Polymer flood produced water treatment trials

Rashid S. Al-Maamari, Mark Sueyoshi, Masaharu Tasaki, Keisuke Kojima, Kazuo Okamura

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

5 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Polymer enhanced oil recovery (EOR) operation has been implemented for the production of oil from difficult mature oilfields in Oman. The polymer used in this EOR technique to sweep oil toward production wells is resulting in the generation of polymer flood produced water (PFPW) of increasing viscosity. Current methods of treating oilfield produced water must be reconsidered for the effective treatment of such PFPW of changing quality. In a previous study, the utilization of polyaluminum chloride (PAC) chemical was proposed for the coagulation of oil in produced water to be separated by flotation and filtration. As such, laboratory tests were conducted to evaluate the applicability of PAC and other chemicals for treatment of PFPW that has higher viscosity than ordinary oilfield produced water. These tests clearly indicated that aluminum sulfate (AS) chemical was more effective for treatment of such higher viscosity water. A pilot plant developed during the earlier study, was utilized to conduct coagulation/flocculation, flotation, filtration, and adsorption treatment trials for PFPW from an oilfield where polymer EOR is underway. For the final trial, the inlet PFPW viscosity was 1.4 cP at 40 °C and oil concentration was above 200 mg-L-1. AS was applied for coagulation/flocculation and flotation stages, and was found to be effective in reducing oil concentration to 1 mg-L-1. Filtration and adsorption stages resulted in further improvement of water quality. Most of the polymer used for EOR was believed to have been removed along with oil and suspended solids.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationSociety of Petroleum Engineers - 30th Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference, ADIPEC 2014
Subtitle of host publicationChallenges and Opportunities for the Next 30 Years
PublisherSociety of Petroleum Engineers
Pages3605-3623
Number of pages19
ISBN (Electronic)9781634398053
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2014
Event30th Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference: Challenges and Opportunities for the Next 30 Years, ADIPEC 2014 - Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Duration: Nov 10 2014Nov 13 2014

Publication series

NameSociety of Petroleum Engineers - 30th Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference, ADIPEC 2014: Challenges and Opportunities for the Next 30 Years
Volume5

Other

Other30th Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference: Challenges and Opportunities for the Next 30 Years, ADIPEC 2014
Country/TerritoryUnited Arab Emirates
CityAbu Dhabi
Period11/10/1411/13/14

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology
  • Geochemistry and Petrology
  • Fuel Technology

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