment facility, and the controller comprises a process optimization algorithm to dynamically adjust the speed at which the inlet pump pumps the contaminated water into the mobile treatment facility. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of treatment tanks comprises one or more sensors selected from the group consisting of a fluid level sensor, a pH sensor, or combinations thereof, and the one or more sensors are connected to the controller. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile treatment facility comprises an inlet pump, and wherein the mobile treatment facility is configured so that once a first tank of the plurality of treatment tanks is filled, gravity transfers water from the first tank through the remainder of the plurality of treatment tanks. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of treatment tanks are sized so that water entering each thank is effectively treated before transferring to the next tank or exiting the plurality of treatment tanks. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the mobile treatment facility comprises a decant system comprising:
 a decant pump; and   a plurality of pipes connecting each of the plurality of treatment tanks,   wherein, when the inlet pump is not operating, the decant system is configured to pump water from each tank to each subsequent tank to treat the water in the system and substantially empty the plurality of tanks.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein one of the plurality of treatment tanks is a cone shaped flocculent removal tank and the cone shaped flocculent removal tank comprises a cone shaped stirrer comprising:
 a shaft; and   at least two arcuate blades.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein each of the at least two arcuate blades are off-centered from the axis of the shaft. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the concave surface of the at least two arcuate blades are configured to be oriented in the direction of travel of the cone shaped stirrer. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile treatment facility comprises:
 a water processing compartment comprising the plurality of treatment tanks;   a control room comprising the controller; and   a storage compartment configured to hold chemicals for treatment of the water.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the controller is coupled to a computer in the control room or the controller is wirelessly coupled to a computer at an off-site location. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein substantially all the water in the system at the first location is filtered through the system prior to moving the system to the second location using a decant system comprising:
 a decant pump; and   a plurality of pipes connecting each of the plurality of treatment tanks,   wherein, when the inlet pump is not operating, the decant system is run to pump water from each tank to each subsequent tank to treat the water in the system and substantially empty the plurality of tanks.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein one of the plurality of treatment tanks is a cone shaped flocculent removal tank and the cone shaped flocculent removal tank comprises a cone shaped stirrer comprising:
 a shaft; and   at least two arcuate blades,   wherein the blades are oriented in the direction of travel of the cone shaped stirrer, and the cone shaped stirrer directs the flocculent to the bottom of the cone shaped tank.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile treatment facility comprises:
 a water processing compartment comprising the plurality of treatment tanks;   a control room comprising the controller; and   a storage compartment configured to hold chemicals for treatment of the water.