skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: How to treat seawater for water injection

Journal Article · · Pet. Eng. Int.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6159018

The treatment of seawater for injection into a reservoir involves a combination of physical and chemical treatment to deal with the special problems seawater presents--corrosion and scale control. The selected treatment scheme must be able to produce water of suitable quality for injection into the reservoir. Success of a seawater treatment and injection system depends on proper design of the treatment process as well as adequate monitoring of effluent quality. Continuous monitoring of suspended solids (or turbidity), dissolved oxygen, corrosion rates, and pH with in-line systems having the proper range and sensitivity is required. In addition, proper material selection, particularly in aerated seawater service (upstream of the deaerators), and a good inspection and maintenance program cannot be overemphasized. The treatment approach must be consistent with the basic requirements for water injection - to prevent plugging of the formation and protect critical facilities from corrosion, scale and biological fouling. A typical treatment scheme is described as follows: gross solids removal; chlorination for microbiological control; deep bed filtration for suspended solids removal; gas stripping or vacuum deaeration followed by chemical oxygen scavenging; and pH adjustment or chemical addition for corrosion and scale control.

Research Organization:
Bechtel Petroleum Inc., Houston, TX
OSTI ID:
6159018
Journal Information:
Pet. Eng. Int.; (United States), Vol. 56:13
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English