Sen J. Ubbels1 & Mike Turner2
1Phase Separation Group, Champion Technologies Europe BV,
Delden, The Netherlands
2 Oil Plus Ltd, Hambridge Road, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 5SS, England
Naphthenic acids in crude oil in combination with high pH connate waters can cause severe problems during the separation of oil and water, in oilfield production facilities. The neutralization products of those acids with basic components in the water tend to form very stable water-in-oil emulsions and/or insoluble sticky naphthenate deposits. These phenomena can hamper the oil production considerably and often result in high treatment costs.
Discussed are the best ways to diagnose a naphthenate problem in addition to preventing the problems using either a physical or chemical approach.:
· Diagnosis of the problem, including the impact on oil and water quality and process performance
· Physical Drivers for naphthenate generation will be discussed using field evidence, which assists in understanding how processes can be designed and modified to reduce naphthenate generation.
· Chemical. Novel technology in surface-active chemistry has demonstrated an effective way to reduce or eliminate the described problems. This technology will be described in detail.
A case study will be presented which describes how an understanding of how and where these naphthenate deposits form (diagnosis) can result in recommendations regarding physical and chemical approaches, which lead to a reduction in and elimination of naphthenate solids and emulsion generation.
Further experiences in dealing with the unique challenges associated with naphthenates from different oilfields around the world are also presented