The crude oil production site at the Tempa Rossa oil field in Corleto Perticara, in the Basilicata region of southern Italy, will use GE evaporator and zero liquid discharge (ZLD) technology to recycle up to 98 percent of produced water.

Total E&P Italia S.p.A. has six wells in the Tempa Rossa oil field, and GE will provide the technology to engineering, procurement and construction contractor Maire Tecnimont S.p.A, which is overseeing the development of the project for Total E&P Italia.

The project marks the first application of GE-produced water treatment in Europe, according to GE.

When producing crude oil, the water that is pumped as a byproduct is called produced water. Oil wells can produce enormous quantities of water, and this produced water must be treated or hauled away from the site. At the Tempa Rossa oil field, GE’s ZLD crystallizers will demineralize the produced water, which will be available for firefighting. The remaining brine will be concentrated into solid salt crystals for disposal. The ZLD technology will enable Maire Tecnimont SpA to meet new national environmental regulations governing water discharge.