Oil Skimmers for Hydraulic Fracturing (Fracking)
Oil Skimmers are an environmentally sound choice for the removal of oil
from fracking wastewater
Abanaki has a variety of oil skimmer models available which
successfully remove oil found in fracking wastewater.
Fracking, also known as hydraulic fracturing, is a procedure widely used
by natural gas drillers in which water, sand and chemicals are forced at
high pressure into the ground to break up shale rock formations, thereby
causing the discharge of trapped natural gas. The process of hydraulic
fracturing is not new. It has been around for more than 60 years and has
been used on more than 1 million producing wells.
A typical fracture treatment normally consists of 98.0-99.5 percent water
and sand while the balance is made up of chemical additives that depend on
the components of the water and the shale formation being fractured. In
order to fracture one producing well, millions of gallons of water are used.
There has been growing concern with the disposition of the 20-40 percent of
flowback that picks up other contaminants as it returns to the surface.
 Abanaki's
oil skimmers provide an environmentally responsible way for wastewater
treatment plant operators and their natural gas driller customers to remove
trace amounts of oil from fracking wastewater prior to its disposal. Oil
skimmers work by making use of the differences in specific gravity and
surface tension between oil and water. These physical characteristics allow
the belts to attract oil and other floating hydrocarbon liquids from the
surface of the fracking wastewater. The contaminants are then scraped off
the sides of the belt and discharged into a collection container. Abanaki
belt oil skimmers can be used in applications as deep as 100 feet and can be
operated 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. An oil skimmer requires very little
oversight, no maintenance, and is very cost effective due to low energy
requirements.
Companies use Abanaki oil
skimmers in a wide range of applications, ranging from industrial
wastewater, groundwater remediation, and machine shop coolant. In these
roles, skimmers help companies meet municipal and EPA water quality
standards and extend the life of coolant used in machine tool operations.
Oil skimming is also used as a pre-treatment for filtration, to prevent oil
from blinding filter media.
The Oil Grabber® Model
8 oil skimmer is the most widely-used Abanaki oil skimmer. Its size and
removal capacity make it suitable for most applications. From a mere shimmer
of pollutants on top of water to a heavy oil slick, the Model 8 oil skimmer
performs efficiently, removing up to 40 gallons of oil per hour.
The new solar-powered version of Abanaki's popular Model 8 Oil Skimmer is
also available. It removes oil at up to 40 gph, where electrical power is
unavailable or inconvenient.
The Abanaki Model MB
oil skimmer is a dependable and effective means of removing oil from water
and water-based solutions. Often, oil skimming by itself will reduce oil to
an acceptable level of water purity. Depending on the characteristics of the
liquid, it is possible for the Model MB alone to reduce oil content to less
than five parts per million in water. The unit can be used as a
pre-treatment before filtration, and in conjunction with a coalescing
system.
The Oil Grabber Model
4 is the most commonly used solution at wastewater treatment plants. Its
heavy-duty construction withstands the harsh environment inherent to the
industry. Specially designed belts can collect all of the oil products
present in the wash bay; when coupled with the optional Oil Concentrator,
they effectively remove the oil without collecting much water.
Abanaki's Oil Viper tube
skimmer has a small footprint but large recovery rate. The tube "snakes"
around the pit and can collect oils and greases with ease. It works very
well in shallow sumps or confined spaces.
Products Used in Fracking:
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