Showing papers on "Brine published in 1993"

Enhanced oil recovery method employing a high temperature brine tolerant foam-forming composition

Abstract: An enhanced oil recovery technique for recovering hydrocarbons from a reservoir during gas injection comprises the at least periodic injection of gas and a foam-forming composition into the reservoir. The foam-forming composition comprises water, an effective foam-forming amount of a C10-16 α-olefin sulfonate surfactant including C10 AOS and/or C12 AOS, and an effective amount of at least one solubilizing component to increase the brine tolerance of the composition. This solubilizing component is a mixture comprising formulae (1) and (2), where M is H, an alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, or ammonium, where R1 is a linear C6-C16 alkyl group. The method further comprises contacting the hydrocarbons in the reservoir with the foam so as to assist in the recovery of hydrocarbons from the reservoir.

Process for brine disposal

Abstract: A method of treating and disposing of waste water containing salt, such as the brine that results from production of oil and/or gas wells, which includes introducing the waste water into a reverse osmosis unit to produce concentrated brine, and passing the concentrated brine through a combustion heat evaporator wherein said combustion heat is generated in a submerged combustion evaporator or exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine to power a waste heat evaporator to produce a further concentrated brine. The concentrated brine from the combustion heat evaporator can then be mixed with a liquid such as the waste water that is introduced into the reverse osmosis unit. The resulting product can then be injected into a subterranean formation for purposes of disposal. The method allows the volume of the waste water to be significantly reduced while also increasing the salt concentration of the waste water. In other embodiments the reverse osmosis unit and the combustion heat evaporator are used individually. Alternatively, the concentrated brine from the combustion heat evaporator can be introduced into a dryer to evaporate water from the concentrated brine to produce low moisture salt particles.

Origin, distribution, and movement of brine in the Permian Basin (U. S. A. ). A model for displacement of connate brine

Abstract: Na-Cl, halite Ca-Cl, and gypsum Ca-Cl brines with salinities from 45 to >300 g/L are identified and mapped in four hydrostratigraphic units in the Permian Basin area beneath western Texas and Oklahoma and eastern New Mexico, providing spatial and lithologic constraints on the interpretation of the origin and movement of brine. Na-Cl brine is derived from meteoric water as young as 5-10 Ma that dissolved anhydrite and halite, whereas Ca-Cl brine is interpreted to be ancient, modified-connate Permian brine that now is mixing with, and being displaced by, the Na-Cl brine. Displacement fronts appear as broad mixing zones with no significant salinity gradients. Evolution of Ca-Cl brine composition from ideal evaporated sea water is attributed to dolomitization and syndepositional recycling of halite and bittern salts by intermittent influx of fresh water and sea water. Halite Ca-Cl brine in the evaporite section in the northern part of the basin differs from gypsum Ca-Cl brine in the south-central part in salinity and Na/Cl ratio and reflects segregation between halite- and gypsum-precipitating lagoons during the Permian. Ca-Cl brine moved downward through the evaporite section into the underlying Lower Permian and Pennsylvanian marine section that is now the deep-basin brine aquifer, mixing there withmore » pre-existing sea water. Buoyancy-driven convection of brine dominated local flow for most of basin history, with regional advection governed by topographically related forces dominant only for the past 5 to 10 Ma. 71 refs., 11 figs.« less

Reclaiming of spent brine

Abstract: The method of purifying spent brine from the regeneration of ion exchange resin, for example resin in water softeners. The method comprises acidifying the spent brine to a pH of less than 3 with an acid other than sulfuric acid, which acid is preferably chosen from at least one acid which forms a calcium salt that is more water soluble than calcium sulfate. One passes the brine through a nanofiltration membrane to purify the brine by separating from it a waste stream which comprises the majority of the polyvalent ions present, so that the purified brine has most of its contaminating polyvalent ions removed.

Combined water purification and power of generating plant

Abstract: A combined water purification and power generating plant is disclosed having special features designed to maximize the cycle thermal efficiency and salt recovery, with little or no concentrated brine produced therefrom. Using the plant, a volume of salt water is delivered to a plurality of indirect and direct contact feed heaters. Within the direct contact heaters, the salt water is heated and diluted by condensation therein by super-heated steam delivered thereto. Any alkaline salts having reverse solubility characteristics particulate and are filtered therefrom. From the last direct contact feed heater, the diluted salt water is delivered to a plurality of high pressure, high temperature evaporators arranged in a series which are used to further heat, evaporate and filter the salt water in multiple stages thereby improving the plant's efficiency. A steam heater is used to super-heat a steam which delivered to various areas of the plant to heat and evaporate the salt water. High and low pressure steam turbines are also provide which utilize the steam to generate electrical power. The turbines are also arranged so that the exhaust steam therefrom may be used to heat the salt water in the feed heaters and then condensed into fresh water. An optional expansion tank is also provided for additional evaporation of the concentrated brine from the last evaporator.

Analysis of flow-through porous electrode cell with homogeneous chemical reactions: application to bromide oxidation in brine solutions

Abstract: Electrochemical generation of elemental bromine from bromide-containing brine solutions using a flow-through porous electrode system was modelled and studied. Bromine yield was undermined by the homogeneous reactions taking place in the liquid phase which converted bromine back to bromide as well as other undesirable compounds. The effects of these reactions were characterized and accounted for in a mathematical description of a flow-through porous electrode system. The resulting model was used to analyse and estimate the effects of these reactions on the cell size and the current efficiency. Experimental data obtained support the model predictions.

Hydrocarbon recovery from drilling mud stored in salt cavity

Abstract: Used drilling mud, and other high solids oilfield waste which has been contaminated with hydrocarbons, is pumped downhole into a salt cavity where the mud and hydrocarbons separate with the mud gravitating to the bottom of the cavity and the hydrocarbons rising toward the surface of the ground. Brine separates the accumulated hydrocarbons from the residual mud. The brine or the hydrocarbons is selectively removed for sales while additional water or contaminated mud is added to the system as may be required. The salt cavity preferably is located in a geographical area wherein anhydride ledges are formed therewithin upon formation of the cavity. The resultant ledges form baffle plates that coalesces the separated particles of oil and enhance formation of the separated hydrocarbon.

Hydrogen generation by metal corrosion in simulated Waste Isolation Pilot Plant environments. Progress report for the period November 1989 through December 1992

Abstract: The corrosion and gas-generation characteristics of three material types: low-carbon steel (the current waste packaging material for the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant), Cu-base materials, and Ti-base materials were determined in both the liquid and vapor phase of Brine A, a brine representative of an intergranular Salado Formation brine. Test environments included anoxic brine and anoxic brine with overpressures of CO{sub 2}, H{sub 2}S, and H{sub 2}. Low-carbon steel reacted at a slow, measurable rate with anoxic brine, liberating H{sub 2} on an equimolar basis with Fe reacted. Presence of CO{sub 2} caused the initial reaction to proceed more rapidly, but CO{sub 2}-induced passivation stopped the reaction if the CO{sub 2} were present in sufficient quantities. Low-carbon steel immersed in brine with H{sub 2}S showed no reaction, apparently because of passivation of the steel by formation of a protective iron sulfide reaction product. Cu- and Ti-base materials showed essentially no corrosion when exposed to brine and overpressures of N{sub 2}, CO{sub 2}, and H{sub 2}S except for the rapid and complete reaction between Cu-base materials and H{sub 2}S. No significant reaction took place on any material in any environment in the vapor-phase exposures.

On the analysis of brine transport in porous media

Abstract: An analysis is given of brine transport through a porous medium, which incorporates the effect of volume changes due to variations in the salt concentration. Two specific situations are investigated which lead to self-similarity. We develop the existence and uniqueness theory for the corresponding ordinary differential equations, and give a number of qualitative properties of the solutions. In particular, we present an asymptotic expression for the solution in terms of the relative density difference (ρs−ρf)/ρf. Finally, we show some numerical results. It is found that the volume changes have a noticeable effect on the mass transport only when salt concentrations are large.

Brine recycling method and an apparatus therefor

Abstract: A brine recycling method where the used brine containing metal ions is added with a reaction agent to provide a agent-added brine. The reaction agent is of a kind which, when it is reacted with the metal ions, produces an insoluble substance, excluding an oxidant which, when reacted with oxygen, produces metal oxide. The agent-added brine is subsequently filtrated with the use of a microporous filtration membrane having an average pore size within the range of 0.005 to 1 μm. A brine recycling apparatus is also disclosed which includes a filter module containing a microporous filtration membrane having an average pore size within the range of 0.005 to 1 μm. The used brine is, after having been added with the reaction agent, supplied through a supply passage into the filter module. The filtrate is then removed from the filter module through a recovery passage.

Corrosion Behavior of Low-Residual Carbon Steels in a Sour Environment

Abstract: Potentiodynamic testing was used to study the corrosion performance of low-residual carbon steels in a sour brine, as typically encountered in Kuwaiti oil fields. Twenty-eight tests were performed to determine the effects of variations of carbon content from 0.1 to 0.4%; 1, 2, and 3% additions of cobalt; and 1, 2, and 4% additions of chromium. Results indicated carbon content decreased the corrosion rate in the absence of impurities and alloying elements because of the enhanced formation of corrosion products in the sour brine. The corrosion rate was about 254 μm/y (10 mpy). The addition of small amounts of Cr tended to increase the corrosion rate, regardless of the C content. For the 4% Cr samples, the corrosion rate averaged 2032 μm/y (80 mpy). From the values of βc for C steels and Cr-alloyed steels in the deaerated base brine, aerated base brine, and in the sour brine, the study concluded that Cr always depolarized the cathodic reaction independent of the environment. The Co-alloyed steels ex...

A fluid property module for the TOUGH2 simulator for saline brines with non-condensible gas

Abstract: A new equation-of-state module has been developed for the TOUGH2 simulator, belonging to the MULKOM family of computer codes developed at LBL. This EOS module is able to handle three-component mixtures of water, sodium chloride, and a non-condensible gas. It can describe liquid and gas phases, and includes precipitation and dissolution of solid salt. The dependence of density, viscosity, enthalpy, and vapor pressure of brine on salt concentration is taken into account, as well as the effects of salinity on gas solubility in the liquid phase and related heat of solution. The main assumptions made in developing this EOS module are discussed, together with the correlations employed to calculate the thermophysical properties of multiphase multicomponent mixtures. At present the non-condensible gas can be chosen to be air, CO2, CH4, H2, or N2. This paper focuses on H2O-NaCI-CO2 mixtures and describes new correlations obtained from fitting of published experimental data. Illustrative results for geothermal reservoir depletion in the presence of salinity and non-condensible gas are presented. We demonstrate and analyze effects of vapor pressure lowering and gas solubility decrease from salinity, and loss of reservoir porosity and permeability from salt precipitation during boiling of brines.

The Effect of Alkaline and Polymer Additives on Phase Behaviour of Surfactant-Oil-Brine System At High Salinity Conditions

Abstract: This paper deals with the effect of alkali and polymer on the phase behavior of some available surfactants (Petrostep HMW) - Safaniya crude oil-brine system and the phase relations were obtained after equilibrium at 25 and 70°C. It was found that the miscibility increases when using NaOH and with increasing concentration from 0. 5 to 1. 0% for reservoir salinity of 23% NaCl. Increasing NaCl concentration from 3. 84 to 23% decreases the system miscibility. Temperature increase and using of isopropyl alcohol decreases miscibility. Presence of polymer improves the miscibility on the water-rich side and decreases the miscibility on the oil-rich side.

Process for desalting salt water and sterilisation using an electrodialyser

Abstract: The novel electrodialyser serves for electrodialysis, but has an additional membrane upstream of the porous anode and porous cathode. Thus separate anode and cathode compartments and prechambers are formed through which the salt water passes through the overflow channels into dilution chambers, where the desalting process takes place by membranes which form the concentration chambers in which the salt brine which is discharged collects. At salt concentrations of < 1 g/l, salt brine is fed from the concentration chambers to the intake stream, from which salt brine, the water hardness salts have been previously been precipitated by addition of alkali from the cathode chamber, slow passing through from behind the porous cathode comprising sintered metal in order to prevent metal deposits on its surface from the dissolved salts. A part-stream of the desalted water exiting from the cathode prechamber is fed from the rear to the front to the anode chamber through the porous electrode which comprises sintered metal, where it absorbs hydrogen ions and then is admixed again with the end product, by which means its pH can be adjusted.

Use of added water to achieve 100% injection weight in geothermal operations

Abstract: Geothermal brines are extracted from the earth, flashed and the remaining liquids are injected back into the earth. Although it would be advantageous for resource maintenance to inject the same amount of liquid as extracted, addition of liquid causes massive system upsets that prevent such addition. River or other similar surface waters can now be added to the brine stream created when extracting power from a geothermal source, after adding a crystal structure modifier to the brine stream. In operations where the brine stream is returned to the earth, the weight rate of the brine injected into the earth is brought to at least 90% what it was when extracted from the ground.

Corrosion inhibition of calcium chloride brine

Abstract: A method of inhibiting corrosion of metals such as low carbon steel in contact with calcium chloride brine comprising adding to the brine or to the salt prior to dissolution 2-hydroxyphosphono-acetic acid.

Process for recycling saltcake

Abstract: Saltcake generated by the aluminum industry is completely recycled through a process that simultaneously liberates the contained aluminum metal and dissolves the soluble salt fluxes to recover aluminum metal, aluminum oxide and salt fluxes by temperature controlled wet milling, rapid solids-brine separation and solar pond evaporation of the resulting clear brine. The temperature of the feedwater is 70° F. or less to retard the exothermic reaction of aluminum metal with water, thereby minimizing the loss of metal to oxidation and the evolution of undesirable gases. Low temperature is maintained by using process water at or below the desired temperature, by forcibly cooling the mill with ambient air, and by controlling transit time through the mill to avoid excessive grinding of the aluminum metal. Minimizing the production of fine aluminum particles reduces the total surface area of aluminum metal available for exothermic reacton with the water. Particle size is controlled by monitoring the aluminum metal product and slurry from the mill in order to adjust the feed rate of saltcake and water to the mill. Particle size control also permits maximum recovery of aluminum. The slurry from the mill is rapidly separated by filters and clarifiers into aluminum oxide and clear brine. The brine is then evaporated in solar pond(s) to recover salt fluxes.

Technology for Removing Potassium Ion from Concentrated Seawater by Electrodialysis and Solar Salt Dissolved in Brine

Abstract: Cryptomelane-type hydrous manganese dioxide (CRYMO) has a high adsorption selectivity toward potassium ions (K+). The distribution coefficients of the highly selective adsorption are evaluated by the theoretically proven calculation method, that adsorption isotherm data and Kielland plot data are taken for granted. The calculated results and the experimental results of the adsorption isotherm show fairly good agreement for a whole range of conditions. CRYMO has been successfully applied to the caustic soda manufacturing process. The concentration of K+ in brine for the process was lowered to less than 1 ppb. This purity is sufficient for the high quality caustic soda manufacturing process. Another advantage of CRYMO is its acidification ability for solutions. The brine is acidified with hydrochloric acid before being introduced to the electrolytic bath in the present process.

Mathematical simulation of evaporating brine by solar radiation for the production of salt

Abstract: A computer simulation model of salt pan is presented. The transient behavior and the effects of various parameters of the salt pans, such as the depth of the brine layer, the absorptance of the soil surface, the thermal properties of the soil beneath the brine layer and the depth of the underground water table, on the evaporation process of salt pans are discussed. The effects of extra insulation layer and the intensity of solar radiation are also examined.

Cooling or heating method utilizing latent heat

Abstract: PURPOSE:To perform cooling or heating with high thermal efficiency by a method wherein a heating medium is formed of a mixture of a number of micro resin capsules with a sealed heat accumulating agent and water or brine. CONSTITUTION:A closed circuit is formed between a cooling part 13 and a heat-exchanger 2 and a heating medium is circulated through a closed circuit with the aid of a pump 5. The heating medium is formed of a mixture of a number of spherical capsules made of resin with a grain size of 10mum or less, preferably 0.1-5mum with a sealed heat accumulating agent and water or brine. The heating medium cooled through drive of a cooling device 1 is fed to the heat-exchanger 2 through a conveyance pipe 3 with the aid of a pump 5. After heat-exchange, the heating medium is fed back to a cooling part 13 through a feedback pipe 4 and the circulation is executed during drive of the pump 5. This method performs cooling or heating with high thermal efficiency.