Investigations on Sulfate-, Mixed and Unconventional Scale

15.02.2010 - 14.02.2011
Assigned research project
In the production of oil and natural gas not only hydrocarbons are won, but also a significant amount of water is produced. The longer an oil field is exploited, the higher becomes the fraction of produced water. Produced water can cause several problems, corrosion and scale being the two most important ones. The Laboratory for Exploitation and Production (LEP) is concerned since many years with these problems and has gained some expertise over the years related to the formation of carbonate scale. In order to asses the scale-forming tendency of waters or mixed waters, and in order to test so-called scale inhibitors, two different designs of scale loops are available. These allow the performance of experiments both with natural and simulated produced water under controlled conditions of temperature, pH and ionic strength. In addition, experiments can also be carried out in static mode (¿jar tests¿) for the screening of scale inhibitors. In the frame of this project, TU Vienna and LEP will cooperate to establish the required, currently still unavailable expertise in this field. This is foreseen in the four phases of each three months duration in which this project is organised: Phase 1: Method comparison for ¿static¿ and ¿dynamic¿ tests It is a matter of ongoing discussion whether the results provided by either static or dynamic tests are comparable for the selection o scale inhibitors. Systematic experimental series shall provide sufficient and reliable data to allow a decision in the question of method comparability. Phase 2: Dynamic tests with natural and simulated produced water To obtain a clear picture on the relevance of the dynamic tests, laboratory experiments shall be performed at LEP with the in-house designed scale-loop reactor with fresh, filtrated produced water and with simulated water mixtures. Phase 3: Sulfate-Scale Literature study for sulphate scale. Experiments with scale inhibitors to counteract the formation of sulphate scale. Phase 4: Mixed and unconventional scale Literature study related to mixed scale (= carbonate scale) and unconventional scale, such as caused by halite (NaCl) which may occur in high temperature gas probes. Research on the influence of iron dissolved in the water phase on the efficiency of scale inhibitors (for carbonate scale). The experimental work related to this project will be performed at the TU Vienna and in the laboratories of OMV LEP in Gänserndorf. In particular, the experiments using the scale-loop reactor will have to be performed in the laboratory of LEP in Gänserndorf as the apparatus cannot be moved. In addition, a literature database shall be set up in the frame of this project.

People

Project leader

Project personnel

Institute

Contract/collaboration

  • OMV Exploration & Produktion GmbH,

Research focus

  • Efficient Utilisation of Material Resources: 100%

Keywords

GermanEnglish
Erdölproduktionpetroleum production
(Unconventional) scale(Untypische) Ablagerungen
SteinverhindererScale inhibitor
LagerstättenwasserReservoir water

Publications