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Purpose: The purpose of this study is to provide ideas and theoretical guidance for green, environmentally friendly and efficient "bacteriostasis with bacteria" technology. Design/methodology/approach: In this paper, a beneficial strain of bacteria was extracted and purified from marine mud. Weight-loss test, morphological observation and electrochemical test were used to systematically study the effect of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB)-induced corrosion inhibition on X65 steel in simulated offshore oil field production water. Findings: The results showed that a beneficial strain was selected and identified as Vibrio alginolyticus. Under the condition of co-culture of SRB, the average corrosion rate of X65 steel was significantly reduced. In the mixed bacterial system, the surface of X65 steel samples was relatively flat, and the structure of biofilm and corrosion product film was dense. The number of corrosion pits, the average diameter and depth of corrosion pits were significantly reduced. The localized corrosion of X65 steel was significantly inhibited. Originality/value: The complex and changing marine environment makes the corrosion problem of marine steel increasingly severe, and the microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) caused by SRB is particularly serious. The research and development of environmentally friendly corrosion protection technology is a long-term and difficult problem. The use of beneficial microorganisms to control MIC is a green and efficient anticorrosion measure. Compared with terrestrial microorganisms, marine microorganisms can adapt to complex environments, and their metabolites exhibit special biological activities. The use of marine beneficial bacteria can inhibit SRB activity to achieve the corrosion inhibition effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study utilizes numerical simulations and dimensional analysis to investigate the impact of the two-phase outlet on flow field characteristics and separation efficiency of the separator. The study revealed a boundary layer separation at the water outlet, which was subsequently addressed to reduce energy losses in the separator. Dimensional analysis considered the influences of operational, structural, and physical parameters on the separator's performance. With other structural parameters held constant, separation efficiency is directly proportional to the ratio of inlet and oil-outlet diameter. Additionally, the separation efficiency is also associated with Re and the ratio of the inlet to the water-outlet diameter. When the diameter of the water outlet is constant, the axial vortex separator achieves optimal separation when the ratio of inlet and water-outlet diameter is 0.563, with a maximum separation efficiency of 97.00%. The optimal separation efficiency is reached at Re=22,908 under various operational conditions. Separation efficiency increases with water content, peaking at an inlet water content of 0.9 across different structural parameters. Separation efficiency shows an increase followed by a decrease with the rise in inlet flow rate(vi), achieving the best performance at vi=3m/s for the different separator structures studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, a bioelectrochemical reactor (BEC) was utilized to treat two types of real saline produced water (PW). BEC was designed based on the combination of electrocoagulation (EC) process with halophilic microorganisms, and it was assessed in terms of biodegradation of hydrocarbons. The effects of various operating parameters including the current density, electrical contact time (On/Off), hydraulic retention time (HRT), and total dissolved solids (TDS) at different levels on the chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency, settleability, and performance of isolated halophilic microorganisms were examined. Additionally, a novel neural network (ANN) approach modelling using adaptive factors was used to predict and optimize the effects and interactions between operating parameters during BEC process by predicting complicated mechanisms and variations associated with microorganisms. In addition, a new algorithm was developed for the sensitivity analysis to achieve the optimum operating conditions and obtain maximum efficiency in COD removal, sludge volume index (SVI), mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS), and specific electrical energy consumption (SEEC), simultaneously. BEC was found to be significantly more effective at removing most hydrocarbons, particularly pristine and phytane. In addition, the results showed a significant improvement in settling ability of the biological flocs with average SVI of 91.5 mL/g and a size of 178.25 μm using BEC. Based on estimated operating costs and energy consumption, BEC was more cost-effective and efficient than other bioelectrochemical systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we synthesized a novel electrode for electrocatalytic adsorption by fabricating ACF‐TiO2 via the sol‐gel method and binding it with IrO2‐TaO2. The electrode's effectiveness in treating oilfield produced water (OPW) was evaluated using batch techniques. Comprehensive characterization, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy‐dispersive spectrometry (EDS), Brunauer‐Emmett‐Teller (BET) analysis, and Fourier‐transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, confirmed uniform TiO2 loading onto the ACF surface, preserving structural integrity. BET analysis indicated increased mesopore volume and enhanced organic adsorption capacity without compromising microporous structure. Additionally, FTIR analysis revealed the emergence of functional groups conducive to adsorption and catalytic reactions. Freundlich isotherms and pseudo‐first‐order kinetics best fit the adsorption data. Remarkably, even after five cycles, the electrode maintained high removal efficiencies for chemical oxygen demand (COD) and oil content at 91.35 % and 91.12 %, respectively. We further investigated the complex phenomena of material adsorption, electrochemical oxidation, and desorption during electrocatalytic adsorption, highlighting the importance of solid‐phase adsorption and liquid‐phase electrocatalytic oxidative decomposition in OPW treatment. Comparison with similar electrodes and DSA electrodes demonstrated the superior performance and practicality of the IrO2‐TaO2‐ACF(TiO2) electrode. Its cost‐effectiveness and regeneration method further enhance its applicability in real‐world scenarios, emphasizing its potential in water treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-flow showerheads offer consumers economic and water-saving benefits, yet their use may inadvertently affect the microbial content of produced water and water-associated aerosols. This study aimed to compare the abundance and microbial composition of bacteria in shower water and associated respirable aerosols produced by various low flow rate (1, 1.5, and 1.8 gpm) showerheads. Our findings indicate that the lowest-flow showerhead produces water with lower total microbial and opportunistic bacterial pathogen densities compared to higher low flow rate counterparts. However, microbiome analysis revealed that 1.8 gpm flow rate showerheads exhibit reduced abundance of Gramnegative organisms and common biofilm-forming organisms, suggesting potentially lower pathogenicity compared to 1 and 1.5 gpm low-flow showerheads. Additionally, the number of respirable aerosols produced by showerheads as well as the partitioning of certain microorganisms from the water to aerosol phases was negatively correlated with flow rate, suggesting that there may be increasing exposure potential to pathogenic bioaerosols when using a 1gpm showerhead compared to a 1.8 gpm showerhead. However, the 1.5 gpm showerhead seemed to balance microbial partitioning, aerosol generation, and water conservation. Moreover, the microbial composition of aerosols produced from shower water was more influenced by the age of the showerhead than the flow rate, highlighting the significance of biofilm formation on the microbial community. Overall, our findings underscore the importance of evaluating the microbial risk associated with low-flow showerheads using multiple metrics in both water and aerosols, and dynamically assessing this over time, to ensure accurate future risk assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering that high-purity fresh water is employed in the green production of hydrogen via commercial water electrolyzers and that over 80% of the global population faces significant water safety risks, it is essential to explore alternative water sources. One such alternative is the use of produced water from oil extraction processes. Hence, the main objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of the oil content of oilfield production water on the production of green hydrogen by electrolysis in the presence of carbon quantum dots (CQDs). For this purpose, various electrochemical techniques, such as linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), cyclic voltammetry (CV), and potentiometry, were used to identify the effect of crude oil during hydrogen production. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), mass spectrometry (MS), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were employed to discern the adsorption of crude oil onto the electrodes, quantify the gas fractions generated during the process and identify the functional groups present after the procedure, respectively. Also, optical microscopy was employed to follow the droplet size in the emulsion. The results show that using CQDs affects the Faradaic efficiency, which increases from 77% to 83% with the incorporation of CQDs. In the presence of CQDs, the effects generated by the presence of the oil are inhibited at low oil concentrations. On the contrary, hydrogen production increases by 10.0% (0.1 mL/min) with a faradaic efficiency of 83% and a half-cell efficiency of 41%, compared to the record obtained with the maximum concentration of emulsified crude oil (400 mg/L). The mean size of the initial emulsion droplets was 3.4 μm. At the end of the test, there was evidence of complete breakage of the emulsion due to the effect of the applied electric field. No evidence of adsorption of crude oil on graphite electrodes during electrolysis is observed based on the tests. It has been shown that green hydrogen production from crude oil production water is feasible due to the proposed disruptive electrolytes in the produced water, which inhibit the effect of oil content in the O/W emulsion. This allows the implementation of a new green energy production initiative aligned with the global goal of achieving net zero emissions (NZE) by 2050. The current investigation presents a prospective alternative for harnessing the 18 kW electrical energy potential employed within emulsion-breaking processes within a Colombian field for treatment of around 1000 bpd. This alternative offers a theoretical potential for hydrogen production, approximating 7.36 kW, thus representing a promising opportunity for practical field deployment. • CQDs in electrolysis enhance green hydrogen production efficiency from oilfield-produced water due to their conductive properties. • CQDs significantly increases Faradaic efficiency, inhibiting crude oil's negative effects on hydrogen generation. • Optimized electrolysis with CQDs result in 10% higher hydrogen production at high concentrations of emulsified crude oil. • CQDs mitigate crude oil's negative effects on the system, such as reduced conductivity and electrode degradation. • Gas analysis demonstrates the feasibility of converting oilfield production water into a valuable resource for green energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Produced waters are often treated in open lagoons where hydrogen sulfide (H2S) can off gas, posing a risk to human health and the environment. The aim of this study was to optimize a treatment process using hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to oxidize H2S while minimizing off gassing. Samples of produced water from West Texas and laboratory-prepared waters utilizing sodium sulfide (Na2S) or biogenic polysulfides were oxidized with H2O2 alone or in combination with copper or iron catalysts, sodium hydroxide (NaOH), or a commercial sulfide oxidizer, HydroPower Green™. Sulfur speciation was measured using Hach test kits for sulfide/sulfate/sulfite and Dräger tubes for headspace H2S. HydroPower Green™ (HPG) helped to reduce H2S in the headspace of water samples; some of this was pH related as NaOH also worked, but not as well as HPG. The dose of peroxide necessary to oxidize sulfides to sulfate is a function of the oxidation-reduction potential (Eh) of the water and total sulfide concentration as well as pH; approximately a 1–4:1 ratio of peroxide to sulfide concentration was needed to oxidize sulfidic waters of pH 7–10 with half-lives under 30 min. Both copper and iron catalysts reduce H2O2 demand and the half-life of H2S. Peracetic acid (PAA) and copper (II) sulfate pentahydrate (CuSO4, 5H2O) were explored as biocides for controlling sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRBs) that produce H2S. An AquaSnap (Hygenia) test kit was employed to monitor relative microbial activity in a wetland porewater containing H2S. Microbial regrowth occurred after a few days using the highest dose of PAA; these results showed that PAA was being used by bacteria as a carbon source even after the initial substantial reduction in the microbial activity. CuSO4, 5H2O at a dose of 1 ppm prevented microbial regrowth. The recommended treatment process from this research is determined by jar testing with H2O2, a base for pH control, a biocide, and possibly a metal catalyst or other co-oxidants in order to achieve oxidation of sulfides without H2S release or the precipitation of metal carbonates or oxides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Almost all research on natural attenuation and phytoremediation of sites contaminated with briny produced water has been conducted in temperate climates, however, there is a dearth of information on the use of tropical species for this purpose. It is within this context, that we investigated a spontaneously growing hypersaline spikerush from a contaminated site in southeast Mexico, to determine its soil salinity limits, the relationship between soil organic matter and salinity, and for preliminary documentation of floristic succession with Typha sp. for phytoremediation o f brine s pills. Soil was sampled (0 cm–20 cm) three times between 2018–2021, focusing on the end of the dry season (most critical period). The species tentatively identified as Eleocharis mutata was tolerant to soil hypersalinity (Electrical Conductivity: 125 dS/m) and appeared to generate a cyclic process of succession to recover areas with soil salinity levels higher than it could otherwise tolerate. A salinity gradient was found between the most heavily contaminated part of the site (“kill zone”, > 212 dS/m), the first Eleocharis sp. individuals (125 dS/m), slowly advancing through the main spikerush stand, and finally into a cattail stand (< 8.02 dS/m). Similarly, an inverse relationship between Soil Organic Matter content and soil salinity was observed. This is the first time this species has been identified with a brine spill, its salinity limits determined, and investigated for use in phytoremediation of this kind. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The treatment of produced water is a major challenge faced by oil and gas industries worldwide. As a result of the increase in industrial activities, the generation of produced water has increased significantly. The most commonly used method for produced water oil–water separation is de-oiling hydrocyclone technology due to its simple construction, compact design, easy maintenance, and high efficiency. A wide breadth of scientific research studies has been carried out on performance evaluation, design optimisation, geometric parametrisation, external interventions, etc., to enhance the performance of hydrocyclones. These studies mostly rely on either experimental data obtained from the field, in laboratories under a controlled environment, or the application of numerical techniques for oil-in-water separation. Considering the extensive research studies published on hydrocyclone technology, this study aims to provide a comprehensive review of recent technological advancements in hydrocyclone technology in order to identify key areas where scientific research efforts should be concentrated. This will help make well-informed decisions for strategic investments in this wide area of research. Furthermore, it will widen the scope of applicability of hydrocyclones in the industrial sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An composite adsorbent, Diatomite-KH560 was prepared by loading 7- (2, 3-epoxypropoxy)propytrimethoxysilane (KH560) on the surface of cheap and easily obtained diatomite, and its high-efficiency adsorption performance for iodide in aqueous solution was investigated. KH560 Was loaded on diatomite by immersion and hydrolysis, and contact time, temperature, pH, initial concentration and coexisting ions were investigated to evaluate the adsorption performance of Diatomite-KH560 for iodide. The result showed that Diatomite-KH560 with mild preparation conditions has high thermal stability, and the modification amount of KH560 is more than 13.3%. It takes a long time for Diatomite-KH560 to reach adsorption equilibrium for iodide, which may be controlled by several factors such as the diffusion of iodide in aqueous solution and the adsorption reaction rate on the adsorbent surface. The rate-controlling step is trans-formed into chemical adsorption process with the increase of temperature. In weak acid environment, the epoxy group on Diatomite-KH560 is protonated, forming positively charged adsorption sites, which adsorbs iodide through electrostatic attraction. According to the anion composition characteristics of brine, the effect of high concentration of chloride ion and trace amount of bromide ion and sulfate on the adsorption of iodide was investigated. It was found that the adsorption capacity of Diatomite-KH560 on iodide remained at 0.63 mg/g when the initial Cl/I reached 2 500 times. On the basis of the characterization results of EDS and FTIR, combined with the molecular structure of KH560, Diatomite-KH560 may achieve highly selective adsorption of iodide through the protonation of epoxy groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The conversion of raw grains to malt is a pivotal step in the beer production process. By germination, the grains produce enzymes necessary for the conversion of starch into sugars during the mashing process, but also cell wall constituents are broken down which aids in wort filtration. Further, storage proteins are converted into soluble peptides and amino acids important for yeast nutrition during fermentation. However, the performance of the malting process and the quality of malt produced is also significantly influenced by the active microbial communities that naturally colonise the barley grains. These diverse microbial communities have the potential to produce extracellular enzymes, phytohormones, mycotoxins, and exopolysaccharides, and also compete with the grains for oxygen. While microbes can contribute positively to the break-down of cell wall β-glucans and arabinoxylans, they can also negatively impact the final malt quality by production of gushing precursors, compounds leading to premature yeast flocculation (PYF) and mycotoxins. This review provides an overview of the current knowledge on the different microbial communities interacting with the barley grain on the field and during malt production, their influence on the quality of produced malt, and the brewing process. Further, current strategies to control the proliferation of detrimental microbial species during malting are presented, including a summary on recent techniques to identify, quantify and functionally characterise the barley malting microbiome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following water flooding, polymer flooding and alkali/surfactant/polymer (ASP) flooding have become the main measures to enhance oil recovery in mature oilfields. However, it is the fact that the development of mature oilfields has continuously entered the ultra-high water cut stage, the amount of produced water has increased year by year. The characteristics of water quality have become increasingly complex, posing challenges for green and efficient separation. Taking China's mature oilfield, Daqing Oilfield, as an example, gravitational sedimentation is a basic process for produced water treatment before filtration. The duration time has always been determined based on standardized design parameters, and the adjustment of duration time depends on experience. This paper distinguishes the characteristics of produced water, and the relationship between treatment performance and production conditions is comprehensively considered. The numerical simulation method is employed to optimize the duration time for gravitational sedimentation of produced water. For produced water with different characteristics of water flooding, polymer flooding and ASP flooding, the reasonable duration time for primary sedimentation is 5 h, 12 h and 14 h respectively, and the reasonable duration time for secondary sedimentation is 3 h, 8 h and 10 h respectively. This recommendation has been validated by experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the corrosion behavior of N80 and TP125V steels was delved firstly into produced water from shale gas fields containing CO2-O2. Moreover, the localized corrosion of these steels was investigated to elucidate the effects of aerobic and anoxic on steel corrosion. The results indicated that the corrosion rates of N80 and TP125V steels under aerobic conditions were lower compared to those in the presence of CO2-O2. Specifically, at temperature of 100 °C and with dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration of 4 mg/L in the CO2-O2 environment, the N80 and TP125V steels exhibited the highest corrosion rate, with values of 0.13 mm/y and 0.16 mm/y, respectively, as determined by specific weight loss measurements. Conversely, these rates decreased to 0.022 mm/y and 0.049 mm/y under aerobic conditions. Furthermore, severe localized corrosion of N80 and TP125V steels with a DO concentration of 4 mg/L was also observed in the CO2-O2 environment. Finally, it was evident that pitting corrosion is the predominant type of corrosion affecting N80 and TP125V steels in the produced water from shale gas fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Demand for natural gas continues to climb in the United States, having reached a record monthly high of 104.9 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) in November 2023. Hydraulic fracturing, a technique used to extract natural gas and oil from deep underground reservoirs, involves injecting large volumes of fluid, proppant, and chemical additives into shale units. This is followed by a “shut-in” period, during which the fracture fluid remains pressurized in the well for several weeks. The microbial processes that occur within the reservoir during this shut-in period are not well understood; yet, these reactions may significantly impact the structural integrity and overall recovery of oil and gas from the well. To shed light on this critical phase, we conducted an analysis of both pre-shut-in material alongside production fluid collected throughout the initial production phase at the Hydraulic Fracturing Test Site 2 (HFTS 2) located in the prolific Wolfcamp formation within the Permian Delaware Basin of west Texas, USA. Specifically, we aimed to assess the microbial ecology and functional potential of the microbial community during this crucial time frame. Prior analysis of 16S rRNA sequencing data through the first 35 days of production revealed a strong selection for a Clostridia species corresponding to a significant decrease in microbial diversity. Here, we performed a metagenomic analysis of produced water sampled on Day 33 of production. This analysis yielded three highquality metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs), one of which was a Clostridia draft genome closely related to the recently classified Petromonas tenebris. This draft genome likely represents the dominant Clostridia species observed in our 16S rRNA profile. Annotation of the MAGs revealed the presence of genes involved in critical metabolic processes, including thiosulfate reduction, mixed acid fermentation, and biofilm formation. These findings suggest that this microbial community has the potential to contribute to well souring, biocorrosion, and biofouling within the reservoir. Our research provides unique insights into the early stages of production in one of the most prolific unconventional plays in the United States, with important implications for well management and energy recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water is a limited resource in Arctic watersheds with continuous permafrost because freezing conditions in winter and the impermeability of permafrost limit storage and connectivity between surface water and deep groundwater. However, groundwater can still be an important source of surface water in such settings, feeding springs and large aufeis fields that are abundant in cold regions and generating runoff when precipitation is rare. Whether groundwater is sourced from suprapermafrost taliks or deeper regional aquifers will impact water availability as the Arctic continues to warm and thaw. Previous research is ambiguous about the role of deep groundwater, leading to uncertainty regarding Arctic water availability and changing water resources. We analyzed chemistry and residence times of spring, stream, and river waters in the continuous permafrost zone of Alaska, spanning the mountains to the coastal plain. Water chemistry and age tracers show that surface waters are predominately sourced from recent precipitation and have short (<50 y) subsurface residence times. Remote sensing indicates trends in the areal extent of aufeis over the last 37 y, and correlations between aufeis extent and previous year summer temperature. Together, these data indicate that surface waters in continuous permafrost regions may be impacted by short flow paths and shallow suprapermafrost aquifers that are highly sensitive to climatic and hydrologic change over annual timescales. Despite the lack of connection to regional aquifers, continued warming and permafrost thaw may promote deepening of the shallow subsurface aquifers and creation of shallow taliks, providing some resilience to Arctic freshwater ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Litopenaeus vannamei, a highly adaptable shrimp species known for its growth, thrives in environmental conditions with proper water quality. However, salinity stress poses a significant challenge, compromising shrimp survival and growth. To optimize shrimp feed, the inclusion of alginate and Spirulina sp. offers benefits such as enhanced growth and resistance to environmental stress. This research aims to assess the impact of adding Spirulina sp., alginate, and their combination on the survival rate, resistance to the salinity shock test, and growth of L. vannamei. In this study, a completely randomized design (CRD) method with nine different feed doses was used. The treatments included control, supplementation of Alg 1 (alginate 1 g/kg feed), Alg 3 (alginate 3 g/kg feed), Alg 5 (alginate 5 g/kg feed), Sp 3 (spirulina 3 mg/kg feed), Sp 6 (spirulina 6 mg/kg feed), Sp 9 (spirulina 9 mg/kg feed), AS 1+1 (alginate 1 g/kg feed + spirulina 1 mg/kg feed), AS 2+3 (alginate 2 g/kg feed + spirulina 3 mg/kg feed), and AS 3+5 (alginate 3 g/kg feed + spirulina 5 mg/kg feed). The supplementation of feed was given during the fourteen-day rearing period. The results of the study show that the supplementation of Sp 9 (spirulina 9 mg/kg feed) led to a significant growth (α = 0.05). All treatments supplemented with alginate and/or Spirulina sp. water extract had a significant effect (α = 0.05) on the resistance to the salinity shock test. The different treatments in L. vannamei feed supplementation significantly influenced (α = 0.05) shrimp survival. Polysaccharides and antioxidant properties in alginate and Spirulina sp. have an important role in increasing the growth and resistance to salinity shock of L. vannamei. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gravity settling is a widely employed technology that removes oil from produced water in oilfields. However, with the transition of reservoir development to low-permeability reservoirs, conventional produced water settling tanks face limitations in the treatment efficiency and coagulant dosage. This study presents an innovative approach that optimizes sedimentation tank structures and integrates micro-vortex flow technology to enhance coagulation and flocculation. Through chemical dosage experiments, comparative experiments, and long-term observation, the micro-vortex flow reactor demonstrates a 9.4% increase in oil removal efficiency while reducing the coagulant dosage by 30.0%. The MOR equipment achieved a 20.5% higher oil removal efficiency than conventional methods while maintaining effluent oil and suspended solids below 20 mg/L. The long-term observation experiment of MOR equipment further highlights oil removal efficiency of 94.2% and the micro-vortex reactor's excellent anti-pollution performance. The MOR equipment significantly reduces the land occupancy area by over 50% compared to conventional methods, thanks to the implementation of micro-vortex flow technology that effectively addresses the limitations associated with traditional settling tanks. This study contributes to advancing efficient and sustainable practices in waterflooding reservoirs, particularly for meeting stringent standards of water injection in low-permeability oilfields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), understanding the relationship between feed load and its impact on water quality and overall shrimp health is important. This study utilised an indoor marine RAS for the intensive culture of Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei. The shrimp were stocked into the grow‐out system at an average body weight of 0.25 g and a stocking density of 347 shrimp/m3. Water quality parameters of temperature, salinity, total dissolved solids, pH, and dissolved oxygen (DO) were measured twice daily. Total ammonia nitrogen (TAN), nitrite and nitrate were measured once weekly or when needed. Sampling was conducted to calculate the daily feed ratio based on the total estimated biomass. Mortality was recorded as a means of evaluating the overall shrimp health. The data obtained were analysed using Pearson correlation (r) analysis and multi‐linear regression with a significant difference accepted p < 0.05. Correlation (r) established relationships among the water quality parameters, feed load and mortality. The TAN level of 24.20 mg/L was recorded when the feed load increased by 81.2% resulting in the mortality of 40% of shrimp. A negative correlation between TAN and DO resulted in a synergistic effect causing a massive consumption of DO in the water, reducing its availability to the shrimp and leading to a drastic change in the shrimp's behaviour. Overfeeding can lead to an accumulation of uneaten feed and waste, causing ammonia spikes and oxygen depletion in the water. Monitoring and adjusting feed rates accordingly can help maintain optimal water conditions for shrimp growth and health. Therefore, it is essential to use appropriate feed rates in recirculating systems because feed load can influence water quality parameters that can be detrimental to shrimp culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oil-produced waters are the most abundant wastewater stream in oil exploration and production, and their treatment is one of the most expensive processes in the petroleum industry. Since one of the peculiar characteristics of oil-produced waters is the presence of high salinity, developing an effective phytoremediation system for this type of wastewater first requires the selection of salt-tolerant plants. In this contribution, Halocnemum strobilaceum (Pallas) M. Bieb. and Suaeda fruticosa (L.) Forsk. were tested in experiments with mesocosms trials at different saline concentrations and hydrocarbons to study the plants' tolerance and the hydrocarbon degradation capacity. The experimental campaign showed species-specific results: H. strobilaceum showed better tolerance to salt and hydrocarbons, and Suaeda showed better performance as hydrocarbon degradation. The metagenomic analysis carried out on the roots of the plants at the end of the test highlighted significant speciation of the microbial communities, especially evident at the family level. The differences were detected when comparing the treatments and the two plant species. The Pseudomonadaceae family was generally predominant in mesocosms with Suaeda, whereas the Halomonadaceae family was dominant in those with H. strobilaceum. In parallel, some strains showing good potential for promoting plant growth were isolated. In conclusion, the experimentation allowed to identify the operating conditions for exploiting the technology as a sustainable alternative to consolidated technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geothermal energy has abundant reserves, is clean and environmentally friendly, and is an important alternative energy source for future oil and gas resources. However, during the development of dry hot rock geothermal energy, scaling in hydraulic fractures can easily lead to a decrease in water injection and thermal recovery capacity, affecting the effectiveness of thermal recovery. By comparing the differences in the temperature of the produced liquid in the enhanced dry hot rock geothermal system before and after scaling, the impact of scaling on geothermal development was analyzed, thereby proving the necessity of scale removal in the dry hot rock development process. The influence of different factors on the geochemical response characteristics of dry hot rocks during the descaling process using pH modified fluids was explored. The research results indicate that the generation of precipitates such as calcium carbonate in cracks can lead to a gradual decrease in the temperature of the produced liquid during geothermal development. During the experiment, the temperature of the extracted liquid decreased from the initial 178°C to the final 90°C. In addition, when the pH of the injected liquid is 4.5, the generation of precipitates such as calcium carbonate in hydraulic fractures is minimal, resulting in better geothermal development and the highest temperature of the produced liquid. However, when designing the pH value of the injection solution, it is still necessary to consider the corrosive and destructive effects of the injection solution's acidity and alkalinity on the development system. Finally, due to the sufficient heat exchange between injected water and dry hot rock at lower injection rates, the temperature of produced water will be higher. However, the effectiveness of geothermal development will deteriorate with the increase of injection rate, so it is more reasonable to design the injection rate of injected water at 6 L/min. Research can provide theoretical basis and technical support for the efficient development of dry hot rock geothermal resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this work is to study the influence of oil and surfactant present in produced water on the membrane distillation and membrane crystallization performance. The latter is evaluated in terms of permeate flux, quality of permeate and sodium chloride crystallization kinetics. Polypropylene and Hyflon AD40H/PVDF composite membranes with 0.2 μ m pore size were used in the investigation. The tests were carried out in direct contact configuration using two synthetic feed solutions: the first one without oil and surfactant, and the second one with oil and surfactant. The achieved results showed a permeate flux reduction of 20 and 40% for PP and AD40H, respectively, in membrane distillation and of 35% in membrane crystallization. These results may be attributed to the interaction between the salts and surfactant, which led to the deterioration of the membrane performance. Despite this, high salt rejection factors greater than 99.9% and total carbon rejections ranging between 80 and 90% indicated the good potential of membrane distillation technology for the treatment of produced water. Moreover, good quality crystals and high total water recovery factor (97%) were achieved using the membrane crystallization process. Nevertheless, the presence of oil and surfactant in the feed caused an increase in the induction time compared to the system without oil and surfactant. In addition, in the performed experiments, simple physical cleaning with distillate water was sufficient to recover the initial trans-membrane flux of the membranes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most common problems encountered in the oil industry is the microbiologically induced corrosion (MIC) of steel equipment by the produced water (PW). In this aspect, PW sample, which is known to contain microorganisms, was taken from Adıyaman oil field and used in corrosion tests of N80 tubing steel. Two different laboratory scale systems, test (with non-sterile PW) and control (with sterile PW), were set up and operated at 70°C over 720 h. For corrosion analysis, the coupons were removed from the laboratory-scale systems at certain time intervals and, gravimetric and electrochemical analyses were carried out. The surface of the coupons was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The corrosion rates of the test coupons obtained from gravimetric analyses were higher than the control ones during the experiment, and the test coupons were 1.46 times more corroded at the end of the experiment. Additionally, it was determined that the current values of the test coupons were significantly higher than those in the control system (p<0.05). The results of corrosion analyses pointed out that N80 steel was corroded microbiologically. SEM analysis showed that microorganisms were present among the corrosion products. The corrosion data obtained from the control system also indicated that the PW was aggressive for N80 steel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Produced water (PW) presents a significant challenge as a complex wastewater stream, necessitating thorough treatment prior to disposal or further reuse. This study is dedicated to the assessment, reproduction and upgrading of literature‐based preparation protocols for synthetic PW at the tertiary treatment stage; more specifically those methods utilizing high‐pressure homogenizers and ultrasonication. The objective was to produce synthetic model water that can be employed as a standardized controllable medium for optimization experiments of PW treatment techniques. This synthetic medium should facilitate the investigation of specific challenges associated with PW tertiary treatment, independent of the different and often unpredictable composition of real PW. The refined methods were modified for the application in lab‐scale research investigating the use of membrane filtration as tertiary treatment step. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a method for engineers and water treatment chemists to predict mineral scale deposition and its inhibition in saline oil wells during water injection during different phases of well life. The predictive study was explained by the DownHOLE SAT program based on the analytical results of the formation water samples taken from the Hassi Messaoud oil field and the Albian water used in the injection operation which provide physical and chemical conditions for formation of salt deposits of all types due to the incompatibility between these waters at the molecular level, which requires treatment of injection water in the well by the deposit inhibitor AD32 to avoid this dilemma. The analysis of samples from selected wells (HGA8, MD411, MD525, MD226, MD625, and MDZ556) for the period of 2010 to 2018 showed that treatment effectiveness is influenced by several factors and operational conditions such as water mixing proportions and Temperature variations. The research provides for various types, Forms and cases of mineral deposits but the main emphasis is on the more dangerous deposition. (Barium Sulphate BaSO4), plus a few other deposits to showcase the results with, 2D and 3D graphs of Saturation Level and Momentary Excess in terms of mixing Injection water with Formation water and Temperature manipulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential of B20 cluster decorated with alkali metals (AM = Li, Na, and K) and alkaline earth metals (AEM = Ca, Mg, and Be) to adsorb hydrogen molecules is investigated using density functional theory (DFT). The Bader's topological parameters suggest the presence of non-bonded interaction between the bare structures and H2 molecules. Global reactivity descriptor values confirm that the structures remain stable even after the adsorption of H2 molecules. The results indicate that Na adorned B20 (B20Na2) can store up to 12H2 molecules, with a hydrogen storage capacity of 8.33 wt% and an average adsorption energy is 0.127 eV/H2. The findings suggest that B20 cluster decorated with AM and AEM have the ability to be a promising hydrogen storage material. Additionally, to gain insights into the adsorption and desorption behaviors of H2 molecules, ADMP molecular dynamics simulations methods were performed at room temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of the demulsifier composition on the destruction of local oil-water emulsions was studied in this work. One of the urgent problems in the development of deposits is to increase the efficiency of the preparation of hydrocarbons in the fields. The solution of this problem makes it possible to significantly increase the degree of oil preparation, reduce the loss of hydrocarbons with drainage waters, thereby improve the environment and bring additional profit to the enterprise. A complex of theoretical and experimental studies was used, consisting in generalization and analysis of literary data, as well as by analogy, modeling, quantitative and qualitative observation, laboratory tests, conducting a multifactorial experiment, data processing using methods of mathematical statistics. Information processing tools based on computer software products were used. The results of laboratory tests of oil-water emulsion, physico-chemical analysis of water composition, new chemical reagents-demulsifiers recommended for field testing are presented. It can be concluded, based on the research conducted, that the demulsifier EASY-DE03-15 is the most effective reagent for dehydration of oil-water emulsions and desalination of MIX samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of the serious problem of corrosion and scaling of downhole tubing in deep coalbed methane wells in the Daning-Jixian block, the cause analysis of corrosion and scaling were carried out based on the composition tests of produced gas, produced water, and corrosion and scale formation products. Morevoer, a composite corrosion and scale inhibitor was selected based on the corresponding mechanism astudy. The results show that the Ca2+ mass concentration in the produced water of deep coalbed methane wells is high (4 069. 88-56 667. 51 mgµL-1), which favors the formation of CaCO3 with HCO3-. In the process of gas reservoir development, the formation pressure gradually decreases, resulting in the continuous release of CO2 from the water during the generation of CaCO3, which promotes the generation of CaCO3. In addition, the reduced formation pressure leads to accelerated evaporation of the produced water in the wellbore, facilitating soluble salt extraction. The high partial pressure of CO2 in produced gas (0. 16-0. 99 MPa) makes it difficult to form effective FeCO3 corrosion passivation film on the surface of downhole tubing. In addition, the diffusion of metal ions under the scale layer is difficult, promoting Cl - in the produced water to migrate into the scale layer to maintain charge balance and resulting in accelerated corrosion of downhole tubing. The selected composite corrosion and scale inhibitor exhibits high performance. Under the condition of 70 °C, when the mass concentration is 300 mgµL-1, the scale inhibition rate is 91. 39%, the static corrosion rate is 0. 058 mm•a-1, and the dynamic corrosion inhibition rate is greater than 90%. After injecting the composite corrosion and scale inhibitor, no obvious scaling phenomenon is observed in the produced water of the test well, and the Fe3+ mass concentration decreases from 281. 93-378. 60 mgµL-1 to 33. 90 mgµL-1. The pump inspection cycle is extended from 139 d to 327 d. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two pilot-scale desalination systems employing carbon modified nano-sized, zero valent metals (n-ZVMs) were manufactured and tested to determine (1) the degree to which high-salt water (20 to 130 mS) could be desalinated and (2) if this degree of desalination could be maintained throughout an extended treatment period. The two pilot systems (referred to as Generation 1 and Generation 2) consisted of parallel lines of four individual reactors in series, a settling tank and an activated carbon cell at the end of each reactor line. The system capacity was 300 gal in Generation 1 and 600 gal in Generation 2 with a total hydraulic residence time of 6 h per reactor line (one hour per cell/tank). A slurry of n-ZVMs manufactured from mixtures of ferrous sulfate and green or black tea extract was introduced in the first reactor on each line to yield approximately 5 to 45 g of nano metal per 100 L of influent salt water based on dosing experiments required to achieve maximum salt removal at each of the three influent salt contents used, 28 mS, 44 mS and 123 mS. Once dosing was set, continuous runs (14 days, 23 days and 9 days) were carried out. The results demonstrated that maximum removal occurred with 10 g/100 L of salt for the 30 mS salt solution, 16 g/100 L of salt for the 40 mS influent water and 40 g/100 L for the 130 mS influent. Salt removal (expressed as Na+ and Cl− removed) approached 78% for the 30 mS influent and 41 mS influent, respectively, while removal for the highest concentration salt influent (130 mS) approached 81%. Continuous operation over the extended time-period showed no significant decrease in salt removal with a typical day to day variation of no more than 10%, suggesting that this approach to desalination could rapidly provide usable water from saline aquifers, seawater or even produced water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Common Agricultural Policy has supported a less intense use of fertilizers and chemicals in agriculture in the next five years (2023 – 2027) because of the European Green Deal proposals that are environmental protection-oriented. The most common consequence of input reduction in farms was a direct effect to the technical efficiency in farm. The main purpose of this research was to assess the technical efficiency in a sample of Italian farm part of the Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) dataset using the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) input-oriented approach and by the machine learning approach such as the iterative decision tree evaluating which quantity of chemical fertilizer in terms of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) has to be reduced to improve the technical efficiency. Results have pointed out that between a reduction of chemical fertilizers and technical efficiency there is a fundamental link and the drop in chemical fertilizers has impacted the technical efficiency in Italian farms part of FADN dataset. Based on these results emerged the need of putting into practice some actions towards farmers to compensate the reduction in technical efficiency and the produced output in the productive process as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial communities have long been observed in oil reservoirs, where the subsurface conditions are major drivers shaping their structure and functions. Furthermore, anthropogenic activities such as water flooding during oil production can affect microbial activities and community compositions in oil reservoirs through the injection of recycled produced water, often associated with biocides. However, it is still unclear to what extent the introduced chemicals and microbes influence the metabolic potential of the subsurface microbiome. Here we investigated an onshore oilfield in Germany (Field A) that undergoes secondary oil production along with biocide treatment to prevent souring and microbially induced corrosion (MIC). With the integrated approach of 16 S rRNA gene amplicon and shotgun metagenomic sequencing of water-oil samples from 4 production wells and 1 injection well, we found differences in microbial community structure and metabolic functions. In the injection water samples, amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) belonging to families such as Halanaerobiaceae , Ectothiorhodospiraceae, Hydrogenophilaceae, Halobacteroidaceae, Desulfohalobiaceae, and Methanosarcinaceae were dominant, while in the production water samples, ASVs of families such as Thermotogaceae, Nitrospiraceae, Petrotogaceae, Syntrophaceae, Methanobacteriaceae, and Thermoprotei were also dominant. The metagenomic analysis of the injection water sample revealed the presence of C1-metabolism, namely, genes involved in formaldehyde oxidation. Our analysis revealed that the microbial community structure of the production water samples diverged slightly from that of injection water samples. Additionally, a metabolic potential for oxidizing the applied biocide clearly occurred in the injection water samples indicating an adaptation and buildup of degradation capacity or resistance against the added biocide. • Integrated approach of 16S rRNA gene amplicon and shotgun metagenomic sequencing of water-oil samples. • Differences in microbial community structure and metabolic functions between production wells and injection wells. • Metabolic potential for oxidizing the applied biocide in the injection water samples. • Insights of in situ formaldehyde oxidation in oil reservoirs well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of deoiling hydrocyclone systems as the downstream of three-phase gravity separator (TPGS) systems is one of the most commonly deployed produced water treatment processes in offshore oil and gas production. Due to the compact system's complexity and tailor-made features, it is always challenging to develop some optimally coordinated control solution for the coupled hydrocyclone and TPGS systems. It is obvious that coordinated control can better fulfill legislative discharge regulation by robustly maintaining high separation efficiencies. This paper presents a new control solution for a set of integrated hydrocyclone and TPGS systems by applying an improved multi-variable model reference adaptive control (MV-MRAC) approach with the aim of achieving both asymptotic output tracking and unknown disturbance rejection. A robust MV-MRAC controller design is proposed based on a control parameterization derived from a factorization of a high-frequency gain matrix K p = L D S as a product of three matrices, where L represents unity lower triangular, D = s i g n (D) represents diagonal, and S represents positive definite, and a teaching–learning-based optimization (TLBO) algorithm for optimizing the adaption rates. The developed solution is analyzed and compared with a commonly deployed PI control solution on a model that is derived from a lab-scale produced water treatment process. This simulation study demonstrates the promising potential of the proposed control solution compared with the currently deployed PI control solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous treatment modalities have been employed over the years to eradicate bacterial communities in industrial wastewater. Oxidizing agents and chemical additives, such as ozone, permanganate, glutaraldehyde, and chlorine, are effective in treating microbial contaminants that are typically found in domestic wastewater. However, the chemical complexity of water produced from fracking requires novel approaches, because the microbes have developed mechanisms to overcome typical disinfectants. In this work, we test the effectiveness of bacteriophages for the eradication of two model bacteria from produced water: Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus megaterium. These bacteria were grown in low salinity produced water and exposed to their corresponding phage. Overall, the total inactivation of the P. aeruginosa population was achieved, as well as the inactivation of B. megaterium. These promising results provide a potentially useful tool for bacterial elimination in overall PW treatment, at an industrial scale. Particularly, since phage treatment is a rapid and cost-effective alternative. Moreover, these results fall within the objectives proposed as part of the sustainable development goals adopted worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Produced water (PW) is the largest by-product that comes out of the oil wells during oil and gas (O&G) field exploration. PW contains high-salt concentration along with other organic and inorganic components; therefore, PW must be treated before disposal. Electrocoagulation (EC) is an effective treatment method to remove pollutants from PW which has been the focus of many experimental studies; however, a mathematical model specifically for PW treatment by EC has not been developed yet. In this work, a comprehensive mathematical model has been developed to elucidate the role of EC operating parameters on the PW treatment performance and determine the mechanism for COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand) removal. The present model considers and identifies the dominant Al-hydroxy complex species and their contribution to the COD removal from synthetic PW samples by estimating their rate constants and comparing their magnitudes and investigates multi-scale modelling of the EC reactor. The influence of working parameters such as current density, initial pH, interelectrode distance, mixing speed and solution volume of PW on Al coagulant production and COD removal was investigated and modelled. The study estimates the rate constants of the reactions taking place for COD removal by EC process and by comparing their magnitudes identifies the dominant reactions and coagulant species involved in the process. The mathematical model prediction of COD removal fits well with the experimental data at 10 mA cm−2, 15 mA cm−2 and 20 mA cm−2 current density with R2 value of 0.96, 0.97 and 0.92, respectively and for dissolved Al concentration R2 value of 0.96, 0.99, and 0.97, respectively. The simulated results reproduced a good fit at initial pH of 6.1, 7.3 and 8.6 with R2 value of 0.92, 0.96 and 0.98, respectively for COD removal. The mathematical model and the experimental results showed the role of dominant Al-hydroxy complex species such as Al OH 2 + , Al OH 2 + , Al OH 3 , Al 2 OH 2 + 4 and Al OH 4 - in controlling the COD removal process. Under different operating conditions considered in the study, the model also predicted the COD removal performance of the EC reactors at different reactor volumes with R2 value of 0.96 for higher solution volume and larger reactor. The model presented and rate constants determined in the study will provide a theoretical basis for designing, scaling up and operating the EC reactor for oil-field PW treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-term biological time series are essential to evaluate previous responses of organisms to alterations in the environment. Biochronological methods based on archival fish otoliths allow setting such time series, but their predictive potential as proxies of past environmental conditions is still underexploited. In this study, we reconstructed growth variation in European sprat (Sprattus sprattus) in the Baltic Sea from 1956 to 2020 based on measurements of the archived otoliths. We used otolith annual increment widths as a proxy of fish somatic growth. We showed significant negative relationships between sprat growth and sprat spawning stock biomass (SSB) associated with strong intraspecific competition for limited food resources. We also identified a link between sprat growth and water salinity—indicator of the ecosystem's hydrological situation. For the first time, we estimated the SSB prior to the period of available historical data based on the otolith-derived information on the past growth variation. This estimation was based on the strong relationships between SSB and fish growth, complemented with temperature and salinity variables as predictors (R2 = 0.62). A model trained on at least 40 years of data from the more recent past allows us to robustly back-estimate SSB. This study provides new multidecadal data, giving insights into environmental factors affecting the growth of Baltic sprat, and demonstrates the potential of otolith-based biochronology for the provisioning of independent indices of the historical fish stock size. The proposed methodological approach broadens the portfolio of possible applications of the biochronology time series to indicate past changes in the aquatic environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Produced water is the main waste stream in the oil and gas sector, with significantly greater concentrations of hydrocarbons, heavy metals, and other contaminants. Several works and technologies were developed to reuse the produced water in many applications including drilling and completion fluids. However, in general, a pretreatment is required. According to our knowledge, the reuse of produced water in non-aqueous drilling is still not reported. Therefore, this work proposed the formulation of olefin-based drilling fluids containing between 20-40% of untreated produced water. Through factorial experimental design, the influence of produced water, emulsifier, and viscosifier on the properties of the formulated emulsions was investigated. Our results show that produced water without treatment can be used as an aqueous phase for olefin-based drilling fluids, with the best formulation being the test that has RO/A = 60/40, emulsifier concentration of 14.26 kg/m³ and viscosifier concentration of 2.85 kg/m³. The well-cleaning properties of the proposed formulation were evaluated through numerical simulation in a well with high inclination. The results showed that the hole cleaning was not affected by using untreated produced water in the fluid formulation. The results presented here open a new possibility to reuse produced water in drilling operations without performance loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Petroleum-produced water is the primary effluent generated during the oil extraction process, presenting high flow rates, and containing a series of chemical components that are harmful to the environment, such as dissolved manganese. The proof of metrological compatibility between laboratories and different test methods or techniques is an analytical challenge when complying with environmental laws and regulations, which is the aim of this study. The first step of this study was to compare the results of manganese content in real test samples of produced water between some laboratories that used different test methods, that is, flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Based on one-way analysis of variance, systematic errors were found. The following step was to visit a specific lab, where one could confirm the relevance of the wavelength parameters, operating conditions for the view configuration, and effects of the saline matrices. Finally, a compatibility assessment between the reference laboratory and a new laboratory, which implemented and validated its analytical methodology based on these analytical adjustments, and the experiences and lessons learned in the previous step, was undertaken by a paired t-test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To meet the extensive demand for lithium (Li) for rechargeable batteries, it is crucial to enhance Li production by diversifying its resources. Recent studies have found that produced water from shale reservoirs contains various organic and inorganic components, including a significant amount of Li. In this study, findings from hydrothermal reaction experiments were analyzed to fully understand the release of Li from organic-rich shale rock. Subsequently, numerical algorithms were developed for both pore-scale and continuum-scale models to simulate the long-term behavior of Li in shale brines. The experimental conditions considered four different hydrothermal solutions, including the solutions of KCl, MgCl2, CaCl2, and NaCl with various concentrations under the temperature of 130 °C, 165 °C, and 200 °C. The release of Li from shale rock into fluid was regarded as a chemical interaction of cation exchange between rock and fluid. The reactive transport pore-scale and upscaled continuum-scale models were developed by coupling the chemical reaction model of Li interaction between rock and fluid. The model was first implemented to investigate the release and transport of Li in the pore scale. Continuum-scale properties, such as effective diffusivity coefficients and Li release rate, were obtained as the field-averaged pore-scale modeling results. These properties were used as the input data for the upscaled continuum-scale simulation. The findings of this study are expected to provide new insight into the production of Li from shale brines by elucidating the release, fate, and transport of Li in subsurface formations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Produced water (PW) generated by Australian offshore oil and gas activities is typically discharged to the ocean after treatment. These complex mixtures of organic and inorganic compounds can pose significant environmental risk to receiving waters, if not managed appropriately. Oil and gas operators in Australia are required to demonstrate that environmental impacts of their activity are managed to levels that are as low as reasonably practicable, for example, through risk assessments comparing predicted no‐effect concentrations (PNECs) with predicted environmental concentrations of PW. Probabilistic species sensitivity distribution (SSD) approaches are increasingly being used to derive PW PNECs and subsequently calculating dilutions of PW (termed "safe" dilutions) required to protect a nominated percentage of species in the receiving environment (e.g., 95% and 99% or PC95 and PC99, respectively). Limitations associated with SSDs include fitting a single model to small (six to eight species) data sets, resulting in large uncertainty (very wide 95% confidence limits) in the region associated with PC99 and PC95 results. Recent advances in SSD methodology, in the form of model averaging, claim to overcome some of these limitations by applying the average model fit of multiple models to a data set. We assessed the advantages and limitations of four different SSD software packages for determining PNECs for five PWs from a gas and condensate platform off the North West Shelf of Australia. Model averaging reduced occurrences of extreme uncertainty around PC95 and PC99 values compared with single model fitting and was less prone to the derivation of overly conservative PC99 and PC95 values that resulted from lack of fit to single models. Our results support the use of model averaging for improved robustness in derived PNEC and subsequent "safe" dilution values for PW discharge management and risk assessment. In addition, we present and discuss the toxicity of PW considering the paucity of such information in peer‐reviewed literature. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:498–517. © 2023 Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC). Key Points: For produced water (PW) toxicity data sets with eight species, model averaging was advantageous over single model fitting by reducing occurrences of very wide 95% confidence limits around PC95 and PC99 values and were less prone to derivation of overly conservative PC99 and PC95 values.The two model averaging software packages that we assessed were competitive contenders for use as alternatives to Burrlioz in the Australian context, and either would be appropriate for use with the case study PW data sets.Our findings strongly support the use of model averaging over single‐distribution model fitting to derive predicted no‐effect concentration values for PW discharges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article studies the effect of nanosized agents on the chemical and radionuclide content of the produced water. It has been demonstrated that there is a correlation between the radionuclide content of oil and water produced from the oil and gas fields of the country and the total salinity of the produced water. To this end, the contents of the nanocomposites proposed are shared in this issue along with the established effect on the radionuclide content of the produced water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a Ceramic Membrane‐based Produced Water Treatment Technology and its application to water samples from Al‐Ain (Abu Dhabi Emirate, United Arab Emirates). The samples were collected during the summer of 2022 from Ain Fayda (lake water) and Al‐Ain cement factory (groundwater). This study investigates the effectiveness of the ceramic membrane for treating water samples and removing solid particles. A dead‐end filtration mode with a filtration flux of 3 m3/m2/d was used. For the Ain Fayda Lake water sample, the transmembrane pressure during filtration reached 120 kPa (temperature adjusted to 25°C); air blowing was used to reduce the transmembrane pressure to around 70 kPa and Total Suspended Solids were reduced from 1.4 to <1 mg/L during 160 min of filtration. For the Al‐Ain cement factory water sample, the transmembrane pressure during filtration reached 160 kPa (temperature adjusted to 25°C); air blowing reduced the transmembrane pressure to around 65 kPa and the Total Suspended Solids from 9.1 to <1 mg/L during 130 min of filtration. Both water samples belong to the Na‐Cl water type. Overall, this work shows the effectiveness of the Ceramic Membrane‐based Produced Water Treatment Technology for reducing Total Suspended Solids in sampled waters; thus, we recommend this approach for treating surface waters in Al‐Ain to improve the environment and possible usage in agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Free radical polymerization was selected to obtain a promising copolymer scale inhibitor IA‐AM‐SAS with good water solubility and temperature and salt resistance, which is suitable for the treatment of surface pipeline water in oil fields, using itaconic acid (IA), acrylamide (AM), and sodium acrylsulfonate (SAS) as the monomers. The structure of the synthesized copolymer was verified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance hydrogen spectroscopy. Thermogravimetric results showed that the copolymer does not undergo significant thermal degradation at temperatures below 356°C, indicating that the copolymer has good thermal stability. The molecular weights of the polymers at different monomer ratios were measured using gel permeation chromatography and the relationship between the molecular weights and scale inhibition performance was discussed. The results showed that the scale inhibition effect was best when the monomer molar ratio n(IA): n(AM): n(SAS) was 0.5:2:1.5 and the number of average molecular weight of the prepared copolymer was 7712 g/mol, and the inhibition efficiency of CaCO3 was 84.02% when IA‐AM‐SAS was at a concentration of 30 mg L−1, and the inhibition rate was measured by the standard of static scale inhibition test in the oilfield measured. The range of conditions (PH, Ca2+ concentration, water temperature, and time) of the static scale inhibition test was then expanded using a one‐way controlled variable experiment to explore the performance of IA‐AM‐SAS scale inhibitors under different water quality conditions. The scale inhibition mechanism was explored by scanning electron microscopy, x‐ray diffraction, and x‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Briefly, the combination of multiple functional groups enables IA‐AM‐SAS to be applied in complex and challenging environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wastewater generated as a result of extracting oil and gas from subterranean reservoirs is known as produced water. There are suspended solids, dissolved solids, organic and inorganic compounds, emulsified oil, and other substances. Untreated produced water may have a harmful impact on the ecology. In this study, waste from Coronavirus Face Masks was used as an adsorbent dosage for produced water adsorption discharged from the south Oil Company – Basra. In each trial, a 250 ml beaker held 100 ml of generated water, temperature (25, 35 and 50)°C, adsorbent dosage (2, 5 and 10)g, Investigations were also conducted on contact duration (30, 60, and 90) minutes, pH at (2, 4, 6, and 8), and mixer rotational speed (200 rpm). The ideal parameters for removing 97 percent of the oil were determined to be 25°C, pH 8, 5 g of adsorbent, and 90 min of contact time using a generic model built from the experimental data. Other oil removal equilibrium isotherm models did not adequately account for the experimental results, as did the Langmuir equation. The most common type of adsorption used in kinetics research is pseudo-first-order adsorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In offshore platforms, elevated costs due to effluent quantity, logistics, space limitation, and availability of solvents hinder produced water treatment, leading petrochemical industries to develop feasible backup strategies to create a sustainable treatment of this byproduct. This context motivates the present study's proposal to use diesel oil in offshore facilities as onboard fuel to remove naphthenic acids (model compound of the dissolved organic fraction) through liquid-liquid extraction. Results achieved out in a separation funnel using synthetic produced water ([cyclohexanecarboxylic naphthenic acid] 0 = 500 mg/L) and diesel as an extracting solvent (10%) present high removal efficiencies of about 60% of the cyclohexanecarboxylic naphthenic acid present in synthetic water produced at pH 2% and 42% at pH 4. The characterization analysis of the diesel oil after the liquid-liquid extraction process indicates that it is suitable for reuse as fuel within the offshore platform dispensing further treatments. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a flat sheet ceramic membrane experimental device was constructed, and the thermodynamics of membrane fouling interface was studied for oilfield produced water. The flux of ceramic membrane in three kinds of model solutions were measured with time, as well as the surface tension, contact Angle and Zeta potential of solid. The thermodynamic mechanism of membrane fouling interface combined with XDLVO theory were explored for three kinds of model solutions. The thermodynamic study of the interface of ceramic plate membrane shows that the total interaction energy between membrane and oil droplets decreases with the increase of the distance between two interfaces at initial stage of membrane fouling, and finally transforms from the mutual attraction to the mutual repulsion. The total interaction energy between reservoir and oil droplet is shown as mutual attraction, and the total interaction energy decreases with the increase of the distance between reservoir and oil droplet interface. The zeta potential of crude oil was affected by salinity to some extent. The electrostatic shielding effect of the salt ions leads to a decrease in the ζ-potential of the three solutions. They are in the order: model solution A > model solution B > model solution C. This leads to a decrease in the electrostatic interaction (EL). And since the oil layer has the same composition as the oil droplets, the EL interactions in the three solutions can behave as mutual repulsion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A massive volume of produced water (PW) generated in the process of oil extraction must be treated effectively due to its threat to the ecosystems and human health. Different biological treatment technologies have been used in wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) systems to treat PW. However, their influence on treatment performance has not been investigated. In this study, three PW treatment plants (PWTPs) with different treatment technologies were compared in the following aspects: microbial community structure and assembly, functional genes, and the spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). The results indicated that different biological treatment technologies led to the variations in the diversity and composition of the microbial community. Phylogenetic bin-based null model analysis (iCAMP) revealed that different treatment technologies deterministically drove the assembly of microbial communities, especially the genera associated with the removal of petroleum hydrocarbons. The results of the metagenomic analysis showed that the genes related to the degradation of alkanes and aromatic hydrocarbons were the most abundant in PWTP3, suggesting it had the highest petroleum degradation potential. In addition, the highest abundance of ARGs in PWTP1 indicated the potential facilitation of ARG dissemination in activated sludge systems. Network analysis indicated that the dissemination of ARGs in the PWTPs might be mediated by transposases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Membrane distillation integrated with crystallization (MDC) holds promise for sustainable produced water treatment. Addressing challenges like fouling and wetting, common due to high inorganic content and oil-grease presence, requires efficient pretreatment for stable performance. To establish a compact, manageable treatment solution, we examined a pilot-scale integrated electro-coagulation (EC) - microfiltration (MF) system as pretreatment. This step produced 3600 L daily, significantly improving water quality. A remarkable 40% reduction in total organic carbon, 22-fold decrease in total suspended solids, and 600-fold decrease in turbidity underscore its effectiveness. This enhances the suitability for subsequent membrane distillation. In addition, a significant decrease in fouling and scale formation was observed. Long-term batch and continuous MD tests investigated crystallization between MD cycles that prevents significant flux decline. Implementing continuous MDC increased total water recovery six-fold, with stable membrane performance over six cycles, recovering approximately 10% of feed per cycle. These observations highlight the scalable potential of the less-explored integrated treatment (EC-MF-MDC) for effective produced water treatment. This study suggests the viability of the integrated approach for sustainable, larger-scale produced water treatment. [Display omitted] • Membrane distillation integrated with crystallization shows promise technology. • Pilot-scale EC-MF system yields 3600 L daily, boosting water quality. • 40% carbon reduction, 22-fold TSS decrease, enhanced suitability. • Integrated EC-MF-MDC offers sustainable produced water treatment. • Membrane crystallization enhances the MD performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]