A Real-Time Water Monitor for Contaminants in Produced Water

A vast array of toxins are prevalent throughout the countryĺs drinking water, and the oil and gas indus- try has effects on water quality that are still not fully understood. Recent advances in sensing and machine learning technologies are opening up the possibility for ôsmart sensorö approaches to automation and op- timization of data collection and analysis. Such novel approaches, if commercialized and widely available, will provide invaluable information in support of the DOE Advanced Remediation Technologies Programĺs mission to develop technologies to be applied to the remediation and prevention of environmental impacts from the recovery of fossil energy resources. This project will develop a platform, the QubeTM , that is poised to meet this need, as it has the ability to monitor water in-line and provide real-time feedback to enhance process control based on autonomous, quantitative measurement of chemical contaminants such as benzene, toluene, and methanol. In Phase I, technical feasibility was demonstrated by developing the new sensor capabilities and char- acterizing its response under a variety of conditions and inductions. Given the flexibility of the platform and the strong customer need, Phase II will build upon the successful development of sensing capabili- ties for chemicals related to produced water by adding the ability to detect and identify specific species of microbes present in oil and gas samples. This capability will integrate into the QubeTM platform, ex- panding itĺs broad appeal not only to the oil and gas industry but to many others that are impacted by microbial contamination, including water quality monitoring and pharmaceutical production. In addition, by performing field trials with partners in two different disciplines, the project will demonstrate the value that the sensor can provide to a diverse range of applications including environmental monitoring and industrial process control. Beyond addressing a need for improved data, the proposed sensor platform could have a broader soci- etal impact on the widespread availability of safe drinking water. Access to clean, reliable water supplies is critical to our quality of life and our economy, yet across the country millions of Americans are impacted by groundwater that doesnĺt meet drinking water standards. Widespread efforts to address this water crisis will necessitate an investment in advanced sensing technologies. Ultimately, the goal of this project is to commercialize a robust sensor that not only meets the needs of the DOE Advanced Remediation Technolo- gies program and the growing needs for technologies to ensure safe drinking water, but is also broadly marketable. A partnership with an environmental monitoring lab will demonstrate the value for water quality monitoring and process control, and a key partnership with a commercial partner has been es- tablished to develop a rapid market entry strategy. Through these diverse partnerships, this project will demonstrate the various benefits of this technology and poise the sensor for commercial success. 1