Innovative Technology for Fracturing Flowback Wastewater Treatment
Hydraulic fracturing is widely used in the exploitation of low-permeability reservoirs and unconventional oil and gas resources. The flowback wastewater generated in fracturing operations contains crude oil, phenolic compounds, formaldehyde, guar gum and other pollutants - complex in composition, severely emulsified and highly stable, making treatment extremely challenging. Discharging or injecting it underground without proper purification will cause serious environmental damage. The industry often combines physical, chemical and biological methods to treat fracturing flowback wastewater. However, conventional approaches tend to involve cumbersome processes and complex equipment, with large chemical dosages, keeping operating expenses high.
Compared with conventional solutions, SINOKLE has introduced an innovative treatment technology for fracturing flowback wastewater. The process adopts coagulation sedimentation, CDOF (ozone catalytic oxidation integrated flotation equipment), CDFU (cyclonic dissolved air flotation) and KFM (active filter media filter) as a new treatment process. The coagulation sedimentation stage first removes the flocculated suspended solids and surface floating oil in the liquid;CDOF the CDOF equipment integrates multi-stage ozone oxidation, cyclonic dissolved air flotation and coagulation, effectively removing suspended solids and colloidal substances while breaking gel and reducing viscosity;CDFU the CDFU uses a large number of fine bubbles to quickly and efficiently separate free oil, emulsified oil and suspended particles; finally, the flotation-treated water flows through precision filters for deep purification, ensuring stable, standard-compliant effluent quality.
Fig. 1 Fracturing flowback fluid treatment process flow diagram
Technical advantages:
Strong adaptability: can meet the treatment requirements of flowback fluids of different natures produced by different fracturing fluid systems and different fracturing processes;
Good shock resistance: ensures effluent quality meets user requirements under large variations in water quality, quantity and temperature;
CDOF, CDFU are the company's patented products, offering high-efficiency oil and suspended solids removal and quickly achieving gel breaking and viscosity reduction;
Short residence time (1/5 of conventional), small footprint (1/3 of conventional); skid-mounted compact equipment, movable, enabling rapid and efficient on-site treatment;
Low chemical consumption, low sludge output, fewer auxiliary equipment items, low operating cost;
Fully automated, closed pressurized operation - safe and environmentally friendly.
Fig. 2 On-site treatment effect of fracturing flowback fluid (influent vs. effluent comparison)
