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Central-terminal upset from well treatment is prevented

Journal Article · · Oil Gas J.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6686448

Upsets in a central demulsification facility can create an accumulation of emulsified oil and water and perhaps require shut in or producing wells. When the upset affects offshore production, the problem is compounded. Exxon Co. U.S.A. experienced upsets of this type but quickly traced the cause to returns from stimulation and sand-control treatments in offshore wells. The terminal facility having this trouble is at Grand Isle, La., where about 120,000 bpd of oil and 35,000 bpd of water are separated. The water produced from this operation, after further treatment, is discharged in an environmentally acceptable fashion into one of the nearby bayous. Increases in production during the late 1960s and early 1970s and more intensive stimulation, sand control, and workover operations off shore taxed the separation capabilities of the terminal facility and made its operation more sensitive to changes in the input stream. This study describes the method used to locate the cost and the procedure followed to find a cure.

Research Organization:
Exxon Co
OSTI ID:
6686448
Journal Information:
Oil Gas J.; (United States), Journal Name: Oil Gas J.; (United States) Vol. 72:6; ISSN OIGJA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English