Oil in Water Quality Monitoring in Real Time: Applications for Produced Water: Disposal and Re-Injection Case Studies

The present paper introduces an integrated equipment system developed and patented jointly with Ecopetrol to monitor in real time water quality parameters for produced water from mature fields. This paper includes equipment details starting from electronics to the description of a special package developed to detect suspended oil in water. The field implementation meant a new and more cost-effective manner to not only monitor water quality but also to improve operation sequences in treatment plants. Monitoring process is necessary to control the quality from production and processing water plants considering the importance of keeping all the parameters within the limits established by regulations or recommendations, including the volume of suspended oil in water. The process of conditioning water for discharge or reuse in hydrocarbon treatment plants is complex and involves many special equipment. This monitoring equipment allows to track and follow up the process and final water parameters integrating simple transducers, electronics, special case materials and real time communications in a cost effective manner which is important in the current business environment. Water is essential for life on the planet, all living things are related to water in one way or another. Traditionally, water on average is used between 60-70% in agriculture, 20-30% in industrial activities (where water used in Hydrocarbon Industry is included) and 10% in human consumption worldwide.