Why Should Your Oil & Gas Exploration Company Shift to Water Treatment Chemicals for Water Purification?

Key takeaways:

• Introduction
• Advantages of water treatment chemicals
• The rising use of water treatment chemicals in the oil & gas industry

Shortage of clean drinking water is one of the biggest challenges faced by humanity today. As per a study conducted by the World Bank, 2.3 billion people across the globe have little or no access to safe drinking water; thus, more than 25% of the global population is directly at risk from water-borne diseases and other associated problems. The rising pace of urbanization and industrialization in developing countries has further worsened this situation as the demand for safe drinking water increases, but the supply has decreased exponentially. In such a scenario, treatment of unclean water to make it safe for drinking becomes necessary. Water treatment chemicals are, hence, extremely crucial to solving the contemporary water shortage problems.

Studying the importance of water treatment chemicals in industrial wastewater treatment

Several urban planning studies have shown that the direct release of industrial wastewater into natural water sources like lakes, rivers, and ponds is one of the main reasons behind water pollution in metropolitan cities and urban areas. Hence, many governments have enacted regulations that effectively ban the direct release of industrial effluents in natural water bodies. It has now become mandatory for industries in almost all the major countries to pass industrial effluents through wastewater treatment mechanisms before they are released into the aquatic bodies.

To adhere to these rules and regulations, these industries have now started to use wastewater treatment chemicals like coagulants, flocculants, corrosion inhibitors, and pH adjusters to improve the quality of water that is being discharged. For instance, chemical coagulants like aluminum sulfate or ferrous sulfate are generally added to industrial effluents to remove the impurities by absorbing them. Coagulants are generally preferred over other types of water treatment chemicals because they readily mix with unclean water and can be easily circulated throughout the water. Owing to these advantages, the coagulants segment of the water treatment chemicals industry is predicted to grow at a CAGR of 3.3% in the 2023-2032 period.

Similarly, pH adjusters and flocculants are some of the most widely used industrial wastewater treatment chemicals. Flocculants, for example, help in the removal of suspended solid particles in wastewater by aggregating the contaminants into flakes. Once formed, these flakes can be easily removed from the water’s surface. There are several types of flocculants depending on their charges, molecular degree of ramification, and molar weights. They are generally used in combination with coagulants to maximize their effect. One key advantage of all these chemicals is that they offer cost-effective solutions to wastewater treatment.

Oil & gas exploration industry: Analyzing the growing demand for wastewater treatment chemicals

The oil & gas industry is a unique sector in that it requires a consistent flow of clean water for its various processes such as drilling, well simulation, and enhanced oil recovery techniques. The use of impure water for these processes can lead to premature corrosion of the machinery and drastically reduce the productivity and efficiency of oil production. Effective water treatment mechanisms hence become important as they enhance the recovery rates of oil, thereby helping the exploration company to increase its profitability.

Of all the types of water treatment chemicals, corrosion inhibitors are the most widely used in the oil & gas industry. These chemicals, by purifying the water, improve the heat transfer of the system, enhance the process throughput, and substantially reduce the downtime required for cleaning. Hence, almost all the major machinery employed in this industry such as reinjection wells, transportation pipelines, barges, storage wells, etc., use corrosion inhibitors. As a result of this wide applicability, the corrosion inhibitors segment of the water treatment chemical industry is expected to rise at a CAGR of 4% in the 2022-2032 period.

To summarize, the global humanitarian crisis created due to the shortage of clean drinking water has increased the importance of water treatment chemicals. Furthermore, the advantages offered by chemicals like coagulants and flocculants have increased the revenue share of this industry. The growing demand for wastewater treatment chemicals from the oil & gas exploration sector is predicted to help the water treatment chemical domain flourish in the coming period.

For insights into how your business can capitalize on the opportunities offered by the industry, feel free to contact us.

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