New uses for wastewater in Colombia’s energy sector

Colombia

Carlos Florez, CEO of Tecca, talks to The Energy Year about how the water treatment sector in Colombia’s energy industry has evolved in recent years and the company’s water treatment services for the energy sector. Tecca designs, constructs, assembles and operates water treatment plants.

How has the water treatment sector evolved in recent years, particularly in the energy industry?
The focus has moved away from water discharge towards reuse and downstream injection. There’s a growing trend in reusing produced water for power generation, as exemplified by our water treatment plants for Ecopetrol in Termosuria, near the Villavicencio area.
In drilling operations there’s an increasing emphasis on reusing water from drilling mud, reducing the need for fresh water sources. Regulatory guidelines, such as those established by Ecopetrol, are promoting these practices for environmental benefits. Water reuse is becoming crucial in refineries, with Ecopetrol setting targets for significant water reuse by 2030.

What are the key aspects of Tecca’s water treatment services in the energy sector?
Tecca offers a comprehensive range of services in the water treatment sector, including the design, construction, assembly and operation of water treatment plants. These plants currently handle capacities between 5,000-100,000 barrels per day, catering to various client needs.
We often own the plants and may transfer them to our clients or continue operating them based on their requirements. We differentiate ourselves from other companies, as we have a diversified service offering that caters not only to the oil and gas sector but also to the food and metal industries, for example.
Moreover, our water recovery rates are between 70-90%, depending on the application. We have developed a process that can reach up to 98% recovery through different technologies, which include reverse osmosis and ultrafiltration.

Who are your main clients in the oil and gas sector, and what projects are you working on?
Tecca has established a significant presence in the oil and gas sector, having installed 14 or 15 plants with a total capacity of around 450,000 bpd. Our client base includes major players in the industry such as Ecopetrol, Gran Tierra Energy and Emerald Energy.
A notable project we have executed is the water reuse plant for Termosuria, developed in partnership with Siemens Energy. This plant treats produced water for use in a thermal power plant’s cooling system, specifically in the condensation system of the combined cycle. The project, which took almost two years to execute, represents an innovative approach to water reuse in power generation.
We have also worked on various other projects, including a reuse pilot with Pacific Rubiales and process optimisation for SierraCol Energy. Additionally, we have established partnerships with service companies, such as Halliburton and Siemens Energy, to expand our reach in the sector.

What is Tecca’s growth strategy and vision for the future?
Currently we are venturing into energy efficiency derived from water treatment. This includes developing thermal energy recovery systems that can transfer heat from lower temperature sources to higher temperature sources, defying conventional heat flow.
Moreover, we are focused on consolidating our presence in existing markets rather than expanding to new countries. We aim to strengthen our position in Peru, although our focus there is more on the food sector than energy. In Ecuador, we see potential for new activities and developments, particularly given the new government’s policies that seem to be fostering confidence in project development.
In terms of technological advancement, we are placing a strong emphasis on minimal liquid discharge projects, targeting 98-99% water recovery, which is a more economically viable alternative to zero liquid discharge.
Finally, we aim to increase plant installations over the next two years and strengthen circular economy initiatives, including energy recovery and material recovery in non-oil-and-gas sectors.

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