Modeling of geochemical reactions occurring in the Gyda field under cold-seawater injection on the basis of produced-water-chemistry data and implications for scale management

The evidence from the produced-brine chemistry suggests that the Gyda field has experienced a variety of geochemical reactions caused by the high temperature and initial calcium (Ca) concentration, and so it is worth reviewing the produced-water data set and studying what in-situ geochemical reactions may be taking place. Produced-brine-chemistry data from 16 wells in the Gyda field are plotted and analyzed in combination with general geological information and the reservoir description. A 1D reactive-transport model is developed to identify the possible geochemical reactions occurring within the reservoir triggered by seawater injection, and then extended with the inclusion of thermal modeling and also to be a 2D vertical-cross-section model. Three possible classes of formation-water composition in different regions of the Gyda field have been identified by analysis of the produced-water data set. Anhydrite and barite precipitation are the two dominant mineral reactions taking place deep within the reservoir. Magnesium (Mg) stripping may be a result of multicomponent ion exchange (MIE), dolomite precipitation, or a combination of both. Reservoir temperature is lowered during coldwater injection. The solubility of anhydrite increases at lower temperature, and anhydrite will gradually dissolve in response to the movement of the temperature front, which is much slower than the formation/injection-water mixing front. The extent of mineral precipitation within the reservoir can be reduced by the heterogeneity; the modeling shows that the extent of ion stripping caused by mineral reactions in the reservoir is greatest when simulating a single uniform layer. Brine mixing and the occurrence of geochemical reactions caused by vertical mixing are not observable, even when assigning a high vertical permeability in a heterogeneous model. Thermal modeling is included to evaluate the effect of nonisothermal processes and heat transport on the geochemical reactions, especially the anhydrite mineral reaction. We have investigated how the difference in horizontal permeability in the two layers affects brine mixing of formation and injection water and geochemical reactions.