Transcript Gradek Energy - Brownfields Conference 2015

Gradek Energy
Process for hydrocarbon
decontamination of soils
 No
Chemicals
 No Bacteria
 Homogeneous residuals
 Rapid intervention
 Immediate results
Overview of Benefits

Removal of hydrocarbons from fines
– DNAPL Recovery
– Light Hydrocarbon in Aqueous phase
Recovery
– Chlorinated Hydrocarbon Recovery

Energy requirements are minimal
Overview of Benefits

Environmental Benefits:
– Reduced volume of residual tailings compared to
soil washing
– Increased water recycling
– Reduced emissions compared to thermal
treatment
– Reduced methanogenesis

Extraction efficiency surpasses all
present technology
Solvent
recovery
Diluted
hydrocarbon
Hydrocarbon
Solvent
beads
Solvent
Evaporator
Hydrocarbon
coated beads
beads
Screening
Oily soil
Gravel/rocks
Water
Water wash
Settling
Vessel
Mixer
Classified soil
Washed Gravel/rocks
Hydrocarbon Soil Remediation Process
RHS Technology

The Bead Properties
– Oleophillic
– Hydrophobic
– Organically stable
– Not affected by temperature or climate
RHS Technology

The Bead Properties
– Re-useable
– 500 cycle life with no disposal costs
– Solid, resistant granular shape
– Easy to recuperate with existing, off-theshelf system
Simulated RHST Process
The RHS Beads
are introduced
into the soil
slurry stream to
initiate the
migration of the
hydrocarbons
from the soil
particles upon
contact with the
preferential
surface of the
RHS beads
Pipe Wall
Flow Stream
Beads
Oil/soil
Slurry
Nanotechnology
The interfacial surface
tension between
Hydrocarbons and the
RHS Bead results in the
adsorption of the
Hydrocarbons onto the
preferential surface of
the RHS bead upon
contact.
Current Focus
RHS technology introduced to Canadian
oil sands operators in 1999
 Industry needs oriented towards
cleaning up tailings from oil extraction
process
 Over 500 Million m3 of fines in
reservoirs
 Production of over 200,000 m3 per day

RHS Technology
Tests Completed

Bead Chemistry
– University of Montreal
– Alberta Research Council

Mature Fine Tailings
– University of Alberta

End of Pipe Tailings
– SNC Lavalin\Canmet
RHS Technology
Tests Completed

Absorbent properties
– University of Alberta
– University of Montreal
– Canmet
– Environment Canada
– SNC Lavalin\Canmet
RHS Technology
Batch Test Results
Recovery up to 90% of bitumen from
tailings where PSD < 100 microns
 Optimum temp range 35C° to 45 C°
 Residual Bitumen less than 1100 ppm in
residual tailings, for viscosity > 100,000
cps

RHS Technology
Batch Test Results

Recovers both naphtha and bitumen
– Up to 91% Bitumen extraction
– Up to 85% naphtha extraction

Final design parameters for continuous
loop
Stakeholder Objectives Met
High throughput yields with immediate
results
 Reduced operating time frame for
project
 Lower operating cost
 Engineered soil for reclamation
 Initial step in removing hydrocarbons
allows for metal leaching in the slurry

Stakeholder Objectives Met
Use of chemical additives is eliminated
 Homogenous product for quality control
 Reduced volatile emissions
 Short execution time reduces liability
exposure

Gradek Energy