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How HotSoss Revived this Abandoned Oil Field Water Disposal Well in West Texas
At a glance
This oil field water disposal facility in West Texas re-started after being abandoned for over 35 years. Hardened, oil sludge in the tanks and poor disposal well performance limited use. Hotsoss treatment restored well performance and recovered saleable oil from the sludge, exceeding customer expectations.
Key metrics
2.1x
increase in disposal well throughput
14%
decrease in discharge pressure
100’s
of barrels of recovered oil
What 35 years of neglect does to a water disposal facility
Oil field water disposal facilities take produced water from nearby wells and inject it underground. Tanks hold the water before injection, and the disposal well has to accept it at a steady rate and pressure.
When a facility sits idle, both parts degrade. Oil in the tanks hardens into sludge that takes up capacity and makes gauging impossible. In the well, paraffin, iron sulphide and other deposits restrict flow, so injection rates fall and discharge pressure climbs.
This West Texas facility had been abandoned for more than 35 years. To bring it back into service, the owner needed to clear the tanks and restore the well’s ability to take water.
Challenges
After being abandoned for over 35 years, this oil field disposal facility faced several significant challenges:
- Hardened oil sludge reduced tank capacity and made it impossible to gauge them to the bottom.
- Low throughput rate to disposal and high discharge pressure.
- Accumulations of paraffin, iron sulfide, and other unknown materials in the disposal well.
Solutions
To tackle these challenges, HotSoss was applied as follows:
- Well Treatment: 205 L (55 gallons) of Hotsoss mixed with 5.5 m3 (35 barrels) of produced water, heated, pumped downhole and shut-in overnight. To eliminate scale and push the Hotsoss further into the formation 20% acid was pumped in the following day.
- Tank Cleanup: 1135 L (300 gallons) of Hotsoss mixed with 13 m3 (80 barrels) of water, using a hot oil truck to circulate in the tanks and break down hardened oil sludge.
Results
2.1x Increase in Disposal Well Throughput
Achieved a disposal rate of 1150 m3/day (7,200 bbl/day), over double the initial rate and exceeding target by 24%.
14% Decrease in Discharge Pressure
Reduced discharge pressure to 10,300 Kpa (1,500 psi), meeting the target and improving operational efficiency.
Recovery of Saleable Oil
Tank cleanup yielded hundreds of barrels of recoverable oil, which covered the cost of the entire operation.
Data
Frequently asked questions
How was the disposal well treated?
205 L (55 gal) of HotSoss was mixed with 5.5 m³ (35 bbl) of produced water, heated, pumped downhole and shut in overnight. The next day, 20% acid was pumped to remove scale and push the HotSoss further into the formation.
How much did disposal capacity improve?
Throughput increased 2.1 times, to 1,150 m³/day (7,200 bbl/day), exceeding the target by 24%.
What happened to discharge pressure?
It dropped 14% to 10,300 kPa (1,500 psi), meeting the target.
How were the tanks cleaned?
1,135 L (300 gal) of HotSoss was mixed with 13 m³ (80 bbl) of water and circulated with a hot oil truck to break down hardened sludge. The cleanup recovered hundreds of barrels of saleable oil, which covered the cost of the job.