Impact of in-situ sulfate stripping on scale management in the Gyda field

Eric James Mackay, Kenneth Stuart Sorbie, Vinod Kavle, E. Sorhaug, K. Melvin, K. Sjursaether, M. Jordan

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

36 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

While barium stripping is commonly observed in sandstone reservoirs where seawater mixes with formation water that may be rich in calcium, strontium and barium ions, this paper presents evidence for in situ sulphate stripping in a sandstone reservoir. The formation brine composition suggests that a moderate to severe barite scaling tendency will require inhibitor concentrations in the range of 10-50 ppm to control scale, but in practice concentrations < 5 ppm are adequate. Investigation of the produced brine compositions has revealed that this is due to much lower sulphate concentrations in the produced brine mix than would be expected purely from dilution of seawater with the formation brine. The question this paper addresses is what has caused this reduction in sulphate concentration. The formation brine Mg/Ca ratio is < 0.1. Over geological time frames, the reservoir rock and formation brine will come into chemical equilibrium, the Mg/Ca and Na/Ca ratios in the brine being dependent on the respective ratios in the rock matrix. However, when seawater is injected, this equilibrium is disturbed. Since the Mg/Ca ratio for seawater is ∼ 3, to re-equilibrate an ion exchange mechanism causes magnesium to be retained from the brine phase onto the rock, and in return calcium is released from the rock into the brine phase. This is confirmed by lower than expected magnesium concentrations in the produced brine. The impact of the calcium release into seawater as it is displaced through the hot reservoir is to cause precipitation of calcium sulphate, this process resulting in the observed sulphate stripping. This analysis is supported by the field data and by reactive transport calculations. Implications are drawn for scale management in this and similar fields with high formation water calcium concentrations.

Original languageEnglish
Pages224-234
Number of pages11
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2006
Event8th SPE International Oilfield Scale Symposium 2006 - Aberdeen, United Kingdom
Duration: 31 May 20061 Jun 2006

Conference

Conference8th SPE International Oilfield Scale Symposium 2006
Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom
CityAberdeen
Period31/05/061/06/06

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Engineering

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