Mukhaizna Water Treatment Facility, Oman

What is it? The Mukhaizna project is a fully integrated produced water treatment system forming part of the Mukhaizna Facilities Development in Oman. It incorporates a multiple effect mechanical vapour compression (MVC) brine concentrator to treat produced water from oil and gas extraction. The high purity distillate is then used as feedwater for steam generation. The system consists of seven identical MVC trains each with a capacity of 42,860 barrels per day, giving a total capacity of 47,700m3/d. The plant was commissioned at the end of 2008.

Who is involved? Aquatech International is the EPC contractor. The client is Occidental Oil. The local partner is CTS, which is responsible for the civil construction works.

Why is it shortlisted?

• The Mukhaizna facility is the largest produced water reuse project in the world. It is also the first major application of MVC technology in the water reuse sector in the Middle East.

• The deal represents an important leap forward in terms of how the oil and gas industry in the Gulf is tackling environmental degradation. The impressive water reuse rate of approximately 90% significantly reduces the need to abstract fresh water from the local Ghariff aquifer.

• The system's use of MVC technology anticipates future disposal limitations, and lends itself well to a zero liquid discharge configuration at a later stage.