Production chemistry
Production chemistry is a discipline in the oil/gas industry that deals with issues that occur as a result of the chemical and physical changes[1] in the overall oil/gas production and processing systems (including enhanced oil recovery), especially changes to the well stream fluids as they are transported from the reservoir to the sale's point.
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Production chemistry scope
Production chemistry[2] is one of the most promiscuous disciplines in the oil/gas industry. Its areas of influence start from the reservoir, to wells, flowlines, processing facilities, and sale's point. On a project life cycle perspective, it enters the project during early design phase and stays until the field reaches the end of its life and the production system is decommissioned[3].
In general, production chemistry issues include the following types:
- Problems with solid precipitation and deposition - asphaltenes,scales,wax, gas hydrates, naphthenates, bio-growth, etc.
- Problems with facility processing - foaming, emulsion, water quality (including injection water quality in case of waterflood), hydrogen sulfide, etc.
- Problems with material integrity - material corrosion from production fluids, microbial activities, artificially introduced fluids (completion fluids, chemicals, etc.)
- Problems with HSSE - water discharge, toxicity, radio-active scales, H2S, etc.
Risk characterization
Before any treatment can be applied, it is vital to conduct a proper and thorough investigation of the problems and their root causes and any implications of the recommended treatments[4]. A good facility design and correct choice of materials can significantly reduced production chemistry issues later in field life. To do a proper risk characterization, the following measures are often necessary:
- Proper fluid sampling and analysis - the sample needs to be representative, free of contamination, and properly sampled/preserved/handled/analyzed.
- Surveillance - pressure, temperature, chemical residuals, water analysis, corrosion coupons, bio-coupons, online probes, etc.
- Modeling - hydrate phase diagram, scaling potential, etc.
Production chemistry solutions
The solutions to production chemistry issues can be mechanical or chemical.
Mechanical
Examples: insulation, pigging, use corrosion resistant alloys, proper separator sizing, etc.
Chemicals
Examples: scale inhibitor, asphaltene inhibitor, paraffin inhibitor, demulsifier, defoamer, water clarifier, H2S scavenger, corrosion inhibitor, hydrate inhibitor, biocide etc.
Reference
- ↑ A. Carroll and J. Clemens, BP; K. Stevens, Shell Intl. E&P, Inc.; and R. Berger, Manatee Inc., "Flow Assurance and Production Chemistry for the Na Kika Development", Offshore Technology Conference, 2 May-5 May 2005, Houston, Texas
- ↑ Malcolm A. Kelland, Production chemicals for the oil and gas industry, CRC Press, 2009
- ↑ I. Lakatos and J. Lakatos-Szabo, Research Institute of Applied Chemistry, University of Miskalc, and Research Group of Earth Sciences,, "Age of Chemistry In Production of Conventional And Unconventional Hydrocarbons", 19th World Petroleum Congress, June 29 - July 3, 2008 , Madrid, Spain
- ↑ D.L. Gallup, Unocal Corp.; P.C. Smith, Oil Plus Ltd.; J.F. Star, Unocal Indonesia Co.; S. Hamilton, Unocal Makassar Ltd., "West Seno Deepwater Development Case History - Production Chemistry", SPE International Symposium on Oilfield Chemistry, 2-4 February 2005, The Woodlands, Texas
