Summary
The BP-operated Miller Field poses a unique chemical challenge as it has,
arguably, the harshest oilfield scaling regime in the North Sea, if not the
world. Some 3 million litres of chemical are consumed each year and the
management, supply, use, and performance of every aliquot of chemical is
imperative to see Miller through to its planned cessation of production.
The Miller Field is a mature North Sea asset and produces a potential of
80,000 BWPD with its 16,000 BOPD. The unique challenge posed by Miller is that
the produced water contains very high concentrations of scale-forming
components combined with a very high corrosivity potential. Chemicals are
routinely deployed to control scale, corrosion, emulsions, foam, biological
fouling, and hydrates.
Two major step changes have occurred in the past 12 months that have
delivered significant improvement to chemical management processes. The first
step is the use of a novel, best-in-class, scale-inhibitor chemistry. Two years
were spent in an industry-wide search as well as developing and extensively
testing the chemical in the laboratory. The new chemical is now deployed on
more than 75% of the Miller wells. The longevity of scale-prevention treatments
has been doubled on some wells when compared to the incumbent products.
The second step change was the application of innovative relative
permeability modifier chemistries that not only increase oil production but
actually shut off water production. Cross-linked polymer gels are pumped down
wells and inflate in the presence of water, effectively blocking the flow path,
but deflate in the presence of oil, allowing flow.
By implementing these changes, significant steps have been taken toward
ensuring that continuation of production to the proposed cessation of
production remains a viable proposition.
© 2007. Society of Petroleum Engineers
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History
- Original manuscript received:
1 May 2005
- Meeting paper published:
12 March 2005
- Revised manuscript received:
12 July 2006
- Manuscript approved:
22 July 2006
- Version of record:
20 August 2007
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