Chemical and Physical Applications in Treating Produced-Fluid Emulsions of the Bell Creek Micellar/Polymer Flood

Abstract

Summary Unforeseen chemical and physical treating problems arose in obtaining acceptable oil and water quality when produced micellar petroleum sulfonates created unique phase changes in the produced-fluid emulsion. Production facilities had to be modified continuously to adapt to the changing emulsion characteristics. Although the production facilities were adapted to meet the changing phase concentrations of the produced fluid, their undersized capacity would not allow the retention time necessary to break the oil and water emulsions effectively in the presence of sulfonates. Conventional reverse chemicals and demulsifiers proved ineffective in treating the produced-fluid emulsion. New chemicals had to be developed to treat the sulfonated production in an environment conducive to the undersized production facilities.