Mobile Reverse Osmosis Waterflooding for Oilfield Scale Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for preventing scale precipitation in oil fields during waterflooding are costly and inefficient, particularly in large fields where seawater injection is necessary, and often require significant water treatment infrastructure.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing mobile reverse osmosis units to generate low salinity fresh water from seawater or produced water, which is then mixed with injection water and stored underground to create a buffer zone, reducing calcium sulfate precipitation through targeted waterflooding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If seawater is injected into large oil fields through a pipeline network, then oil recovery from reserves is improved, but calcium sulfate precipitation occurs due to incompatibility with formation brine
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary substance - a polymer - that acts as a bridge between the injected seawater and the formation brine. This polymer modifies the interaction between the two fluids, preventing direct contact between calcium ions and sulfate ions while still allowing the waterflooding process to proceed effectively for oil recovery.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the injection fluid by adding polymer to seawater. This modification alters the chemical composition and interaction properties of the injected water, transforming it from a state that causes precipitation to one that is compatible with formation brine, thereby enabling effective waterflooding without scale formation.
2Reliability
If treatment and separation methods are used to ensure injected water compatibility, then scale precipitation is prevented, but the process becomes costly and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-mixing the polymer with seawater before injection into the well. This preliminary mixing occurs at the source rather than requiring complex treatment and separation processes, significantly reducing the time and cost associated with preparing compatible injection water while ensuring reliability of water-brine compatibility.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If sulfate levels in seawater are reduced prior to injection, then scale precipitation is avoided, but the cost-effectiveness deteriorates in large oil fields due to large volumes of treated water
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of removing sulfate from seawater through expensive treatment processes, the patent uses a polymer intermediary that prevents sulfate from reacting with calcium ions. This approach eliminates the need for costly sulfate removal while still preventing scale precipitation, making the process cost-effective even for large oil fields requiring large volumes of treated water.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively prevents scale precipitation by adjusting salinity levels underground, allowing for flexible and cost-effective waterflooding without the need for extensive infrastructure, while maintaining oil production efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
A system utilizing mobile reverse osmosis units to generate low salinity fresh water from seawater or produced water
Implementation Method 2
an inline mixer is configured for mixing the fresh water with seawater or produced water to generate an injection water
Implementation Method 3
The injection manifold distributes the low salinity fresh water into injection wells within the oil field
Data Source
AI summary
Described is a system for targeted waterflooding in an oil field. The system includes a mobile reverse osmosis unit connected with source water. The mobile reverse osmosis unit generates low salinity fresh water from the source water. An injection manifold is connected with the mobile reverse osmosis unit. The injection manifold distributes the low salinity fresh water into injection wells within the oil field. The low salinity fresh water is stored underground prior to its use in production wells.