Becky L. Ogden, Multi-Chem Production Chemicals
The significance and importance of water to the Oil and Gas Industry cannot be overstated. While water is often an unwanted by-product of production, water is utilized in many production scenarios and is often times the primary driver for the production of oil. Water, by its inherent nature, will dissolve and carry many impurities within it. These impurities will remain in equilibrium with each other until acted upon by some outside force. These impurities can result in accelerated corrosion, mineral scale depositions, stress corrosion cracking of metals, plugging problems and erosion/corrosion of metallic equipment. It is vital to gain an understanding of the dissolved and suspended constituents of produced, or injected, water and to identify relevant changes in these compositions. This paper will discuss the importance of an accurate water analysis and will discuss the practical uses of this information.