Brine Contamination Management Guide
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Mohamed AbozeimaBrine Contamination Management Guide
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Mohamed AbozeimaSection 12-1
Brine Contaminations
278 SECTION 12-1 – BRINE CONTAMINATIONS
Brine contaminations
Iron Iron can be a contaminate in either soluble or insoluble form.
Soluble iron is a product of corrosion and is common in zinc fluids.
When exposed to certain waters, soluble iron can form a precipitate,
which can cause formation damage. The soluble iron content of a fluid
can be measured using the iron test kit described in the chapter titled:
FIELD TESTS.
Note: no brine should be delivered to location with an iron content
greater than 75 ppm. Consider displacing a brine when its iron content
reaches 625 ppm.
At the brine plant, iron should be removed from a fluid by adding
hydrogen peroxide to the fluid, flocculating the fluid, and then filtering
the fluid. On location, treating a fluid for iron is very difficult and usually
successful only in low-density brine such as KCL, NaCL, or CaCl2. the
treatment consists of increasing pH with caustic soda or lime and
removing the precipitated iron by filtering the brine.
Solids Total solids can be measured at the well site using a turbidity
meter (see the chapter titled FIELD TESTS) or a shakeout machine. Solids
that are not added to the system to enhance the performance of a
brine are considered contaminants. Contaminates include formation
clays, precipitates, and polymer residues, among other things. These
contaminants can be filtered at the well site using diatomaceous
earth, a plate and frame press, and two micron absolute cartridges.
Note: a clear completion fluid should not be sent to the well site with an
NTU (Neohlometric Turbidity Unit) greater than 40 or a suspended solids
concentration greater than 50 ppm).
Hardness When monovalent brine has been selected to minimize
calcium and magnesium scale formation, the total hardness content
should not exceed 100 mg/l. Brines contaminated in the plant should
be treated with soda ash and/or BARASCAV and filtered. To settle the
precipitate prior to filtration, a flocculant might be needed.
Oil, distillate, grease, and pipe dope Produced oil an other
hydrocarbons affect brine density and can also blind filtration units.
Hydrocarbons will form a separate layer above heavy brine and
should be pumped off the surface.
Polymers Brines contaminated with polymers usually cannot be filtered
without chemical and/or special mechanical treatment at the plant
site where hydrogen peroxide can be used to oxidize polymers and
permit filtration. At the well site, polymer pills used in displacement
should be caught and isolated from the active brine system.
SECTION 12-1 – BRINE CONTAMINATIONS 279
Surfactants Compatibility tests and formation damage tests should
be run with any surfactant package required for completion.
Handling fluids
A completion or workover fluid should be protected from contamination while the
fluid is prepared, transported, and used at the rig; any contamination can have
costly results. Some brines are quite corrosive to the skin and eyes. All rig personnel
who might come in contact with these fluids must be trained in both handling fluid
and personal safety.
Transporting fluids
To help maintain the quality of brines during transport:
o Ensure the boat or truck is clean and dry before loading the brine.
o Tie he fluid-transfer hose securely and continually monitor the hose for leaks or
breaks
o Ensure all the brine is transferred to the boat or truck, including the brine in trip
tanks, sand traps, cement-unit tanks, slugging pits, etc.
o Strap the boat or truck tanks and check the density of the brine being
shipped to help explain any losses in density and/or grains or losses in volume
once the material is received.
o Ensure all the hatches and valves on the boat or truck are securely closed
before leaving the rig.
o Instruct the person in charge of transport not to transfer any fluid on board
during transport.
Note: major losses of volume often occur because some rig pits and boat tanks
do not allow for the transfer of all fluid. When this is the case, consider renting a
small, portable pump or modifying the rig pits.
Preparing the rig and rig housekeeping
Ensuring a successful completion or workover operation requires following
certain precautions to help prevent fluid loss due to contamination and
equipment leaks.
Before receiving fluid
o Cover all open pits to be used in handling the completion fluid. A solid, raised
cover with sufficient over hang is preferable to traps to keep rain water out of
brine.
o Wash and dry all pits or tanks to be used in handling the fluid.
o Flush all lines and pumps with sea water or fresh water.
o Clean and dry the mud-return ditch, shale shaker, possum belly, and sand
trap beneath the shale shaker.
o Seal return-ditch gates, shale shaker gates, and dump valves by caulking with
silicon compound or some other compatible material.
o Disconnect or plug all water and diesel lines leading to pits.
280 SECTION 12-1 – BRINE CONTAMINATIONS
o Tie down the fluid-delivery hose to prevent accidents or loss of expensive fluid.
o Conduct a meeting to establish the methods for emergency communication
with boat or truck personnel to allow for rapid shutdown of fluid transfer
should problems develop.
While receiving fluid
o Monitor the delivery hose for breaks or leaks.
o Monitor pits and dump valves for leaks.
o Maintain communications with the boat or truck for estimated volumes
pumped.
o Allow plenty of time to shut down delivery as soon as pits are full.
After receiving fluid
o Mark the fluid level in pits and monitor for fluid losses
o Inspect pits and dump valves for leaks.
o Use completion fluid to flush sea or fresh water from all lines, pumps, solids-
control equipment, and degassers.
During completion or work over operations
o Monitor fluid level in pits and dump valves for losses.
o Monitor pits for accidental water additions.
o Restrict the use of pipe dope to a light coating on pin ends only.
Note: clean and clear completion fluids don’t contain solids that might plug a
productive formation. Pits and lines must be clean of solids. A pinhole plugged with
mud solids can become unplugged, resulting in the loss of expensive fluid.
Immediately investigate any unexplained loss of volume.
Personal safety
safety is important when workers handle completion or workover fluids.
To ensure a successful operation, observe the following basic
recommendations:
o Prior to receiving the fluid, conduct a job-specific safety meeting with all
personnel including those (such as production personnel) not directly
involved in the completion/workover operation. At this safety meeting, review
the safety video tape available.
o Install eye-wash and shower stations in all areas where contact with the fluid
is a possibility. At a minimum, eye-wash stations should be installed in the
following areas:
Right floor (two or more locations)
Mud pit (as need for easy access)
Mixing-hopper area
High pressure pump service skid unit
Production deck (under fluid handling areas)
o Provide appropriate eye-protection devices to all personnel working near
fluid-handling areas and require the use of eye-protection devices.
SECTION 12-1 – BRINE CONTAMINATIONS 281
o Provide slicker suits, rubber gloves, rubber boots, and barrier cream to all
personnel who will be working in fluid-handling areas or who might come in
contact with fluid.
If brine comes into contact with eyes or skin, or if ingestion or inhalation is
suspected, take the following first-aid measures:
Eyes: flush eyes promptly with plenty of water for fifteen minutes.
Get medical attention.
Skin: flush skin with plenty of water for fifteen minutes. If necessary,
wash skin with soap.
Ingestion: consult the material safety data sheet for response
information and get medical attention.
Note: environmental regulations vary, and its important to acquire the specific
guidelines for the area where the brine will be used. Its mandatory that
compliance with the regulations be carried out.