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Scientist Holding a Test Tube and Flask

The Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station’s (TEES) Global Petroleum Research Institute (GPRI) held its semiannual short course (Water and Wastewater Short Course: Issues, Challenges, Solutions and New Technologies) Aug. 9-10 at the Richardson building on the Texas A&M University campus.  

The semiannual two-day course attracted representatives from various institutions and industries across the nation, as well as Texas A&M faculty and engineering students.  Attendees took advantage of one-on-one learning and networking opportunities. 

The focus of the two-day course was the application of treatment technologies for produced water and the use of new analytical technology to provide real-time data for operation and treatment optimization.  Especially emphasized was the advance of rapid microbial testing.  Due to the obsolete industry standard, which can take up to a month for test results.  Rapid biological testing can save oil and gas companies money by improving biocide and disinfectant practices and mitigating costly microbial issues (such as microbial induced corrosion and well souring). 

Treatment related presentations included the application of membrane technology to waters for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) (Holly Churman, Water Standard), brine management and handling (Dave Stewart, Stewart Environmental), bag and cartridge filtration (Jason Reed, Hatfield and Company), stainless steel membranes (Scott Witwer, Graver Technologies) and low cost brownfield water treatment and waste-to-value potential (Justin Love, Love Energy Advisors).

The second day of the course included analytical demonstrations.  Hach, OFI Testing Equipment (OFITE), Blue I Water Technologies, Retgo Labs, Mycometer, LuminUltra and Modern Water demonstrated their analytical technologies for attendees with actual oil and gas produced water provided by GPRI.

“The short course offers a unique opportunity to interact one-on-one with the companies that provide water cleanup technology—and to actually see demonstrations. It is also a good place to learn about the latest new filtration processes and analytical techniques being developed,” said David Burnett, director of the Global Petroleum Research Institute.