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Industry Overview

Complex Wastewater from Processing Operations

Downstream oil and gas operations generate complex wastewater streams containing oil, phenols, sulphides, ammonia, heavy metals, and high organic loads. Our integrated treatment solutions address each contaminant class through proven processes, ensuring compliance with stringent discharge regulations while maximising water reuse opportunities. Sour-water stripping, biological treatment and advanced polishing are combined to address each contaminant class in sequence. Reynolds & Bauhm tune the train to the refinery or plant’s specific load so it meets tightening consents while recovering water for reuse.

Refinery Wastewater

Multi-stage treatment for petroleum refining effluents with oil removal, phenol treatment, and COD reduction.

Petrochemical Plants

Specialised treatment for chemical manufacturing wastewater with high organic and chemical oxygen demand.

Gas Processing

Treatment of sour water and process wastewater from natural gas processing and treatment facilities.

Water Reuse

Advanced treatment enabling water recycling for cooling towers, boiler feed, and process applications.

Applications

Downstream Operations We Support

Petroleum Refineries

Complete wastewater treatment for crude oil refining operations with oil, phenol, and COD removal.

Petrochemical Plants

Treatment for ethylene, propylene, and aromatics production wastewater streams.

Gas Processing

Sour water treatment and process wastewater handling for natural gas processing.

LNG Facilities

Water treatment for liquefied natural gas production and regasification plants.

Asphalt Plants

Treatment of wastewater from asphalt and bitumen production operations.

Lube Oil Plants

Specialised treatment for lubricating oil manufacturing wastewater.

Treatment Process

Integrated Downstream Treatment

1

Equalization

Flow and load balancing to handle variable refinery wastewater characteristics.

2

Oil Separation

API separators and DAF remove free and emulsified oil.

3

Clarification

LAMELLA separators settle suspended solids and chemical precipitates.

4

Biological Treatment

MBBR or SBR removes dissolved organics, phenols, and reduces COD.

5

Final Polishing

Self-cleaning filters provide final suspended solids removal.

Recommended Equipment

Products for Downstream Operations

DAF Systems

High-efficiency oil and solids removal for refinery and petrochemical wastewater.

Benefit: 95%+ oil removal

MBBR Systems

Moving bed biofilm reactors for high-rate COD and phenol removal.

Benefit: 90%+ COD removal

LAMELLA Clarifiers

High-rate solids separation for primary and tertiary clarification.

Benefit: 70% smaller footprint

API Separators

Gravity oil-water separation for free oil removal upstream of advanced biological treatment.

Benefit: Low operating requirement

Sludge Dewatering

Screw presses and centrifuges for refinery sludge volume reduction.

Benefit: 60-80% efficiency improvement

Self-Cleaning Filters

Automatic backwash filtration for final polishing and equipment protection.

Benefit: Continuous operation

Key Benefits

Why Choose Reynolds & Bauhm

Meet stringent refinery discharge standards
Handle variable wastewater composition
Recover saleable oil from waste streams
ATEX-certified for hazardous areas
Enable water reuse reducing freshwater requirements
Automated operation minimising staffing
Robust construction for 24/7 operation
Integration with plant DCS systems

Related Applications

Explore Other Oil & Gas Solutions

Refinery Wastewater

Comprehensive treatment for petroleum refining effluents.

Explore Oilgas Refinery

Petrochemical Plants

Specialised treatment for chemical manufacturing wastewater.

Explore Petrochemical

Gas Processing

Water treatment for natural gas processing facilities.

Explore Oilgas Gas Processing

Refinery Oil Separation

API and DAF systems for petroleum refinery oil and grease removal.

Explore Oil Separation

Related Pages

Chemical Atex

Chemical industry wastewater treatment for atex-certified equipment.

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Global Standards Reference

Directory of international wastewater treatment regulations and equipment compliance standards Organised by country and region.

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Oil Water Separation

Oil and gas wastewater treatment for oil-water separation systems.

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Oilgas Atex

ATEX-certified wastewater treatment equipment for explosive atmospheres in oil, gas and petrochemical facilities.

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Oilgas Drilling

Treat drilling muds, cuttings wash water and site runoff.

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Oilgas Gas Processing

Wastewater treatment for natural gas processing.

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API Separators — Engineering Deep-Dive

Stokes’-law sizing, API Publication 421 design methodology, rectangular API / CPI / TPI configurations and refinery-train integration.

Need Downstream Water Treatment Solutions?

Contact our experts for refinery and petrochemical wastewater treatment.

Industries We Serve

Our expertise spans multiple industries with sector-specific water treatment solutions.