PROCESS SYSTEMS

WEMCO DEPURATOR Systems

WATER

Proven efficient mechanical flotation systems

Highly effective mechanically induced gas flotation units for the secondary removal of oil and solids from produced water.

Overview
WEMCO DEPURATOR Systems use mechanically induced

air/gas flotation (IGF) to remove oil and solids from

produced water. After the produced water enters the
depurator, motor driven rotors induce a re-circulating flow
of air or blanket gas into the mixture. This disperses small
bubbles throughout the tank volume and oil droplets

Product Range
Individual units for flow rates of 270 m3/day
to 28,160 m3/day (1700 BPD to 177,000 BPD)
Operating pressure from atmospheric to
1.05 Kg/cm2 (15 PSIG)

Separation efficiency up to 98% or more

and solids are carried to the surface in a rising gas froth

where they are recovered by skimming. The original IGF
design is still the standard for many applications, while the
new pressurized version, available in two cell up to five
cell designs, provides a real advantage for the oil and gas
industry.

Operating Principle and Key Features

All WEMCO DEPURATORS use the froth flotation process
to remove oil and solids from produced water. The key
component is the mechanical aeration assembly that uses
motor driven rotors to constantly disperse gas bubbles
into the produced water. The oil and/or solids adhere to
the bubbles and then rise with them to the surface of the
cell, forming a froth. Because the contaminated water
and the floating froth are constantly being subjected to

Benefits and Advantages

re-introduced gas it is impossible for the floating materials

Proven reliable experience of more than 40 years and

to settle into the now cleaner water below.

Depending upon the type of depurator, the froth is
removed either by mechanical skimmers or a hydraulic
skimming process. The water then moves into the next

more than 5000 units operating worldwide in a wide

variety of applications
High mixing efficiency

cell where the process is repeated. In the final stage, the

Wide operating flexibility

now cleaned water goes through a de-gassing discharge

Available from two cell up to five cell configurations

chamber and then exits the unit.

Lower amounts of flotation chemicals required

Performance

Suitable for onshore, offshore and motion sensitive

The overall removal efficiency of the motion application

two cell design is 94% with a 2.5 minute residence time per
cell. The four cell unit has approximately a 95% removal

applications
Good retrofit capability

efficiency with only a 1.0 minute residence time per cell.

Options and Types

The dual cell configuration is specifically suited to offshore

IGF Original Tank Design

applications where deck motion influences the liquid

surface in the cells. This unit will operate satisfactorily
during conditions of general motion and under pitch and
roll conditions in particular.

Cylindrical Design
Dual cell design for motion sensitive applications
Two to five cell designs for fixed applications

Data Sheet | TC9814-006

PROCESS SYSTEMS

Installation Examples

L O C AT I ONS

Production: 158,990 m3/day (1,000,000 BWPD)

United States of America

in twelve 144X Machines, Bakersfield, CA

11210 Equity Dr., Suite 100

producing 0.8 - 2.0 PPM effluent in heavy oil

Houston, TX 77041 USA

Production: 270,280 m3/day (1,700,000

TEL +713.849.7500

BWPD) in ten 144X Machines, Nigeria

United Kingdom

Terminal

Cameron House

Production: 20.5 Kg/cm2 (290 PSIG) Design

61-73 Staines Road West

Pressure Dual Cell Machines for 20,670 m3/

Sunbury-on-Thames

day (130,000 BWPD)

Middlesex, UK TW16 7AH

FPSO, Offshore Angola, mini-TLP, GOM

TEL +44.1932.732000

Refining: 136,730 m3/day (860,000 BWPD)

Singapore

Refinery Waste Water, Siberia, Russia

2 Gul Circle (Gate 2)

Jurong, Singapore 629560

Refining: Many units in continuous opera-

TEL +65.6861.3355

tion since 1970, USA, or earlier

OTHER LOCATIONS

Applications
Oil production

Abu Dhabi

Onshore

Australia

Offshore (fixed and floating)

Brazil

Refinery and petrochemical waste water

Calgary

Metals casting and steel refining waste

Colombia

water

France
Japan

Schematic of flotation cell

Oversized Tapered
Roller Bearings

Mexico
Saudi Arabia
Russia

Bearing Housing

www.c-a-m.com

Cylindrical WEMCO DEPURATOR Hydraulic Skimming

Dual Seals

One-Piece
Oversize Shaft

Heavy Gauge
Rotor

2010 Cameron | WEMCO and DEPURATOR are registered trademarks of Cameron | Printed in USA, 1M | 06/10 TC9814-006