Pubblicazione scientifica

Field Testing The Polysaccharide Schizophyllan: Results of The First Year

FILONE TECNOLOGICO	TEMA
trasformazione e commercializzazione

RIASSUNTO

For the first time ever a novel biopolymer is being field tested in a mature onshore oil field in Northern Germany. This biopolymer - named Schizophyllan after its producing fungus - shows excellent viscosifying efficiency and high tolerance towards harsh reservoir conditions such as high temperature, salinity and shear. Hence, this biopolymer allows for application in reservoirs that could so far not be easily polymer flooded and extends the operating envelope for polymer flooding to temperatures up to 130°C at arbitrary salt contents. Furthermore, it provides an environmentally friendly alternative to the commonly used synthetic polymers.
To run this first field test petroleum engineers of Wintershall Holding GmbH, chemical research scientists and biotechnologists of BASF SE are closely cooperating in an integrated team. An existing biotechnological plant at the BASF compound in Ludwigshafen, Germany, was partly reconstructed into a production facility for the biopolymer providing sufficient material for the field pilot. In the oil field itself an existing production site was extended into an operation site also hosting the surface facilities for treatment of the produced water used for re-injection and preparation of the injected biopolymer solution.
Being trucked to site as mother solution the Schizophyllan is mixed on-the-fly with the treated, high-salinity reservoir brine and injected into a newly drilled injector in the project area surrounded by three production wells. A comprehensive surveillance programme was set up comprising regular microbiological sampling, pressure monitoring using permanent down-hole gauges as well as frequent analyses and production tests to monitor the progress of the polymer trial.
The paper presents further information on the biopolymer Schizophyllan, describes the preparation and the setup of the field trial and summarizes results and experiences from the first year of the two-year field trial.

DATA

Data di pubblicazione: 01/01/2014

AUTORI

LEONHARDT BERND
ERNST BURKHARD
REIMANN SABRINA
STEIGERWALD ALEXANDER
LEHR FLORIAN

ENTE DI AFFERENZA

WINTERSHALL HLDG GMBH
BASF SE

RIVISTA

SPE Improved Oil Recovery Symposium, 12-16 April, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA

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