GE’s comprehensive Asset Integrity chemical and engineered solutions, together with years of expertise, allows us to offer site-specific solutions to effectively address corrosion, bacteria, hydrogen sulfide and other challenges that are a concern. Produced water in the system is the main cause of corrosion in the piping and vessels and the situation is compounded by the presence of acid gases associated with the hydrocarbons. De-aerating oxygen from the injection water is essential to mitigate corrosivity and protect injection networks.
Asset Integrity features:
GE’s Prosolv* family of chemical solutions lead the way in corrosion, sulfide, biocide and oxygen scavenger treatment technology.
Corrosion Inhibitors
In oil & gas production, corrosion ranks as one of the top cost drivers. There are many factors that contribute to corrosion, some of which are easily controlled, some that are seemingly impossible to control. A combination of factors contributes to this issue including brine chemistry, bacteria and related byproducts, gas composition, oxygen encroachment, temperature and pressure conditions, use of dissimilar metals, fluid flow conditions, solids (abrasion), electrical charges, chemicals and additives used to stimulate production, and more.
The impacts of corrosion are immense. Corrosion reduces the effective life of equipment. It leads to premature failure, safety hazards, leaks, spills, fines and system shut-ins. It impacts lifting costs both by increasing the cost of operations and by reducing production revenues.
GE is committed to minimizing the risk of corrosion in your production system. This is done by assessing the system and determining the root causes of corrosion, to stop corrosion in its tracks. GE’s process begins by evaluating the system and analyzing the production fluids and gases, focusing on mechanisms that cause corrosion. Investigating previous failures of tubulars and equipment can provide clues as to the root cause of the failure and lead to successful inhibition programs supported by monitored results.
Prosolv Corrosion Inhibitor features:
GE’s portfolio of Prosolv Corrosion Inhibitors is designed to:
- Utilize the chemistry that provides the results you are hoping to achieve.
- Provide fit-for-use products for your system, taking into account extremes of temperature, pressure and flow
- Identify problematic areas downhole and on the surface where corrosion risk is greatest and mitigate the risk for trouble free operations
- Improve the life of equipment and flowlines throughout the system
- Maximize on-line production time, minimizing downtime due to corrosion related failures
Sulfide Control
A major production challenge in oil & gas systems is the presence of Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S). H2S may be present in the reservoir “naturally” or it may be due to the presence of sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) which produce hydrogen sulfide. H2S is highly reactive, especially with iron, and in most systems the H2S will readily react with iron in ionic form or iron from metal surfaces, to form various species of iron sulfide (FeS). SRB colonies adhering to pipe walls can become iron sulfide factories, eating away at the pipe surface and forming pits which eventually may cause leaks and failures.
Left untreated, systems with H2S will generate FeS, which leads to other major operational challenges and costs because of the subsequent production issues it causes – scale, interface problems, filter and reservoir plugging, water discharge concerns, and lost production. If the water is being reused for stimulation or fracturing, the water must be conditioned to remove the FeS, which adds operational costs. If the oil or gas contains H2S above sales specifications, the production will be rejected until the spec limits are reached.
GE’s upstream technical team will identify the cause and extent of sulfides in your system and develop a comprehensive program to minimize the issues related to sulfides. It may involve application of a GE Prosolv Hydrogen Sulfide Scavenger or a Prosolv Biocide to eradicate SRB. Rest assured that the cost effective solution from GE will address sulfides and control them so that sulfides don’t control you.
Prosolv features:
GE’s portfolio of Prosolv products are designed to:
- Eliminate H2S and FeS in your production system
- Reduce equipment failures and fouling
- Prevent “black” water and related issues (plugging, emulsions, scale)
- Improve overall safety and reduce environmental risk
- Reduce the risk of corrosion failures and improve asset integrity
- Meet pipeline & sales specifications all the time
By applying the right Prosolv sulfide control solution and reducing sulfide issues, hydrocarbon production will be optimized to meet or exceed your production objectives.
Biocide Control
Bacterial contamination of oil & gas production systems is a serious production challenge requiring the right chemistry and application methods to properly control. Bacteria may have been introduced in many ways and over many years – drilling well completions, reinjection of produced waters for pressure maintenance, EOR projects, workovers, hot oil/water treatments, etc. It’s often impossible to determine the cause, but once bacteria take up residence in your reservoir or production system, they are difficult to eliminate. The good news is that with GE’s chemical treatments, bacteria-related issues can be controlled and production issues minimized.
GE’s systematic approach to bacterial control begins with assessing the locations and types of the bacteria in your system. GE technical teams will sample and test fluids to quantify bacterial issues, followed by selecting solutions which attack the bacteria where they reside.
By selecting the best mitigation program, GE will ensure that bacteria issues are minimized. In fracs, production and injection systems, GE’s Prosolv Biocides can help minimize production issues and maximize asset life. Proper control of bacteria results in reduced operational costs, reduced H2S generation, cleaner production, more efficient operations and reduced failure rates.
Prosolv Biocide features:
GE’s portfolio of Prosolv Biocides is designed to:
- Control bacterial growth in oil & gas production systems
- Minimize microbial generation of H2S and the related downstream issues it causes, including corrosion, water quality, separation, rejected sales of gas and oil
- Improve health, safety and environmental compliance
- Reduce filter plugging in water injection systems
GE has the knowhow to deliver the knockout punch to bacteria. Specially designed formulations penetrate bacterial films and destroy the active colony. Nano-filtration systems can remove all bacteria from injected fluids, effectively providing a green solution for your water needs. GE’s technical teams work in collaboration with each other to deliver the optimal system to address bacterial issues in your system.
Oxygen Scavenger Treatment
Oxygen is a serious threat to system integrity, even at extremely low amounts. Most oxygen corrosion is directly attributable to addition of fluids which have been exposed to fresh air. Oxygen can be introduced during fracs, waterfloods, squeezes and workovers when large volumes of fluids are injected downhole. On the surface, loose fitting valves and connections, pinhole leaks, or tank openings can allow the oxygen to enter lines, reacting with system metallurgy.
At GE, our field technical representatives will regularly analyze fluids to check for the presence of oxygen. If found, a thorough inspection of the upstream system will take place to identify places that oxygen enters the system. In addition, GE’s Prosolv Oxygen Scavengers may be applied to remove the oxygen and eradicate the corrosive risk it creates.
Prosolv Oxygen Scavengers features:
GE’s portfolio of Prosolv Oxygen Scavengers is designed to:
- React quickly with oxygen to deactivate its corrosion potential
- Be applied in a “neat” form directly to your system
- Provide reduced corrosion and maximize asset integrity
GE’s oxygen scavengers are selected to help keep your oil and gas production systems operating at peak efficiency levels. Eliminating oxygen leads to reduced failures, leaks and hazardous conditions that add costs to your operations. In addition, reduced failures lead to increases in hydrocarbon production and revenue streams.