EniTecnologie

PRODUCED WATER MANAGEMENT

PRODUCED WATER QUALITY &
CHARACTERISATION
Laura Biassoni

CHARACTERISTICS OF PRODUCED WATER

D
VE
L
SO S
S
I
D
SE
A
S)
G
2
H
O 2,
C
,
(O 2

PRESENCE OF
RADIOACTIVE
MATERIALS
(NORM)

WATER
QUALITY CONTROL

DISPERSED /
DISSOLVED
HYDROCARBONS

CHEMICAL
COMPOSITION

DISSOLVED
TREATMENT
CHEMICALS

DISSOLVED
TOXIC
HEAVY
METALS
BACTERIA
CONTENT

SUSPENDED
SOLIDS

27

PRODUCED WATER
FIELD MONITORING (1)
Chemical / biological analyses of field waters
Salinity
pH
Alkalinity
Water-cut
Sulphate Reducing Bacteria (SRB)

Calcium
Magnesium
Chlorides
Sulphates

28

PRODUCED WATER
FIELD MONITORING (2)

Oxygen content
Colorimetric kits

Suspended solid evaluation

The procedure includes size, mineralogical and
chemical composition of suspended solids.
Reference Procedure: NACE standard TM-01-73,
based on filtration tests

Hydrocarbon content (DIN 38409 standard

procedure)

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PRODUCED WATER
COLLECTION OF FIELD & PLANT DATA

Map of the wells (producers and injectors)

Salinity profile of the field

Petrophysical/petrographic characteristic of the formation

Chemical analyses of formation, injected and produced

waters

Significant PVT study

Current temperature and pressure of reservoir and surface

plant

Scheme of the current water treatment plant

Type & procedure of the current chemical treatments

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PRODUCED WATER
SCOPE OF THE LABORATORY STUDY
z

TO EVALUATE THE PRODUCED WATER QUALITY IN

ORDER TO DEFINE THE MOST SUITABLE STRATEGY OF
WATER RE-USE.

TO OPTIMISE THE WATER TREATMENT WITH THE

MOST APPROPRIATE CHEMICALS

TO SELECT THE MOST ECONOMICAL RE-INJECTION /

DISPOSAL PROCESS WITHOUT DAMAGING THE
FORMATION (WATER INCOMPATIBILITY,
HYDROCARBON CONTENT, SUSPENDED SOLIDS, etc.)

31

PRODUCED WATER
CHEMICAL & ISOTOPIC WATER ANALYSES
pH
Relative density
Residue at 110, 180 and 600 C
Sodium
Potassium
Lithium
Calcium
Magnesium
Barium
strontium
Iron
Manganese
Ammonia
Silica
Hydrogen/Deuterium

Salinity
Total Alkalinity
Chloride
Sulphate
Carbonate
Bicarbonate
Hydroxide
Fluoride
Bromide
Formate
Acetate
Propionate
Butyrate
Borate
Oxygen 16/18()

() to discriminate between formation and injection waters

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 SCALE

MIC
SOURING
BIOFOULING
TOXICITY

FORMATION
DAMAGE
CORROSION

PRODUCED WATER
DAMAGE DUE TO SUSPENDED HYDROCARBONS
Continuous injection of suspended hydrocarbons into the
formation gradually increases the radius of the zone of
affected permeability and may dramatically reduce injectivity.
If the hydrocarbons contained in the injected water are grease,
and heavier lubricating oils from pumps or other surface
equipment, wax or/oxidized crude, they exhibit high viscosity,
limited solubility with in situ oil and generate a reducing effect
on permeability.

PRODUCED WATER
DAMAGE DUE TO SUSPENDED SOLIDS
Suspended solids are usually defined as the non-water, non
dissolved substances that exist in the water. These may
typically include materials such as iron sulfides and oxides,
precipitated carbonates and sulfates, sand and silt, oils,
paraffins and asphaltenes, and materials of biological origin.
The suspended solids may also be considered as the
materials in the water that may cause plugging and loss of
injectivity in injection wells.

PRODUCED WATER
DAMAGE DUE TO INJECTION OF SOLIDS
PARTICLES
LARGER THAN
33% OF THE
PORE
DIAMETER

EXTERNAL
FILTER CAKE

PARTICLES
BETWEEN
14 TO 33%
OF THE PORE
DIAMETER

DEEPER INVASION
INTO THE
FORMATION AND
INTERNAL
FILTER CAKE

PARTICLES
SMALLER THAN
14% OF THE
PORE THROAT
APERTURE

PASS THROUGH THE

PORES WITHOUT
BLOCKAGE

PRODUCED WATER
WATER-ROCK COMPATIBILITY

Formation damage evaluation (field

approach).
The scope is the determination of the
filtration size required to avoid formation
damage problems. Produced water is
filtered through various mesh sizes and
injected through core samples of the
interval.

PRODUCED WATER
SAMPLING
SAMPLING
FILTRATION
FILTRATION
TEST
TEST
CORE
CORE
FLOODING
FLOODING

TEST SEQUENCE OF CORE

FLOODING TEST
The test apparatus consists of the membrane
filter holder, sample receiver, sample connections
and fittings, and pressure regulation devices.
As an alternative when the test cannot be run
on line, a sample reservoir may be used

The test permits the evaluation of permeability

reduction due to the presence in water of
suspended hydrocarbons & solids

PRODUCED WATER
SAMPLE POINTS
Special care must be taken to ensure that a
representative sample of the water is obtained.
Samples must be taken at points that will not
contain matter from stagnant areas, large
amount of macro-solids such as debris nad
matter not representative of produced water,
and at points which are disproportionately
conducive to collecting oil or solids

PRODUCED WATER

OUTLET SKIMMER BEFORE

FLOTATION UNIT

BELAYIM (MARINE) FIELD

WATER SAMPLING

FLOTATION UNIT

SAMPLING

PRODUCED WATER

BELAYIM (LAND) FIELD

WATER SAMPLING

INLET FLOTATION UNIT

OUTLET FLOTATION
UNIT

SAMPLING

PRODUCED WATER

BELAYIM (LAND) FIELD

WATER SAMPLING

OIL

UNFILTERED WATER TAKEN

BEFORE THE FLOTATION UNIT

WATER WITH
SUSPENDED SOLID

PRODUCED WATER
Effect of Suspended Hydrocarbons
before injection
after
injection

inlet