Ever rising water volumes and processing costs in the oil field have spurred OMV to look for alternatives to traditional water processing. Despite an elaborate central multistep water treating system, increasing injection pressures, water fouling in the pipelines and reservoir souring were noticed. A comprehensive water analysis program was instrumental to understanding that available oxygen, nutrients and the recycling of water promoted the growth of bacteria in the large distribution system. Since, on the long run, no biocide proved effective, a soft strategy was adopted: by removing key components (sulfate, biodegradable carbon) essential for bacterial growth, the population could be starved and the injection water quality stabilized. The feasibility of this concept was tested in a laboratory clarification apparatus that helped establish critical parameters, optimize additives and define performance limits. After due accommodation time, bacteria recovered from a refinery waste treatment plant could eliminate >90% of BOD and the effluent water was biologically inert. At the same time, a field pilot plant was installed that now has been injecting biologically processed water since fall of 1996. On-site core experiments demonstrate superior injectivity compared to normal brine. Other parameters (COD, TOC, turbidity, membrane filterability) support these findings. A revamp of the whole water conditioning system is now underway. So far, benefits of the new strategy have been considerable savings in biocide expenditures, reduced injection pressures, and a lower H2S production.


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    Title :

    Microbial clarification for treating reinjected oilfield brine


    Contributors:


    Publication date :

    1998


    Size :

    5 Seiten, 16 Quellen


    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    Print


    Language :

    English




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