Hidrológiai Közlöny 1942 (22. évfolyam)

Szakosztályi ügyek

Part played by water in Oil production 475 filling varies with the nature of chemicals used, as for instance: sodium silicate, sodium carbonate when mixed with water fall out, antimontrichloride getting in touch with water falls out as antimonoxichloride, silicium tetrachloride solved in oil and mixed with water yields silicium dioxide, and thus the pores become filled up. Fields under production for considerable length of time do usually yield substantial quantity of salt water together with oil. In many instances the producers are at a loss to know how to dispose of them. It could be imagined that such water can be run into the open and thus flow by. This can be done easily provided the salt concentration is low. Should it, however, be high and the quantity of salt water substantial, much damage could be caused to the flora and fauna of the neighbourhood. Thus the question turns up: which solution were cheaper: pay damages or introduce some method for the disposal of salt water. The simplest way for disposal would be to collect such water in pits and let it evaporate. This method is advisable in tropical zones, but the disadvantage is that large areas are required for it. Lately substantial quantities of salt water are being disposed of in such a manner that holes are drilled at points — such as the oil-less side of the fault, in the syncline, or in such upper and lower parts where production will in no way be interfered with — and these are the so-called water-injection wells. The water to be disposed of is then run into such holes, under pressure if necessary. As, however, the water produced from the deep carries along also some oil, steps are taken to have this oil separated in the water-gathering tanks. The oil thus tregained isthen used, while the water is subjected to proper softening, if need be, the ingredients in solved state or in suspension are removed so as to prevent falling out and thereby reducing absorbing capacity. It is only thereafter that pumps get working. As salt water corrodes steel the pipe used for water-injection are manufactured of special non-corroding material. In the course of production, oil might mix with gas or water thus forming emulsion. This happens usually in such places where mixing can be thorough, these are for instance: the point where oil reaches the hole from the formation, the bean or it might occur within the pipe during the flow. As, however, there prevails a column of liquid at almost all times at the point where oil enters the pipe from the formation, here will hardly any emulsion be formed due to the pressure maintained. In case of production being low flow within the pipe is not fast so that even here little emulsion comes into being. Exception must, however, be made to pumping. The bean is the point where emulsion most easily forms. Here, namely, the reduction in the dia-