Advanced ion exchange membrane water desalting plants

Lead Proponent

Saltworks Technologies Inc.

Project Objectives

The project objective is to accelerate the commercialization of a desalination technology to clean contaminated process water from enhanced oil recovery (EOR) operations.

Certain onshore oil fields in Canada and other countries use EOR to increase the oil yield in difficult-to-access reservoirs. In EOR water with high salt concentrations, among other contaminants, is also produced, which requires expensive treatment to desalinate, which would require more freshwater withdrawal.

The project will refine and demonstrate a proprietary desalination technology to clean contaminated water produced from EOR operations. This work will address critical technical gaps, such as acid requirements for pre-treatment, design and prototyping of a full-scale plant and enhancing oil production while beneficially recycling water.

Expected Results

The desalting technology has the potential to reduce fresh water makeup for EOR injection, reduce the emissions due to the transport of produced water for disposal, extend the life of oil wells, and may lower operating costs.

This technology can also provide an alternative to conventional water treatment, such as reverse osmosis or expensive thermal evaporation technologies, to manage turbid and hydrocarbon-contaminated wastewater.

The desalting treatment technology may also have applications in other sectors where there is a need for water treatment, such as mining and mineral processing, etc.

Anticipated Environmental Benefits: Water recycling and desalting, reduced freshwater use, reduced land disturbance and waste, and GHG reductions.