Chemical Water Fix18 Feb 2020 07:58
Posted on UKOG Board
The main advantage that chemical water shutoff operations have over mechanical operations is that they solve the problem of the unwanted water production instead of hiding it under or behind a plug, packer, or tubing patch. Injected chemicals can reach water features in the reservoir and reduce the permeability, resulting in closing them entirely. They also have the freedom of moving between the layers and features which helps in reaching to far extents and completely closing them. Another use of chemical injection is to increase the viscosity of the injected fluid which leads to a better sweeping efficiency and eventually reduces the production of unwanted water. The success of chemical injection operations depends on the knowledge level of the reservoir and its characterizations, chemical properties, and accurate placement of the injected chemicals. For example, the effectiveness of water shutoff agents depends highly on the properties of the reservoir and has to be compatible with the reservoir temperature and water salinity in order to achieve an effective water shutoff [19]. In this section, common chemical solutions are discussed in detail, along with examples of the execution of the operations.