Student Jhon Alex Chinchilla Vargas date 11/22/15

Basin API

1. INTRODUCTION

In oil production, undesirable and contaminating elements are obtained.

which cannot be easily discarded.
existence of rules and laws that require treating such elements in a manner
suitable. being one of them and very important the api pools that are no longer
what wells take advantage of the chemical and physical properties of them
hydrocarbons and the water where oil rises to the surface and is removed
through an overflow system to another part of the pool from where it is
pumped to the cutting tank.
The liquid that remains is water with low hydrocarbon content and others.
impurities. This is removed through a lower pipe that connects to the API tank.
with the treatment plant.

2. OBJECTIVE

it aims to understand operational steps to be taken for the development of the

oil recovery operation of the Pileta api

The main objective is to recover the oil lost due to emulsion.

Separation of solids in suspension (Filtration)

Mitigate incompatibility with formation water

Chemical treatment for bacteriological activities

Chemical treatment for controlling CO3CA, SO4CA, and Ba incrustations

Corrosion control

Try to eliminate Expansion or clays in the Separation formation

residual oil

3. DEVELOPMENT
The process begins when the water reaches a first API Pool basin where
all solid impurities that the water may contain are filtered out,
impurities mainly come from the drains and can be found
from earth to insects.

Subsequently, the liquids pass through a centrifugal pump to a

second tank inside the pool which has the main function of separating
the condensate water thanks to the difference in density between the two.
this same place treats the water with biocides and can send it
condensed separated to the feed tank by a piston pump
triplex.

From the pool, the water is sent to the Skimmer Tank (S-120) whose function
The main goal is to finish separating all the condensate that may have passed through.
taking advantage once again of the fact that oil floats on the level of
water like the cream does in milk.

Before passing to the second tank, the water first goes to a filter that separates the
impurities of water through a sand packing of different diameters.
This filter is cleaned every day through a 'backwash' or flow in
against the current and the impurities go to the Membrane Pit.

From the filter, all the treated water passes to the second tank (S-205) from
where it is pumped to La Peña using a 5 HP centrifugal pump and a
of 30 HP triple piston.

All the water that accumulates in the membrane pit is pumped back to
the Pool API to complete a cycle and the condensate and some solids that
They come from the backwash and are sent to LandFarming where the treatment is done.
to all the contaminated land.

4. DESIGN OF THE API POOL

It can be of 2 types
CLOSED SYSTEM: In this system, water never comes into contact with the
atmosphere. Theoretically, the water produced and injected remains in
chemical equilibrium throughout the process and requires minimal treatment.
In order to keep the system free of oxygen, a cushion is maintained.
from natural gas at very low pressure.

OPEN SYSTEM: In this system, the water is exposed to the atmosphere.

coming into contact with the air and light. Given that the temperature and pressure
They are different from those existing in the subsoil, the balance can be modified.
water chemistry and release carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, methane and others
gases. It may happen that the water is stripped of some gases and absorbs
oxygen

SELECTION VARIABLE
The adoption variable of one system or another consists of the existence of
sulfate-reducing bacteria (anaerobic) that produce H2S
(Hydrogen sulfide) as a product of its metabolism and this attacks the
metals generating ferrous sulfide (FeS), which is a precipitate
insoluble that clogs the formations, in addition to the intense corrosion
due to the attack on the system that contains materials with Fe.

The open system is chosen when the amount of bacteria is high and the
contact with O2 eliminates them as they are anaerobic. It is preferred
eliminate bacteria with O2 and subsequently remove it with
O2 kidnapper

In the closed system, it is preferred to deal with bacteria and not with O2.
what can be incorporated by having water in contact with this (system)
open
for a good design it is necessary to know the characteristics of the water of
production

High salt content

Cations of Ca, Mg, Ba, Sr, Fe

Anions of Cl, SO4, HCO3, etc.

Suspended solids

Residual oil

Gases

Organic Matter

crude recovery flow diagram from API pit to tank

5. CALCULATIONS

The following information is needed for the calculation:

Maximum water flow = Max. water flow

Densidad petróleo contaminado = Dpc

Density of contaminated water = Dac

 Viscosity of water

Water temperature

Diameter of the oil droplet < 0.15 mm

The Darcy equation determines the upward velocity of the

oil particle, which must be < 1 meter linear per hour

We assume a horizontal speed ( vh ) < 6 m/hour and we affect it

of the following practical factors:

Factor turbulencia ( Ft ) = 1,2

Short circuit factor (Fcc) = 1.3

Design factor (Fd) = 1.5

Then:
vh = 6 mt/h * 1,2 * 1,3 * 1,5 = 16,7 mt/h
vh = approximately 1 ft / minute
The horizontal speed must not exceed 1 linear ft/minute for
let's have a good coalescence of oil particles in the water.
A good efficiency is estimated if the output of the pool is less than 300 ppm of
total impurities

Now we will proceed to the design of the pool:

[Link] = vh * Cross-sectional area

[Link] = vh * At
So we solve:
At = [Link] / Vh
And replacing we obtain the At
On the other hand, it must be fulfilled that:

Pool depth / pool width = 0.3 (practical)

We know that:
At = Prof. * Width = Prof * (0.3 Prof)
And from the previous equation, we solve for the Prof.
And with it we can obtain the Width
2 channels are being built to have the option of duplication

To calculate the length we take the equation:

[Link] = Volumen pileta * tpo residencia

We adopted a residence time of one hour and from the previous equation.
By solving, we obtain the volume of the pool.
As Vol. Pool = At * Length, and we know the Volume and the At, then
we can clear the length
In this way we have designed the API pool.

6. NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL REGULATIONS

ARTICLE 46. For the management of solid and liquid waste, the Responsible
debe:
b) Accumulate the waste from the drilling equipment, as well as the
oils, fats and used filters, in leak-proof containers for their
provision, in accordance with the OSC requirements in the reports of
monitoring.
ARTICLE 47. For the disposal of solid and liquid waste
drilling, completion and intervention, the Responsible must:
b) Store the liquid drilling waste in the mud pit.
When the construction of this is not feasible, such waste shall be
stored in a tank.
Para el almacenamiento de lodos base aceite, fluidos salinos y residuos
oily wastes, tanks or, failing that, pits must necessarily be used
coated with clay or waterproof material.
ARTICLE 70.- The exploitation of mineral resources must be developed
considering the comprehensive use of raw materials, the
waste material treatment, the safe disposal of tails, tailings
and dismantling, the efficient use of energy and the national exploitation of
deposits.
ARTICLE 107.- Whoever discharges or throws untreated wastewater, liquids
chemicals or biochemicals, objects or waste of any nature, in the
water courses, on the banks, aquifers, basins, rivers, lakes, lagoons,
water ponds, capable of contaminating or degrading waters that exceed
The limits to be established in the regulations will be punished with the penalty
imprisonment of one to four years and a fine of one hundred percent
of the damage caused

ARTICLE 134 (Environmental Impact). All operations in the chain

hydrocarbon production must use the best technology that
reduce the risks of negative Environmental Impact.
ARTICLE 135 (Environmental Liabilities). At the time of producing the Liabilities
Environmental, the company is required to inform the Environmental Authority
Competent, and to immediately initiate the mitigation measures and
environmental restoration.

ARTICLE 136 (Specific Environmental Regulations). The Governments

Municipalities, either individually or jointly within their scope of
jurisdiction and competence within the framework of the Environmental Law and its
Regulations, they will be authorized to propose and apply Regulations
Specific Environmental, to preserve their environmental heritage in relation to
the hydrocarbon activity, which will be approved by the Authority
Competent Environmental.

7.- EXAMPLE OF AN API POOL

La Peña Field

In general, we can say that the average volumes that

Currently, 2000 BPD are produced in the La Peña field.

In addition to these production volumes, the La Peña Plant also

separates, processes, and treats volumes of water coming from the Rió fields
Grande and Los Sauces. The volume of water that arrives is 2000 BPD of water.
coming from Río Grande and 400 BPD arriving from Los Sauces.

Separator area of the La Peña plant

Source: Ministry of Hydrocarbons

The total volume of 4400 BPD of water is re-injected into the wells: 44, 48, 53,
54, 62, 70 and 87 of La Peña in order to achieve secondary recovery.

Water treatment and delivery system

Sources of Supply

In La Peña, water from the Rió Grande fields is received and processed.
The Sauces, in addition to the water separated from the wells of La Peña that arrive at La
Plant (8, 10, 12, 16, 24, 30 and 81).
The water received first passes through an API pit where it is separated from the
oil that may contain, due to density differences. The separated oil
Water is pumped into Tank 1 and flows to Membrane Pit 1. In total, there are
3 interconnected membrane cavities that accumulate all the
water from the plant.

The water that is pumped to Satélite generally comes from Tank 250
barrels that are located between pits 2 and 3, although there is also the
alternative to pump water from Pit 2. Two are used for pumping.
suction centrifugal pumps and a large triple pump with which you
it discharges water at over 1200 psi.
 Before the water enters the
triplex pump, chemical agents such as corrosion inhibitors are injected into it,
biocides and an anti-fouling chemical.

There are 7 water injection wells: 44, 48, 53, 54, 62, 70, and 87.

La Peña Water Injection Plant

Satellite Plant

The Satellite Plant of the La Peña field is a small plant that meets 2
main functions:
 It serves as a collection and separation battery for production of
certain wells of La Peña, sending the separated hydrocarbons to the
Plant of La Peña.

2. Inject all the separated water back into the well at the same plant, plus the water
originating from the La Peña plant to achieve a recovery
secondary education.

The water that is separated in the tetra-phase separator (free water) is filtered and
it is about conditioning it and reinjecting it into the well. The chemicals that are
They inject into the water: a biocide, a clarifier, and an acid sequestrant.
hydrogen sulfide. The water treatment is handled by the company MI SWACO.

The water is treated with the aim of preventing it from corroding all the equipment and
tools along their journey and, mainly, to prevent the formation of
bacteria that if they enter a well form an impermeable layer that does not
it allows water to continue being injected.

The water is injected thanks to the simultaneous action of 3 triple pumps that
they discharge the water at an approximate pressure of 1740 psi. The triple pumps
They are powered by 2 booster pumps of 30 HP each.

Plant view of the water injection treatment

8. CONCLUSIONES

The treatment of water contaminated with oil reduces the content of

suspended solids, living organisms, dissolved gases and stabilization
for control of incrustations
 With the proper treatment considering the characteristics of the water from
production reaches a more efficient and economical process

A separator is one or more rectangular tanks in parallel that separate by

gravity the hydrocarbon of water

It will be easier to treat the water when the oil drops are more.
great, the hydrocarbon is lighter and the process temperature
high sea.

9.- BIBLIOGRAFÍA
surface facilities Eng. Carlos A. Campos Villazon
Wikipedia
Surface facilities
[Link] pools API pool design API
ITL-008 RAW RECOVERY API POOL TO TK