Criteria for Produced Water Re-Injection

Abstract

Criteria for Produced Water Re-Injection

Produced water re-injection will become increasingly common in offshore oilfields, and this paper describes some key criteria which need to be considered in the design of such projects.

The poor quality of produced water, compared to seawater, and its more complex chemistry are described, with discussion on the types of treatment equipment currently available or under development. Because both produced waters and reservoir injection zones are so variable in composition, system designs must be project specific. Special core analyses plus reservoir engineering studies are essential parts of this task, therefore certain aspects of core selection, core analysis and injection zone fracturing are described.