Definition & Terminology

Aqueous Liquid phase thats co-produced from

aproducing well
The main component :
Water
Suspended Oil
Dissolved Oil
Suspended Solids ( Scale, corrosion products, sand,
etc. )
Dissolved Solid
Dissolved Gases ( CO2, H2S, O2 )
Bacteriological matter
Added materials ( treating chemical, kill fluids, acid,
etc.)
Challenges & potential
Volume of water produced ~ 3 6 times of oil
produced
Serious challenges :
How to handle relativelly large amounts of
produced water at the lowest possible cost ?
Potential action :
Injected into disposal well
Injected into formation for EOR purposes, via :
- waterflood
- steamflood


Challenges & potential
Volume of water produced ~ > 3 6 times of oil
produced
Serious challenges :
How to handle relatively large amounts of produced
water at the lowest possible cost ?
Potential action :
Injected into disposal well
Injected into formation for EOR purposes, via :
- water flood
- steam flood
Produced water must undergo treatment to render the
water suitable for use

Produced Water ( PW )
Treating Objectives
PW treatment is necessary due to the potential negative
impacts on the formation
Contaminants for PW injection point of view :
Suspended Solids
Suspended Oil
Scales that form when dissolved solids precipitate
Bacteriological matter
Corrosive dissolved gas ( CO2, H2S, O2 )
Objective PW treating :
To remove / reduce these contaminants to a level
that makes PW suitable for use
The System should be designed to result in the
lowest capital & operating life-cycle cost

PW Contaminants & Impacts
Suspended Solid :
Originate from : formation fines, scale
deposits, corrosion product & bacterial activity
Have a tendency to cause plugging in the
formation, depending on size, shape &
concentration
Plugging will result higher injection pressure
and lower injection flow rates
Primary objectives of PW treatment system is
to remove the suspended material to minimize
plugging in the formation
PW Contaminants & Impacts
Suspended Oil :
Originate from : production separator, oil
treater, or other oil/water separator
Range : 500 5000 mg/l
Have a tendency to cause formation damage
(wetability alteration)
Less oil recovered for sales
PW Contaminants & Impacts
Dissolved Solid :
Range : up to 300,000 mg/l
As concentration of dissolved solid increase
precipitated and form scales deposits in
surface piping, equipment & formation
If there is a high scaling tendency, its should
be given scale inhibitor chemical
PW Contaminants & Impacts
Microbial growth :
Either bacterial or fungal in nature
Can cause corrosion pipe & vessel, plugging
injection wells, & degradation of chemicals
used in EOR operation
Other experience : microbial organism are the
major problem beside suspended solid
problem
Chemical biocide can be injected to control
these microorganism
PW Contaminants & Impacts
Dissolved H2S / CO2 :
These gas form corrosive acid when dissolved in
water
This effect these gas can be mitigated by removing
the gas from solution or by use corrosion inhibitor
Dissolved O2 :
Corrosive agent when dissolved in water
Not normally component when PW comes up from
formation
Equipment & processes that are open to the
atmosphere should be avoided to minimize
intrusion O2 in PW