Exploration • Drilling • Field Services
Treatment of chemically emulsified produced water
Ruud Meinen and Paul Schouten look at a new field-tested process which treats chemically emulsified water to below 10ppm.
O
perators are increasingly faced with production and frac water problems. Te emulsified water does not easily separate under the influence of gravity and time (Stokes Law).
In many cases this is caused by increased water cut from maturing wells and a growing use of corrosion inhibitors and methanol which contribute to the formation of chemically stable emulsions. Another specific contributor is foam additions
which are used to keep low pressure wells from choking. Te emulsions contribute heavily to the total quantity of hydrocarbons discharged to the sea. TwinZapp is a new field-tested process which
treats emulsified water. A set-up to treat up to 2,400bwpd (about 15m3
with a total footprint of 70ft2
/h) consists of two skids (6.5m2
). Te system
is typically installed as an end-of-pipe retrofit after a (near) atmospheric skimmer tank. Te only required input is around 0.5kW of electrical energy per treated cubic metre. It does not use any consumables (chemicals or absorption cartridges) and no specialist attention is required. Te system uses turbidity (the presence of a haze in the output water) as a proxy for the presence of dispersed oil in the outlet.
Te mobility of the system allows for use on specific work-over projects (foam jobs) or platforms and production sites with temporarily troublesome production water. On offshore well tests it ensures a quicker release of the drilling rig. Normally the drilling rig is used as ( an expensive) method for storing water returns from the well test. Instead of compressed air we have a new all- electric design. One of the advantages of local treatment of water on satellites is longer lasting interfield pipelines.
Te system has been extensively tested on the North Sea. Te tests included:
● Artificial set-ups such as a 20 per cent methanol loading;
● Corrosion inhibitor loading; ● Treatment of frac water; ● Well clean-up (returned from a recently drilled well where oil-based mud was used).
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www.engineerlive.com
Te platform crew was quickly able to start up and adjust the system as required. Te turbidity control will largely remove the requirement for such involvement. As a back-up there is a lab test available which can be carried out by an operator. Before installation it is considered good practice to test the production water in the lab. Te test is then upsized to a trial on the shore base, using an IBC of production water (as fresh as possible). ●
For more information ✔ at
www.engineerlive.com/iog
Ruud Meinen and Paul Schouten are with Parker Twin Filter Zaandam, The Netherlands.
www.twinfilter.com and
www.parker.com/processfiltration
TwinZapp is a field-tested process which treats chemically emulsified water. The system is typically installed as an end-of- pipe retrofit after a (near) atmospheric skimmer tank.
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