Chemical Composition Of Produced Water Research Articles

Understanding controls on the geochemistry of hydrocarbon produced waters from different basins across the US.

The most massive waste stream generated by conventional and unconventional hydrocarbon exploration is the produced water (PW). The costs and environmental issues associated with the management and disposal of PW, which contains high concentrations of inorganic and organic pollutants, is one of the most challenging problems faced by the oil and gas industry. Many of the current strategies for the reuse and recycling of PW are inefficient because of varying water demand and the spatial and temporal variations in the chemical composition of PW. The chemical composition of PW is controlled by a multitude of factors and can vary significantly over time. This study aims to understand different parameters and processes that control the quality of PW generated from hydrocarbon-bearing formations by analyzing relationships between their major ion concentrations, O, H, and Sr isotopic composition. We selected PW data sets from three conventional (Trenton, Edwards, and Wilcox Formations) and four unconventional (Lance, Marcellus, Bakken, and Mesaverde Formations) oil and gas formations with varying lithology and depositional environment. Using comparative geochemical data analysis, we determined that the geochemical signature of PW is controlled by a complex interplay of several factors, including the original source of water (connate marine vs. non-marine), migration of the basinal fluids, the nature and degree of water-mineral-hydrocarbon interactions, water recharge, processes such as evaporation and ultrafiltration, and production techniques (conventional vs. unconventional). The development of efficient PW recycle and reuse strategies requires a holistic understanding of the geological and hydrological history of each formation to account for the temporal and spatial heterogeneities.

A study on the quantities and potential use of produced water in southern Iraq

This paper presents the results of an analysis of volumes and chemical composition of produced water (PW) accompanying oil production from five of the largest oilfields in the world situated in Basrah, Iraq. PW is potentially a valuable water resource particularly there where the ramp up of oil production puts further strains on water and the environment in an area already having severe water shortages. PW should therefore be seen as part of the country's strategic water reserves rather than as effluent. This study gives first estimates of anticipated PW volumes correlated to peak oil production and water consumption needs with time up to 2035. At least a fivefold increase of PW within the next two decades relative to the current 1 Mbbl/d can be anticipated. The estimated PW quantity before 2030 represents nearly a third of water injection or salt-tolerant plant irrigation needs. These quantities and the chemical composition of PW from these fields indicate that quality standards for these purposes can be technically attained and sustained for use in Basrah.