Recent Australian
Experience
in Seawater Desalination,
Wastewater Reuse,
and Brine Management
Ken Burris, Principal Consultant (Speaker)
and Charles Dyke, Principal Consultant
Houston, TX
Gavin Broom, Senior Principal Consultant
Perth, Western Australia
David Griffiths, Global Water Manager,
Sydney, Queensland
WorleyParsons
WorleyParsons Desalination Project Experience
 Advanced Water Treatment and Reuse of Municipal WWTP
Effluent
• Western Corridor Recycled Water Project
 Large Scale Seawater Desalination Plants
 Perth Seawater Desalination Plant
 Coal Seam Gas Water Reuse
 Groundwater Consulting for Queensland Department of Environment
and Resource Management
AUSTRALIA’S NATURAL
RESOURCES
 Large Country – Small Population
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Relatively small population for land mass
of country
•
35 million, mostly located near the coasts
 Large Quantities of Natural Resources
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Minerals, Coal, Uranium
 Major Water Management Issues
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Driest Continent (except for Antarctica)
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No Extensive Groundwater Resources
•
Forward Thinking Action on Water
Production/Water Use/Water Reuse
Essential for Sustainable Growth
− Reuse of Domestic Wastewater
− Extensive Use of Seawater Desalination
− Reuse of Industrial Wastewaters, e.g.,
Coal Seam Gas Water
Recent History of Desalination in Australia
1980s and early 1990s
• Small systems using reverse osmosis as a means of providing
drinking water
• e.g., Olympic Dam Mine/Roxby Downs Brackish RO (mining
operation and Town), South Australia – around 8 ML/day
Around 2000
• General interest into viability of Seawater Desalination as a water
source for Australian cities
• Wastewater reuse for industry
Now
• Most major Water Supply Utilities incorporate a Seawater
Desalination system in their diversified water supply
ADVANCED WATER TREATMENT AND REUSE
OF MUNICIPAL WWTP EFFLUENT
IN QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA
Western Corridor Recycled Water Project
Western Corridor Recycled Water Project, QLD, Australia
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Total Project Cost $2.5 billion (AUS)
Substantially Completed in December 2008
Largest recycled water project in Australia and the Southern
Hemisphere; world's third-largest recycled water scheme at the
time
Formed a key element in the $9 billion South East Queensland
Water Grid, the largest urban drought initiative in Australia
Construction of three Advanced Water Treatment (AWT) Plants
and a network of more than 125 miles of large-diameter pipe Total capacity 232 MLD (61 MGD)
World’s first AWTP process combining Microfiltration, Reverse
Osmosis and Advanced Oxidation to produce purified recycled
water
Significant reduction of nutrient loads into QLD rivers and bays
− As a result of further treatment of secondary wastewater at
the AWTPs, nitrogen discharges were reduced by an average
of 13% and phosphorus discharges by an averaged of 91%
Western Corridor Recycled Water Project Delivery
Phase 1 - Bundamba AWTP
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66 MLD (17.5 MGD) - Reduced use of region’s drinking water
supplies by providing an alternative water source for power
stations, which had used water from Brisbane’s water supply
source
Used largest commercially available RO elements – Koch
Membrane 18” diameter MegaMagnum elements
Advanced oxidation: RO permeate exposed to high intensity UV
and hydrogen peroxide – destroys residual organic chemicals that
pass through RO
RO Permeate has low alkalinity, low pH, very low hardness - add
lime to increase HCO3- alkalinity, Calcium, pH; Trim pH with CO2
to 6.5-7.5; CCPP -5 to 0 mg/L CaCO3
Chlorine added to product water in final storage tank prior to
pumping into conveyance system
The Bundamba AWTP won the Global Water Intelligence 2008
Water Project of the Year award
Western Corridor Recycled Water Project Delivery
Phase 2A/2B – Luggage Point and Gibson Island AWTPs & Purified
Water Pipelines
• Gibson Island AWTP - 100 MLD (26.4 MGD)
WorleyParsons/MWH/Baulderstone Hornibrook/United Group
• Luggage Point AWTP - 66 MLD (17.5 MGD)
CH2M Hill/Laing O’Rourke
• AWTPs completed in Dec. 2008; Increased capacity of the WCRW
project from 66 MLD to 232 MLD (61 MGD)
• Additional water for industrial/agriculture and used to augment
potable water supplies in Wivenhoe Dam Reservoir (drinking
water source for Brisbane) when combined dam levels fall below
40%
• Large-diameter pipeline, pumping stations and balance tank to
transport water from Luggage Point and Gibson Island to pumping
facility at Bundamba. Pipeline to transport water from balance
tank to Wivenhoe Dam Reservoir
• Western Corridor Recycled Water Project Phase 2A/2B was Global
Water Intelligence 2009 Water Reuse Project of the Year
Western Corridor Recycled Water Process Design
Luggage Point AWTP
A
B C
Sludge
Handling
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
I.
J.
K.
K
E GH
D
I
F
J
Wastewater Influent Tank for Feed and off-spec treated water
Ferric chloride to remove TSS and Phosphorus
Clarification - Chloramination
Self-cleaning 300 µm Screen Strainers
Hollow Fiber Outside-In Microfiltration (MF)
MF Filtrate Tank and Cartridge Filters
Brackish Water RO (Single Pass, 3-stage, 85% recovery)
Advanced Oxidation (UV + H2O2)
Alkalinity, Calcium, and pH adjustment with Lime/CO2
Chlorination in RO Permeate Tank and Purified Water Pumps
RO Reject Tank - discharge to mouth of Brisbane R.
DEVELOPMENT OF LARGE SCALE SEAWATER
DESALINATION PLANTS FOR PERTH,
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Main Driver for Perth Desalination Plant
Drop in Total Annual Inflow to Perth Dams from 1960-2005
Australian SWRO Plants
 Perth 1 Desalination Plant
- 36 MGal/day
 Gold Coast Desalination Plant
- 32 MGal/day
 Sydney Desalination Plant
- 64 MGal/day
 Melbourne Desalination Plant
- 120 MGal/day
 Perth 2 Desalination Plant
- 40 MGal/day
(80 MGal/day)
 Adelaide Desalination Plant
- 80 MG/day
Seawater Reverse Osmosis Desalination Process
Ferric Chloride
Sulfuric Acid
Coagulant Aid
Seawater
Intake
& Screening
PRE-TREATMENT
PROCESS
Antiscalant
Sodium Hydroxide
2 PASS REVERSE
OSMOSIS
Lime
CO2
STABILIZATION
FLUORIDATION
Ferric Chloride
Polyelectrolyte
DISINFECTION
BACKWASH
TREATMENT
SPENT CLEANING
CHEMICALS
Specific Waste
Management
Brine to
Ocean
Cake to
Landfill
Potable
Water
Constructed Perth Seawater Desalination Plant
Perth SWRO Membrane Array and Skid Configuration
Twelve 1st Pass racks,
each with,
162 pressure vessels
1134 elements
Each of Six 1st Pass racks
fed from a pressure
manifold supplied by
three 2.6 MW High
Pressure pumps
Pressure control by
means of plug control
valves
Energy recovery using
ERI PX220 units
Perth SWRO Membrane Loading - Split-Hybrid Design
Brine
2 - high rejection membranes
High quality permeate
5 - high production membranes
High production membranes give good
production in last elements
Permeate FCV
Dump
High quality permeate
to Permeate Tank
Lower quality
permeate to 2nd
pass
 Advantages
• Maximizes production of high quality permeate that can bypass second pass
• Lower operating pressure than convention arrangement, ~ 120 psig less
• Reduction in the size of the second pass
• Specific Energy consumption 3.72 kWh/m3 (one of lowest for SWRO in world)
REUSE OF COAL SEAM GAS (CSG) WATER
IN QUEENSLAND
 Most of Australia’s coal
deposits and CSG water are
in Queensland (Qld)
 Most coal deposits are
inland – far from coast and
population centers
 Water Flow estimates from
coal seam operations today
are significant: 25,000 to
74,000 MG/yr (70-200
MGD)
 Brisbane (largest city in Qld)
has an annual consumption1
of about 44,000 MG/yr (120
MGD)
1 Environment.gov.au State of Environment Report 2006
Northern
Territory
Queensland
(Qld)
Western
Australia
South
Australia
New
South Wales
Victoria
Tasmania
Coal Seam Gas (CSG) and Water Production
 CSG is obtained by dewatering coal seams
to reduce the pressure that keeps gas in
place
• Produces a significant amount of gas and
brackish associated water
• Water production is highest early in gas
well life and then declines
• Typically thousands of wells are drilled
over a coal field’s project life
 Membrane desalination has been
successfully tested for water treatment for
reuse
CSG Water Management – WorleyParsons Experience
 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Approvals for proposed
$35 billion Australia Pacific LNG Project, including:
Prefeasibility analysis of an extensive number of options for CSG water
brine and salt management
• Pre-Front End Engineering Design (pre- FEED) of long term solutions for
brine management, including investigation and design of brine and salt
management facilities associated with the development
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 Selection to Queensland’s Department of Environment and Resource
Management panel to provide groundwater consulting expertise to
assist with the sustainable development of CSG in the Surat Basin
 WorleyParsons’ experience spans several common industries, such
as the power industry, the oil sands and shale gas industries in
Canada, and the coal bed methane industry in Canada and the U.S.
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Recently awarded a Shale Gas Water Management contract by a major oil &
gas production firm in Alberta, Canada.
1 DERM Coal Seam Gas Water Factsheet
2 Brannock et al Brine Management of CSG Associated Water – Sept 2010
CSG Water Quality
 TDS typically ranges from 200 mg/l to 10,000 mg/l
 Recent Experience 1000 – 8000 mg/l
(1)
(2)
Average about 4,000 mg/L
• High in Na+ and Cl• Typically not suitable for potable use without treatment
• Can’t be discharged to surface waters without treatment
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 High bicarbonate alkalinity and hardness
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High HCO3- , CO3=, Ca, Mg
 Other significant species:
Cations – K, B, Sr, Ba
• Anions – SiO2, F, Br
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 High pH and high Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR)
SAR = [Na+] / {([Ca2+] + [Mg2+]) / 2}1/2
• Limits use for irrigation due to soil damage with long term use
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1 DERM Coal Seam Gas Water Factsheet
2 Brannock et al Brine Management of CSG Associated Water – Sept 2010
CSG Water Beneficial Uses - Untreated
Untreated beneficial use of (slightly) saline water, limited
opportunities may include:
 Coal Washing
 Livestock water (potentially up to 5000mg/l)
 Specific irrigation opportunities dependent on crops and
specific situation.
CSG Water Treatment
 Appropriate treatment matched to beneficial use
 Treatment Almost Always Involves Reverse Osmosis (RO)
Desalination
• Predictable treatment process, provided constant feed
conditions can be achieved
• Pre-treatment, as always, is a critical design issue
• Probable need for upfront equalization/storage to produce
consistent feedwater quality
• RO Reject (brine stream) must be managed
 Other Treatment Options?
• Potentially EDR
• Salinity typically too low for economical thermal
desalination as first step, but partial treatment and
blending may be an option
CSG Water Treatment – Brine Management
 Possibilities
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Disposal as brine (to ocean)
Use as brine (feedstock)
Irrigation if low salinity or blended
 Injection if there is no detrimental
impact
• Deep well injection where containment can
be assured
• Blend with fresh water and inject into
aquifer
 Processing Typically a Two-Step
process
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Volume Reduction
Ultimate disposal
 Volume Reduction
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Evaporation – natural or enhanced
Thermal processes
High recovery RO including VSEP or other
specialised technologies
Brine Volume Reduction – Tested Examples
 Enhanced evaporation using various spray
type systems
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Effective in arid climates
 Wind Assisted Intensified Evaporation
(WAIV)
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Up to 20x natural evaporation
 VSEP (Vibratory Shear Enhanced Process)
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A membrane-based technology incorporating
intense shear at the membrane surface using a
vibratory motor in addition to feed pump -approx ¾”
vibration.
Effective in obtaining high recoveries while
minimizing fouling and scaling, with Ca
concentration in reject reported over 90,000 ppm.
Best at smaller scales – high capital cost
CSG Water - Salt Disposal
Treat as Waste
 Evaporation Pond Storage with or without end of life encapsulation
Cost - Double lined ponds, temperature resistant lining, integrity
monitoring
• Land areas required for ponds
• Disposal as a wet solid (offsite landfill)
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• Brine concentrator/crystalizer to recover water
• High capital cost and high energy requirements
• Wet solid remains for disposal
Treat as Resource
• Salt Recovery by selective crystallisation – high capital costs
• Unpredictable profitability
CSG Water Treatment - Brine Salts with Potential
Commercial Value
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Sodium Chloride (salt or halite)
Sodium Carbonate (Soda Ash, various hydrates or anhydrate (dense)
form
− Major commodity, used in industry, global market
Sodium Bicarbonate
− Main use in food and animal feed industries, smaller market than
carbonate
Trona (hydrate complex sodium carbonate and bicarbonate)
− Typically feedstock for further processing
Calcium Carbonate
• Magnesium Carbonate, Magnesium hydroxide
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 Smaller quantities, Strontium sulphate, strontium carbonate, barium
sulphate etc
 Commercial value depends on location, quantity, and purity
 The range of possible product can be increased if additional
chemicals are added
Examples of Brackish Wastewater Salt Recovery Worldwide
 Debiensko, Poland
Brackish mine water treatment including RO and Evaporator / Crystallizer
• Approx 14 MLD water, 272 tpd Sodium Chloride, 30 tpd Calcium Sulphate
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 New York Power Plant
Flue gas desulfurization blowdown
• Calcium Sulphate and Calcium Chloride produced
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 Czech Uranium Mine
Mine use in-situ leach process
• 6.5 m3/min
• Ammonium Aluminium Sulphate crystals 250,000 tpa
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CSG Water Brine Mineral Recovery Considerations
 While technologies exist to extract the minerals from CSG Water,
there are risks
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Complexity
Market security for produced products
Reliance on others to accept the water for its mineral content
Need for back up systems when there is no demand for the raw material
Regulatory approvals
Social and economic impact of processing
 Risks - Challenges require site by site thinking
 Opportunities - Regional opportunities and economies of scale
As industry has expanded and quantities of saline water increase, the
options may change. For example evaporation ponds as a primary
method of water management is no longer acceptable to regulators.
Footnotes
High Level View of CSG Water Management
 The need to manage large quantities of produced CSG Water
implies managing both the water itself and dissolved ions
(salts) it contains.
 Near term focus has been on the immediate problem: treat
the water first to enable beneficial use and then think about
how to manage the salts left behind
 Ultimately, there is a need to manage all issues concurrently
for best results
Produce water for beneficial use
• Determine how to use the Brine; reduce its volume
• Salt management: develop uses for the water’s minerals
• Remember that the reason for the water is the production of
natural gas for fuel
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Footnotes
Recent Australian
Experience
in Seawater Desalination,
Wastewater Reuse,
and Brine Management
Ken Burris
Principal Consultant – Water/Wastewater
Water Sector Lead – U.S. & Caribbean
[email protected]
(713) 354-5491
WorleyParsons
Thank You