SAUDI Aramco is to commercialise a new technology for the inexpensive treatment of oily wastewater by teaming up with Siemens Water Technologies.
EcoRight has been developed in-house at Aramco and uses granular activated carbon in a modified membrane biological reactor.
The base idea was conceived by the company and then teamed with Siemens Water Technologies to develop the idea into a commercial product. Five patents have been submitted on the idea and associated technologies.
Aramco says the EcoRight process achieves a high chemical oxygen demand removal efficiency with almost no additional operating or capital costs.
In areas where water is scarce, the system allows for the inexpensive re-use of wastewater, thus conserving groundwater. In areas where discharges must meet strict environmental rules, the system can provide compliant treatment.
Because EcoRight provides the same removal capacity as much more energy-intensive technologies, Aramco says it qualifies as a green technology and can earn COreduction credits.
The intention is that the system be used at all Saudi Aramco facilities that generate oily wastewater.
For its part, Siemens has identified a number of potential uses. Aside from Aramco’s own needs, the German group sees worldwide potential.
EcoRight is being pilot tested at Saudi Aramco’s Ras Tanura Refinery as a potential replacement for its waste injection well. It is part of a proposed build, own, and operate proposal for the Jiddah Refinery Phase II Wastewater Treatment Upgrade Project.
Almost all other Saudi Aramco industrial facilities have some application need.
It remains to be seen whether EcoRight has any offshore potential, but it would appear to offer an alternative to existing groundwater clean-up in oilfields worldwide.
And this begs a further question. Given the massive water demands for the production of shale gas and growing concerns over resultant pollution, might EcoRight have a role there too?