Geological, legal and techno-economic aspects of exploration and recovery of valuable elements from produced water of gas and oil fields in Ukraine

Abstract In this study, the potential for the extraction of valuable chemical elements from oil/gas field produced water (OGPW) in Ukraine was assessed. Based on the analysis of the chemical composition of OGPW from several Ukrainian deposits, prospective directions for developing a comprehensive technology for OGPW processing were determined. It has been established that the efficiency of OGPW processing depends on the concentration of the most valuable elements (Li, I, B, Br, Sr and Mg), as well as the possibility of obtaining desalinated water that can be used in agriculture and industry. A preliminary technical and economic evaluation of the recovery of commercial products from OGPW was conducted. Calculations showed a financial profit of up to 362 million USD per year from the sale of products in a single deposit with a capacity of 1000 m 3 of OGPW per day.