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Rocky Mountain Section Short Course

J anuary 23-25, 2013

Tom Pickthall

EnhanceCo Inc.

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Potential Causes

The Potential Problems

Some Potential Solutions

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Transferred Water Rights (i.e. Ag)

Purchased from Municipal Supplier

Fully Consumable Water

Leased / Purchased Water

Ground Water

Produced Water

Estimate Water Used 2012 = 6,500,000,000

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Scale

Calcium Carbonate

Calcium Sulfate

Barium Sulfate

Corrosion

Acid Gas

Bacteria

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Scales may form if,

Water contains ions which are capable of

forming compounds of limited solubility.

There is a change in physical conditions or

water composition which lowers the solubilitybelow the concentrations present.

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Calcium Carbonate CaCO3

Calcium Sulfate CaSO4 (Gyp)

Barium Sulfate BaSO4

Strontium Sulfate SrSO4

Iron Compounds FeS, Fe2O3

Corrosion Byproducts

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Compound TemperatureIncrease PressureIncrease pHIncrease TDSIncrease

CaCO3

CaSO4

BaSO4

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Scale Solubility (mg/L)

Gypsum CaSO4 2080.0

Calcium Carbonate CaCO3 53.0

Barium Sulfate BaSO4 2.3

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Keep incompatible waters separate

Know the type of scale you are dealing with. Goodanalysis.

Possible solutions, maybe not practical.

Scale prediction models

Dilution Lower pH, Carbonate scale only

Water softening, ion exchange.

Chemical treatment, inhibitors

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Most work by adsorption of inhibitor on scale crystaland prevent further growth. Two principles forsuccessful operation; Again treating fluid, inhibitor must be present in every drop

of water. Pumps must work. Inhibitor must be present where scale crystals begin to

form. Inject far enough upstream.

Phosphate Esters good to about 175OF

Phosphonates good to 350O

F Organic Polymers good to above 350OF

Inorganic polyphosphates seldom used in oil andgas operations. J ust not as efficient.

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Scale Coupons

Deposit Analysis

Water Chemistry

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Strong Depolarizer

Forms deep pits

Usually found in surfaceequipment where air

has entry point.

Can greatly accelerateother corrosive agents

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CO2 forms a weak

acid that attacksmetal

Often takes the form

of Mesa pitting

type attack

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Has characteristic rotten egg smell

Creates a black deposit FeS

Usually a shallow dish type attack,but may have pitting

H2S forms a weak acid that attacks

metal

Usually has etching in the bottom ofthe pits

Courtesy- Corrosion of Oil and Gas Well Equipment, API cc 1958

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0

50

100

150

200

250

300

MPY

No Air/No

Inhibitor

Inhibitor/No

Air

Air/No

Inhibitor

Inhibitor/Air

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Coupons

Probes: ER, LPR, Galvanic, Arrays

Water, Gas & Solids Analysis

Bacterial Analysis

Metallurgical & Chemical Analysis

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Bacteria thrive in conditions such as:

High Temperature/Low Temperature

High Chloride/Low Chloride

High Pressure/Low Pressure

With or Without Oxygen

pH ranges from 1-10

One common trait - Must Have Water

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Aerobic: must have air for survival

Anaerobic: cannot have air

Facultative: adapts to either environment

Sessile Bacteria adhere to a surfacePlanktonic Bacteria are free floating in system

The difference is important

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APBs

SRBs

Pipe Wall

Fluids

Slime Formers

Fe

Fe

FeS

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Courtesy, Mr. Gale Farquhar gbfarq uharjr @enhanceco.net

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Planktonic Serial Dilution

Rapid Check

Sessile Serial Dilution

Robbins Device

Screen Swabs

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Remember, with corrosion you are treating the pipeand with scale you are treating the water. Understandthe difference.

Modeling is a place to start, not complete, yourinvestigation.

You dont need to monitor everything, just the thingsyou want to keep. Dee Lawrence