The Effect of Temperature and Impeller Speed on Mechanically Induced Gas Flotation (IGF) Performance in Separation of Oil from Oilfield-Produced Water

The effect of temperature and impeller speed on the performance of induced gas flotation (IGF) systems for the removal of oil from produced water in different ranges (5–300 g/L) of total dissolved solids (TDS) was investigated in a pilot plant study. Furthermore, it was evaluated whether the IGF pilot plant effluent could reach the 15 mg/L outlet oil content as required by Article VI of the Kuwait Convention for Persian Gulf region, before being discharged to the sea. The results showed that oil removal efficiencies up to 90% could be reached at high temperature (80°C) in just one single flotation cell without adding any chemicals. Flotation unit, however, should be followed by at least one more flotation cell in series in order to guarantee the Kuwait Convention marine pollution discharge standard for the effluent oil content.