Objective
Objectives
The objective of the project is a quantitative methodology for forecasting changes in water chemistry, particularly
precipitation of carbonate scale, in a form usable by
industry. This will be achieved in three stages within this
project and will aim for a pilot field demonstration in a
future THERMIE project via an oil company or SME.
Technical approach
- To develop a reliable (robust, rapid and accurate),
experimentally-verified geochemical computer simulator able to predict thermodynamically and kinetically near-wellbore
changes (mineral precipitation and dissolution) occurring in a reservoir at production start and during production.
- To determine the relative significance of the controls -
pressure, pressure-changes, temperature, rates of change and brine composition - for the geochemical forecasting of
carbonate scale during field life production timescales.
- To describe the heterogeneity of oilfield formation water compositions sufficiently to be able to predict natural
variations as a function of time/production history.
- To produce data on the controls of carbonate scale
precipitation from laboratory experiments, simulating both
well-bore and reservoir, suitable for calibrating/verifying
the computer simulations.
- To develop a predictive tool (for industrial use) for
quantitative assessment of carbonate scale, including the
effects of iron, H2S and organic acids.
- To produce guidelines for water sampling and disposal,
where certain ion concentrates exceed regulatory and/or
environmentally acceptable levels.
Expected achievements and exploitation
The objectives will be achieved in three stages,
Stage A: data quality assurance, combining field data (BP),
laboratory data (IC, BRGM, RU) and theoretical modelling BRGM, IC) to develop a reliable (robust, rapid and accurate),
experimentally verified model (BRGM).
Stage B: definition and ranking of parameter space,
particularly compositional (RU and IC), T and P fluctuations (IC) for the geochemical forecasting of carbonate scale during field life production timescales (BRGM)
Stage C: development of predictive tool for quantitative
assessment for industrial assessment of carbonate scale (BRGM, BP, SME) including the effects of iron, H2S and organic acids (IC), guidelines for water sampling and disposal, where
certain ion concentrates exceed regulatory and/or
environmentally acceptable levels (RU).
Fields of science
- natural scienceschemical sciencesorganic chemistryorganic acids
- humanitieshistory and archaeologyhistory
- natural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistryinorganic compounds
- natural scienceschemical sciencesorganic chemistryhydrocarbons
- natural sciencesmathematicsapplied mathematicsmathematical model
Topic(s)
Call for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
CSC - Cost-sharing contractsCoordinator
SW7 2BP London
United Kingdom