A New, Self-Cleaning, Continuous, On-Line, Oil-In Water Analyzer for the Petroleum Industry

The oil and gas industry produces much more water than petroleum hydrocarbons. This water is usually injected back into the underground reservoirs for pressure support and secondary recovery by water-flooding. In some instance, produced waters are discharged overboard from producing platforms into the ocean. Although the water is treated by various means to recover the maximum amount of hydrocarbons, traces remain that are too difficult or costly to completely remove. Most countries now limit the amount of oil and grease (O&G) or total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) that may be discharged to the environment. These limits protect the ocean's toxicity and from forming unwanted visible sheens on the surface. Operators are required to treat the produced water to the discharge limits and to monitor the concentrations of O&G or TPH that are released. These measurements not only provide the operator with information on hydrocarbon releases to the environment, but also are useful in monitoring water treatment processes and management of this fluid that is produced and handled at much higher rates than the hydrocarbons themselves.