EniTecnologie

PRODUCED WATER MANAGEMENT

ECONOMIC IMPACT OF PRODUCED WATER
Emilio Causin

PRODUCED WATER ASSOCIATED PROBLEMS

Lower P.I.
Ko, o , S
S related to
scales, fines,
emulsion, etc..

Reduced P

PRODUCED
WATER

P.W.
Disposal/Injection
Legal & Environmental
Aspects
PWRI

P.W.
Treatment

Artificial lift

Corrosion
Material Failures
Repair Jobs Prod. Loss
Control
Monitoring

O/W
Separation

Equipment
Facilities
Chemicals

Equipment
Facilities
Chemicals

STRATEGY TO MANAGE THE PRODUCED WATER

PRODUCED WATER
QUALITY CONTROL
EVALUATION

ENVIRONMENTAL
SAFE

TREATMENT COSTS
CIVIL
USES

SURFACE DISPOSAL
RE-INJECTION/
(sea or desert)
UNDERGROUND DISPOSAL

10

PRODUCED WATER DISPOSAL

SURFACE DISPOSAL
It is only acceptable when water is fully compatible
with the receiving environment. High treatment costs.

DISPOSAL INTO THE UNDERGROUND

It is an alternative of the surface disposal in order to
reduce the treatment costs. Moderate treatment costs.

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PRODUCED WATER RE-INJECTION

WATER RE-INJECTION

PRESSURE
MAINTENANCE
The water is injected
into the oil or water layers
in order to sustain the
pressure of the reservoir
while extracting the
hydrocarbons

WATERFLOODING
The water is injected
into the oil-bearing
layers or pressuresupporting aquifer
of the reservoir to
sweep the oil into the
production wells.

DISPOSAL
The water is disposed
within an underground
formation, which may be
a depleted reservoir, a
producing reservoir or an
isolated horizon below the
lowermost underground
source of potable water.

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COSTS CHARGED TO PRODUCED WATER

TRANSPORTATION
TRANSPORTATION CHEMICALS
CHEMICALS
FLOW
LINES
DEGASSING
HYDROCARBON
FLOW LINES
DEGASSING HYDROCARBON
REMOVAL
REMOVAL
ARTIFICIAL
ARTIFICIALLIFT
LIFT
FILTRATION
FILTRATION
CORROSION
CORROSION

COSTS OF
PRODUCED
WATER

SCALE
SCALE
DOWN-HOLE
DOWN-HOLE
SEPARATION
SEPARATION

PUMPS
PUMPS
INJECTION
INJECTIONLINES
LINES

ELECTRICAL
ELECTRICALPOWER
POWER

WATER
WATERSHUT-OFF
SHUT-OFF

DRILLING
DRILLINGNEW
NEWINJECTORS
INJECTORS

MONITORING
MONITORING
WELL
WELLINTERVENTATIONS
INTERVENTATIONS

RECONVERSION
RECONVERSION
PRODUCER
PRODUCER
INJECTOR
INJECTOR

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ACCEPT W.P.,
MINIMIZE
MINIMIZE
WATER
COST
PRODUCTION

C
MIXED
(A + B)

MINIMIZE
MINIMIZE WATER PRODUCTION
A.1. - HORIZONTAL / MULTILATERAL/
ADVANCED WELLS
A.2. - ALTERED INJECTION OR
PRODUCTION PATTERNS
A.3. - WATER SHUT-OFF
A.4. - DOWNHOLE O/W SEPARATION (DOWS)

ACCEPT
ACCEPT W.P.,
W.P., MINIMIZE
MINIMIZE COST
COST

MIXED
MIXED (A
(A ++ B)
B)

B.1. B.2. B.3. B.4. B.5. B.6. -

FORMATION DAMAGE REMOVAL

ARTIFICIAL LIFTING
CORROSION PREVENTION
IMPROVED O/W SEPARATION

TREATMENT

DISPOSAL AND REINJECTION

C.1. - WATER S.0 + STIMULATION

C.2. - ALTERED I/P PATTERN + IMPROVED T.

Technology
Horizontal Injectors

Economic Benefit

Chemical Water Shut-Off

Target thin zone with by-passed oil

Better sweep efficiency, less water
cycling, more oil
Better profile control,less water cycling

Downhole Separation

More oil, less cost of water cycling

Fiber Glass Piping and

Tankage

Less Capex and Opex - Corrosion

Prevention

Downhole Water Sink and

Re-injection

More oil recovery and rate

Subsea Separation

More efficient production, more

oil, less Capex and Opex
Lower Capex, more oil rate and recovery

In-Depth Prof. Modification

Downhole Dual Action Pumps

Sand-Slug-Stimulation

More cost effective disposal.

Lower environmental input
Better injectivity

Sand Production Prediction

Reduced Capex and Opex

Advanced PWRI

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SEPARATION

CHEMICALS

GRAVITY SEPARATION
HYDROCYCLONES

at surface
downhole (with injection)
subsea
production chemicals
reverse emulsion breakers
water clarifiers
biocides
produced water tanks
plate separator vessels
desanders
deoilers

GAS FLOTATION CELLS

DISC-STACK CENTRIFUGES
FILTRATION

media, diatomaceous earth, cartridge

(pleated paper and deep filtration),
stainless steel filters

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PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS
SMALLER, LIGHTER, LESS EXPENSIVE VESSELS
THREE PHASE SEPARATORS, GFCS WITH CYCLONIC INLET DEVICES
HYDROCYCLONES WITH PRESSURIZED GAS INJECTED

REGULATORY DRIVEN TECHNOLOGY

DEVELOPMENTS
ACTIVATED CARBON FILTRATION
ULTRA FILTRATION
POLYMER EXTRACTION OF HYDROCARBONS
OIL-IN-WATER METERING

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UK SECTOR
OIL&WATER PRODUCTION AD OPEX ESTIMATES
Oil & Water Production
(bbl Millions)

Water Handling
Costs ($ Millions)
3.000

2.000

Oil
Water
Water Cost (high)
Water Cost (low)

1.800
1.600
1.400

2.500

2.000

1.200
1.500

1.000
800

1.000

600
400

500

200
1996

1995

1994

1993

1992

1991

1990

1989

1988

1987

1986

1985

1984

1983

1982

1981

1980

1979

1978

1977

1976

1975

1974

1973

1972

1971

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COST of Scales
Include
stimulation of wells
cleaning/replacing damaged equipment
lost production
Cost of a typical workover in the North Sea fields
500,000 US$ for platform well
3,000,000 US$ for subsea well
Lost production
1day lost production (10,000 bbl/d): $ 300,000
Platform production shutdowns can be much more
expensive
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The Cost of a Squeeze Treament

Cost of a typical Squeeze Treatment in the North Sea
fields
Squeeze life 4 months
from 20,000 to 100,000 UD$ (per well, per
treatment)
Deferred Production: 5,000-10,000 bbl/d (3-4 days)

300,0000 US$/Year per Well

Note that Squeeze cost varies as a function of location, water cut, etc.

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GULF OF MEXICO
OIL&WATER PRODUCTION AD OPEX ESTIMATE
Oil & Water
Production (Bbl Millions)
1,000
900

Water Handling
Costs ($ Millions)
600

Oil
Water
Water Cost (high)
Water Cost (low)

800
700

500
400

600
500

300

400
200

300
200

100

1996

1995

1994

1993

1992

1991

1990

1989

1988

1987

1986

1985

1984

1983

1982

1981

1980

1979

1978

1977

1976

1975

1974

1973

1972

1971

100

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PRODUCED WATER COSTS (US$/bbl)

Bailey, B. et al.:Water Control, Oilfield Review (Spring 2000) 30-51

P.W. (bbl/day)

20,000

50,000

100,000

200,000

Capex/Opex
Utilities

0.044
0.050

0.044
0.054

0.044
0.054

0.044
0.054

0.044
0.054

SEPARATION Capex/Opex

0.087
0.002
0.034

0.046
0.003
0.034

0.035
0.003
0.034

0.030
0.003
0.034

0.049
0.003
0.034

0.147
0.040

0.073
0.041

0.056
0.041

0.046
0.041

0.081
0.041

FILTERING Capex/Opex
Utilities

0.147
0.012

0.068
0.010

0.047
0.010

0.030
0.010

0.073
0.011

PUMPING

Capex/Opex
Utilities

0.207
0.033

0.122
0.034

0.091
0.034

0.079
0.034

0.125
0.034

INJECTING Capex/Opex

0.030

0.030

0.030

0.030

0.030

TOTAL

0.842

0.559

0.478

0.434

0.578

LIFTING

Utilities
Chemicals

DE-OILING Capex/Opex
Chemicals

AVERAGE

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PRODUCED WATER COSTS (US$/bbl)

CASE 1: South of Italy
Cost of truck transportation on land: 2-3 US$/bbl
Re-injection plant: 140,000 US$
De-oiling plant: 70,000 US$

CASE 2(): Surface processing

Separation: 0.0025 kw/bbl
Lifting: 1.92 kw/bbl
Injection: 1.2 kw/bbl
Cost: 0.028 US$/kw-hr
CASE 4(): Wells, Injectors

CASE 3(): Wells, Producers

1 Well 7,000 ft: 1,000,000 US$ (Drill & complete)
Recompletion: 300,000 US$
Total 1 well: 1,600,000 US$ (3 Completions)
Cost of water: 400,000 US$
Total production: 1,000,000 bbl @ 90% water cut
Total water: 9,000,000 bbl @ 90% water cut
Cost for water lift: 0.04 US$/bbl

1 Well 7,000 ft: 600,000 US$ (Drill & complete)

Recompletion: 200,000 US$
Total 1 well: 1,000,000 US$ (3 Completions)
Total injected: 32,850,000 (3 Completions)
Cost for water injection: 0.03 US$/bbl
() Bailey, B. et al.:Water Control, Oilfield Review (Spring 2000) 30-51

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PRODUCED WATER
WELL TREATMENT COSTS
CASE 1: North America
Well A: 1,000 bbl/day (W.C. 5 %)
Cost of treatment: 10,000 US$ (40 % Chemicals)

CASE 2: North Sea

Well B: 18,000 bbl/day (W.C. > 85 %)
Cost of treatment: 70,000 US$ (79 % Chemicals)
Remaining costs: equipment rental, crew and tank hire
Time for job: 2 days

CASE 3: North Sea

Well B: 7,000 bbl/day
Cost of treatment: 19,000 US$ (13 % Chemicals)
Remaining costs: equipment rental, crew and tank hire
Time for job: 2/3 days

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