SILICA INHIBITION AND BLOWDOWN EVAPORATION (SIBE) PROCESS

摘要

The invention relates to a method for producing steam from a silica containing feedwater. Feedwater containing silica is supplied to a boiler, generating a steam and a liquid blowdown. A silica desposition inhibitor is added to the feedwater prior to supplying the feedwater to the boiler. The liquid blowdown can be treated to produce a diluent water stream. The diluent water stream is added to the feedwater prior to supplying the feedwater to the boiler wherein the silica content of the diluent water stream is lower than the silica content of the feedwater to which it is added. The invention also relates to an installation adapted for implementing this method as well as to a method for extracting hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation making use of this method.