Specialist Capability

Water Treatment &
Membrane Technology

From concept-stage process design to multi-site commercial deployment — translating complex water chemistry into revenue-generating solutions.

Graham's water treatment expertise spans more than a decade of hands-on engagement with oil sands produced water, basal aquifer systems, and high-TDS industrial streams. He bridges the gap between engineering and commercial reality — designing treatment processes, validating performance, assembling technical teams, and structuring the contracts that make large-scale water infrastructure viable.

His work spans the full treatment train: pre-treatment (coagulation, DAF/IAF), primary membrane systems (UF, NF, RO), concentrate management, and ZLD pathway analysis. Currently advancing a $100M+ basal/saline water treatment solution through final commercial close.

Process Simulation — Oil Sands Water Treatment TrainCentrifuge · UF · RO · Brine Management
SOLIDS DISCHARGE BRINE CONCENTRATE 52,000 mg/L TDS FEED WATER Saline / Basal Aquifer PUMP COAGULATION Polymer Dosing DRIVE FEED DECANTER CENTRIFUGE 3,220 RPM ΔN 12 RPM Clarified → ↓ Dewatered Cake ULTRAFILTRATION Membrane Pre-treat RO-1 RO-2 RO-3 RO-4 850 PSI REVERSE OSMOSIS High-Pressure Membranes <42 mg/L TDS PERMEATE PRODUCT Treated Water OIL SANDS PRODUCED WATER TREATMENT — PROCESS SIMULATION
Process Technology Capabilities
Primary Separation
Reverse Osmosis (RO)
High-pressure spiral-wound & tubular RO for high-TDS saline and basal aquifer water; brine concentration and permeate recovery optimization
Pre-Treatment
Ultrafiltration & Nanofiltration
UF membrane pre-treatment to protect downstream RO; NF for divalent ion removal and partial softening before high-pressure stages
Solids Management
Coagulation, Flocculation & Clarification
Chemical conditioning for TSS and colloidal removal; lamella plate and conventional clarification; polymer optimization
Oil-Water Separation
DAF / IAF De-oiling
Dissolved and induced air flotation for produced water and OSPW pre-treatment; slop oil recovery prior to membrane systems
Chemical Treatment
Lime Softening & Antiscalant
Lime/soda ash softening for hardness and silica removal; antiscalant program design for RO brine side scaling control
Brine & Concentrate
ZLD Pathway & Brine Management
Zero liquid discharge feasibility; evaporator/crystallizer integration; deep-well disposal vs. beneficial reuse economic modelling
Tailings Recovery
MFT / FFT Process Design
Mature and Fluid Fine Tailings water reclamation; solids dewatering; pond dredging and tailings pond water reuse strategies
Produced Water
SAGD & OSPW Treatment
Steam-assisted gravity drainage produced water management; oil sands process-affected water treatment trains; OTSG feed water quality
Signature Projects
E360 Solutions · 2024 — Present
Basal Aquifer Water Treatment Program — Oil Sands
$100M+
Contract Value · Expected Close 2026

Scoped, designed, and is advancing the largest water treatment initiative of Graham's career — a full RO-based process solution for treating high-TDS saline basal aquifer water at an oil sands operation. Led process design, technology selection, team buildout, and operator engagement.

Reverse OsmosisHigh-TDS BrineZLD AnalysisProcess Design
Secure Energy · CNRL · 2018 — 2023
CNRL Basal Water Treatment — Concept to Implementation
Multi-year
Sustained Commercial Contract

Led the full commercial and technical lifecycle of a basal water treatment program at CNRL's oil sands operations — from initial feasibility and process design validation through equipment specification and operational startup.

UF Pre-treatmentRO SystemAntiscalantCNRL
Secure Energy · Suncor · 2018 — 2023
Suncor Basal Water Treatment Program
Multi-site
Oil Sands Operations

Developed and implemented water treatment solutions for Suncor's basal aquifer management program, adapting process design parameters to Suncor's distinct water chemistry profile across multiple operational sites.

SuncorAquifer MgmtProcess Adapt.Regulatory
Newalta Inc. · 2010 — 2017
MFT / FFT Tailings Water Reclamation — Athabasca
$250M+
Contracts Across Period

Pioneered the commercialization of MFT and FFT tailings treatment technology — designing water reclamation processes for high-suspended-solids streams, launching slop oil treatment, pond dredging, and lime slurry processing service lines.

MFT/FFTLime SofteningPond DredgingOSPW
Operating Environments & Technical Challenges
Feed Water Quality
Extreme TDS & TSS Variability
Experience designing treatment trains for basal aquifer water with TDS exceeding 50,000 mg/L and variable suspended solids loads — conditions that demand robust pre-treatment and adaptive chemical programs to protect membrane integrity.
Scaling & Fouling
Carbonate, Sulphate & Silica Scaling
Managed antiscalant selection and dosing programs for RO systems treating calcium carbonate and barium sulphate scaling waters; coordinated with membrane OEMs on element selection and cleaning protocols.
Regulatory Context
AEPEA & Tailings Directives
Operated within Alberta's regulatory environment governing tailings management and produced water disposal — including Directive 085 and EPEA approvals — structuring solutions that satisfy operator economics and environmental compliance.
Commercial Structure
CAPEX-to-Service Conversion
Designed revenue models and contract structures that convert large capital water treatment assets into fee-for-service or build-own-operate arrangements, enabling operators to manage produced water obligations without balance-sheet exposure.