오하이오 뉴 마타모라스(New Matamoras) 지역에 있는 화물 수하 터미널과 대규모 저장소에 축적된 유전 폐기물 전량이 앞으로 GreenHunter Resources 주식회사가 지원하는 물 재활용 기술을 통해 정화될 예정이다.

비정제 정유와 천연 가스 자원 개발 등의 기술들을 전문화하는 이 회사는 다양한 수자원 관리, 환경 보존 서비스를 제공하기도 한다. GreenHunter는 자회사인 GreenHunter Water 유한회사가 뉴 마타모라스의 새로운 정화 센터를 통해 자사만의 Frac-Cycle이라는 고유한 서비스를 제공할 예정이라고 발표했다. 또한 이 기술 서비스는 정유 과정에서 발생하는 드릴 액체, 고인 물, 폐기물, 잔여물 등을 하루에 1천 배럴 가까이 처리할 수 있는 진공 분리와 나노 필터링 시스템을 활용하는 것으로 알려졌다. 

GRAPEVINE, TEXAS, July 1, 2013 -- Complex oilfield waste streams containing heavy concentrations of suspended solids at a bulk storage and barge transloading terminal in New Matamoras, Washington County, Ohio, are being better filtered through a new produced water recycling technology from GreenHunter Resources, Inc. (NYSE MKT: GRH) (NYSE MKT: GRH.PRC).

A diversified water resource, waste management and environmental services company specializing in the unconventional oil and natural gas shale resource plays, Greenhunter announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, GreenHunter Water, LLC, has begun to process it's Frac-Cycle® service at the New Matamoras recycling center. The technology utilizes a vibration separation and nano-filtration systems that are capable of processing up to 1,000 barrels per day (BBL/D) of high-solids drilling fluids, pit water, frac-flowback and produced oilfield water.

These complex fluids typically contain 10 to 25 percent suspended solids content and are not suitable to dispose in salt water disposal (SWD) wells. Therefore, they must be solidified prior to disposal typically at a certified landfill. GreenHunter’s Frac-Cycle® system separates the water from the solids resulting in a reusable permeate that has been filtered to remove solids greater than 0.5 microns. The solids are then compressed into a dry filter-cake that will eventually go to a certified landfill, but in much smaller quantities.

Three new offloading stations and an additional 1,200 BBL of water storage holding tanks have recently been installed and are fully operational at the New Matamoras facility to accommodate the anticipated increase in fluid volumes from the new Frac-Cycle® services. Existing building structures at the New Matamoras recycling center allow for Frac-Cycle® expansion capabilities up to a total processing capacity of 5,000 BBL per day at this location.

To compliment high-solids recycling, management is completing design specifications to expand Frac-Cycle® services at the New Matamoras to include a rolling stock tank cleaning operation. When complete, the tank cleaning service will allow a truck that enters the facility with dirty water to leave with clean water. GreenHunter's recycling initiative is targeted to help Marcellus and Utica oil and natural gas producers reduce truck traffic and consumption of fresh water.

[출처: Waterworld / 2013년 7월 1일]