Dynamic Field Rheology, Filterability and Injectivity Characterization Using a Portable Measurement Unit
Authors: Espinosa David , Walker Dustin , Alexis Dennis , Dwarakanath Varadarajan , Jackson Adam , Kim Do Hoon , Linnemeyer Harold , Malik Taimur , McKilligan Derek , New Peter , Poulsen Anette , Winslow Greg 
Published: March 2018

Field deployment of Chemical EOR floods requires monitoring of wellhead injection fluids to ensure field performance is commensurate with laboratory design. Real-time surveillance allows for optimizing chemical use, detecting potential issues, and ensures correct chemical handling. In an offshore setting traditional surveillance methods can present unique challenges due to space constraints, field conditions, and location. We present a novel approach to field surveillance using a portable measurement unit (PMU) that can dynamically characterize polymer rheology, filterability and long-term core-injectivity.

We developed a PMU and placed it inside a suitcase sized box (42x26x20″) with appropriate devices to measure polymer rheology, filterability and long-term core injectivity. Polymer rheology was measured using a series of capillary tubes with pressure measurements. Filterability was measured through a 1.2 um filter at 15 psi with coarse filtration to remove large oil droplets and suspended solids. This was compared against filterability without filtration to observe water quality impact. Finally, long-term injectivity was measured using an epoxy-coated Bentheimer core with a pressure tap to quantify whether there was any face and/or core-plugging. By constructing this apparatus, wellhead injection fluids under anaerobic conditions can be monitored and analyzed to improve fluid quality assurance and contribute to a project's success even in challenging and remote locations.

The use of the PMU is critical for dynamic fluid surveillance. The injection solutions consistently met or exceeded target viscosity of 20 cP. Furthermore, the coarse-filtered solutions also met a filtration ratio (FR) requirements of less than 1.5 at 15 psi through 1.2 micron filters. The unfiltered solutions achieved a FR of 1.75, which was considered acceptable. Finally, no plugging was observed with coarse-filtered solutions after 25 PV across the whole core and &gt; 75 PV across the core face. Further testing was completed with wellhead injectate samples at variable operating conditions to establish a baseline for chemical flooding operations and provided insight for future facilities design.

The information these experiments produced helped identify and diagnose facility and operational issues that would have caused negative consequences with the chemical injection had the configuration been used without the PMU surveillance. By testing the wellhead fluid, we determined that there was improper dosing of the chemical. This was determined by comparing the field fluid properties to expected results from the lab. The data also influenced facilities design and in turn improved the chemical and project efficiency. By testing the injectate at different operating conditions we could determine the operating envelope for the current injection facilities and base future work on the results. All of this was done in real time on an offshore platform, as opposed to sending samples onshore to test which yields unrepresentative results from the time delay and fluid quality changes during transport.