Water Chemistry Application in Reservoir Management and Production

Abstract

This paper presents novel approaches and comprehensive field case examples on applying water chemistry in reservoir management and production. Systematic field water sampling and analysis, data integration, and water chemistry fingerprinting techniques are utilized for various important applications such as Original Oil In Place (OOIP) estimate, water source identification, prediction/prevention/management of oilfield scale and other water-related production/operation problems. Field case study examples show significant value creation achieved by utilizing water chemistry-based approaches. Results show subsurface water heterogeneity can significantly impact the calculation of OOIP, water sampling and analysis is critical to identify "unexpected" scaling risk at initial water breakthrough and monitor seawater breakthrough ensuring management/treatment in place as needed, systematic water data collection and integration and understanding can be used as a reliable/efficient/cost-effective approach to identify water source/water breakthrough from a new formation zone. Significant value creation was achieved for projects via our novel and systematic water chemistry-based approach discussed in this paper.