Paper: Carbonated Waterflood Implementation And Its Impact On Material Performance In A Pilot Project

Carbonated waterflooding is an enhanced oil recovery process developed in the early 1950's that may have potential application in several West Texas reservoirs. The process consists of saturating injection water with CO, in order to swell the remaining oil-in-place, and thereby increase the amount of recoverable oil in a reservoir. The process usually involves less investment and CO, demand than miscible CO, flooding. The effects of carbonated waterflooding on equipment material performance were monitored during a two well carbonated water injection pilot test conducted by Amoco Production Company in the Slaughter Field, Hockley County, Texas. Stainless steel and aluminum bronze material showed no deterioration during the test period. However, severe problems were encountered at holidays in the internal plastic coating of carbon steel pipe and fittings. Injection well material performance data and observations are presented to support these findings. In addition, the surface equipment design used to saturate injection water with CO, will be presented. No attempt will be made to discuss the impact of carbonated waterflooding on injection well or reservoir performance.