Analysis of data from a downhole oil/water separator field trial in east Texas.
The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) National Petroleum Technology Office (NPTO) is interested in promoting new technologies that can produce oil and gas at a lower cost or with enhanced environmental protection at a reasonable cost. Several years ago, DOE became aware of a new technology for produced water management known as a downhole oil/water separator (or DOWS). A DOWS system separates oil from water at the bottom of a production well and injects the water directly to a disposal zone without lifting it to the surface. DOWS technology offered three potential advantages over traditional pumping systems. First, DOWS were reported to reduce the volume of produced water brought to the surface. Second, the volume of oil produced often increased. Third, because large volumes of produced water were not being lifted to the surface past drinking water zones and subsequently reinjected downward past the same drinking water zones, there was less opportunity for contamination of those zones.
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Lab., IL (US)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- US Department of Energy (US)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-31-109-ENG-38
- OSTI ID:
- 799860
- Report Number(s):
- ANL/AOD/RP-108433; TRN: US200224%%278
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: 15 Aug 2002
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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