Associated Gas Recovery Integrated with Solar Power for Produced Water Treatment: Techno-Economic and Environmental Impact Analyses

Daniel H. Chen (), Fuad Samier Aziz and Gevorg Sargsyan
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Daniel H. Chen: Dan F. Smith Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Lamar University, P.O. Box 10053, Beaumont, TX 77710, USA
Fuad Samier Aziz: Dan F. Smith Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Lamar University, P.O. Box 10053, Beaumont, TX 77710, USA
Gevorg Sargsyan: School of Accounting, Finance and Economics, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX 77710, USA

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 22, 1-17

Abstract: Excess associated gas from unconventional wells is typically flared while excess produced water is injected underground. In this work, flare gas recovery is integrated with produced water desalination and a solar pre-heater. The solar module with a beam splitter preheats the produced water. Aspen Plus process modeling, economic analysis, and greenhouse gas analysis were performed. The solar flare gas recovery desalination (Solar-FGRD) process can conserve water resources and reduce the brine injection by 77%. The accompanying solar farm results in excess solar electricity for exporting to the grid. The process burner combustion efficiency (CE) is 99.8%, with a destruction and removal efficiency (DRE) of 99.99% for methane as opposed to a flare CE of 80–98% (and a methane DRE of 91–98%). The greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for CO 2 and methane, in terms of CO 2 equivalent (CO 2 e), can be reduced by 45% for US North Dakota and Texas flaring and 13% for North Sea flaring by employing the Solar-FGRD process. Comprehensive financial analysis demonstrates the financial–economic feasibility of the investment project with or without tax credits. Best-case and worst-case scenarios provide a realistic range that investors can consider before making investment decisions.

Keywords: economic feasibility; tax credits; produced water; desalination; flare gas recovery; brine disposal; photovoltaic cell; solar thermal collector (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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