Ceramic High Flux (CHF)

Developed for treatment of produced water in the oil & gas industry, Ceramic High Flux is a new ceramic membrane microfiltration process originally developed with the support of the UK Government.

Besides oil & gas field produced water, CHF offers full treatment for other related produced waters such as from oil sands, coal seam gas and shale gas. CHF has also been demonstrated for desalination pre-treatment, marine ballast water treatment and mining wastewaters.

CHF removes suspended oil and solid particles from high flow rate industrial effluent. CHF is designed for flow rates from 10 m³/h to over of 5,000 m³/hour, >reducing the dispersed oil level to less than 1mg/l and suspended solids to less than 1mg/l.

CHF is a cost effective process enabling operators to meet the most stringent current global produced water discharge limits and the envisaged OSPAR Commission regulations.

CHF is modular and suited for both onshore and offshore production wells. The plant is compact, produces no secondary wastes for disposal and is easily incorporated into a production process whether as a retrofit or new build.

CHFS Industrial Applications:

Oil & Gas Field

Produced Water associated with oil and gas contains some of the chemical characteristics of the formation and the hydrocarbon itself. It may include water from the reservoir, water injected into the formation, and any chemicals added during the production and treatment processes. Produced water is a major environmental hazard and must be treated before being discharged or re-injected.

We have successfully completed a full-scale trial at an inland oilfield site and a North Sea oil terminal proving the CHF application for a wide range of oilfield produced waters.

Oil Sand, Coal Seam & Shale Gas Processing Effluents

Maintaining good water quality and ensuring more efficient and limited use of fresh water is one of the most important challenges that must be met in the oil sands sector. CHF has been adapted for the treatment of oil sands tailings.

Shale gas is extracted by hydraulic fracking as large volumes of water mixed with chemicals and sand free natural gas from the shale rock. Treatment and disposal of the polluted flowback water that returns to the surface is a significant issue.

CHF is appropriate for the treatment of Coal seam gas produced water.

Mining & Industrial Effluents

Many industrial processes produce oil and solids contaminated effluents that cannot be treated fully or economically by conventional technologies.

Flooded mines often are impregnated with heavy metals (such as iron, nickel, copper, zinc, lead & cadmium) and other contaminants, which can be difficult and expensive to purify. Industrial factories often discharge water contaminated with toxic chemicals, plastics, resins and pharmaceuticals.

CHF removes heavy metals and other contaminants to very low ppm levels to achieve relevant local environmental standards for discharge to natural water courses.

Marine Effluents

Marine applications have been developed to treat all types of effluent in submarines and surface ships, including bilge and ballast water.