TY - GEN
T1 - A novel electrokinetics method of oilfield scale control in-situ
AU - Haroun, M.
AU - Ghosh, B.
AU - Chilingar, George V.
AU - Wittle, K.
AU - Pamukcu, S.
AU - Al Badawi, M.
PY - 2010
Y1 - 2010
N2 - Sulfate scaling in the oil well and near wellbore formation is a common phenomena in a waterflood operation where seawater rich in sulfates mixes with formation water rich in Ba, Sr and Ca ions. This gives rise to frequent well intervention for chemical squeeze and well cleaning operation. Apart from production loss, this could lead to a significant addition to production cost in offshore operations. To find a long term solution for this commonly occurring problem, we experimented on a novel idea of using DC current to reduce scaling. The concept of electrokinetic scale remediation in oilfield was conceived during our successful experience with electroremediation of heavy metals in highly-contaminated coastal sediments of Abu Dhabi where di & tri-valent cations were separated from sediments by applying DC current. In the present study, we focused on barium sulfate, BaSO4 scaling through a series of experiments conducted in a sand-packed glass cell with variable electrode positioning and fluid injection options. DC power was applied at a fixed 2V/cm potential gradient through a constant electrode configuration used in all tests. The injector sites, where 500 ppm Ba and 500 ppm SO4 solutions were injected to the system were used as anode locations, while the production outlet was used as the cathode location. The NaCI concentration of the formation fluid were varied from 0 to 40,000 ppm and the rate of flow was set at 1 ml/min. Results of pressure build up due to the scale deposition were compared with those from the DC electric field system. The results showed that under DC electrical current, scaling rate reduced by up to 60% at the production outlet. Chemical analysis of scale deposits at various points showed high localized concentration distribution throughout but 50% or less deposition near the production well.
AB - Sulfate scaling in the oil well and near wellbore formation is a common phenomena in a waterflood operation where seawater rich in sulfates mixes with formation water rich in Ba, Sr and Ca ions. This gives rise to frequent well intervention for chemical squeeze and well cleaning operation. Apart from production loss, this could lead to a significant addition to production cost in offshore operations. To find a long term solution for this commonly occurring problem, we experimented on a novel idea of using DC current to reduce scaling. The concept of electrokinetic scale remediation in oilfield was conceived during our successful experience with electroremediation of heavy metals in highly-contaminated coastal sediments of Abu Dhabi where di & tri-valent cations were separated from sediments by applying DC current. In the present study, we focused on barium sulfate, BaSO4 scaling through a series of experiments conducted in a sand-packed glass cell with variable electrode positioning and fluid injection options. DC power was applied at a fixed 2V/cm potential gradient through a constant electrode configuration used in all tests. The injector sites, where 500 ppm Ba and 500 ppm SO4 solutions were injected to the system were used as anode locations, while the production outlet was used as the cathode location. The NaCI concentration of the formation fluid were varied from 0 to 40,000 ppm and the rate of flow was set at 1 ml/min. Results of pressure build up due to the scale deposition were compared with those from the DC electric field system. The results showed that under DC electrical current, scaling rate reduced by up to 60% at the production outlet. Chemical analysis of scale deposits at various points showed high localized concentration distribution throughout but 50% or less deposition near the production well.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77958470146&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:77958470146
SN - 9781617387722
T3 - Society of Petroleum Engineers Western North American Regional Meeting 2010 - In Collaboration with the Joint Meetings of the Pacific Section AAPG and Cordilleran Section GSA
SP - 1082
EP - 1097
BT - Society of Petroleum Engineers Western North American Regional Meeting 2010 - In Collaboration with the Joint Meetings of the Pacific Section AAPG and Cordilleran Section GSA
T2 - Society of Petroleum Engineers Western North American Regional Meeting 2010 - In Collaboration with the Joint Meetings of the Pacific Section AAPG and Cordlleran Section GSA
Y2 - 27 May 2010 through 29 May 2010
ER -
