Promising Test Results In Algae Use For Cleaning Wastewater From Oil and Gas Operations
April 24, 2012 Kyriaki (Sandy) Venetis While OriginOil’s main focus is extracting oil from algae for use in making biofuels and other products, the company has just announced promising test results for a chemical-free process of using algae for the cleanup of “produced water” from oil and gas operations.
Algae bags at test site. Photo courtesy of OriginOil.
To understand it a little better, the U.S. Department of Energy explains that, “Produced water is water trapped in underground formations that is brought to the surface along with oil or gas. It may include water from a reservoir, water injected into the formation, and any chemicals added to the production and treatment processes. Produced water is also called brine or formation water.”
Produced water is considered an industrial waste and a hazard to people if it gets into the drinking water. Besides a high salt content, the energy department says that produced water can containing varying degrees of:
- Oil and grease.
- Chemical additives used in drilling and operating a well.
- Naturally occurring radioactive materials.
- Various natural inorganic and organic compounds.
OriginOil said that its researchers have been able to clarify water samples from a Texas oil well carrying heavy concentrations of dissolved organics, known as frac flowback.