HEAVY OIL PRODUCTION ENHANCEMENT

UNCONVENTIONAL HEAVY OIL PRODUCTION OPTIMIZATION

MAXIMIZE PRODUCTION
FROM RESERVOIR TO REFINERY
UNLOCK POTENTIAL.
OPTIMIZE HEAVY OIL PRODUCTION.

Reduce costs through application of production technologies

Heavy oil provides great economic opportunity. However, when the energy ratio needed
to produce and upgrade a barrel of heavy oil can be as high as 40%, balancing economics
throughout the project becomes challenging.

Production of medium, heavy, and extraheavy crude oil requires significant investment to
lift, process, and transport these highly viscous fluids at ambient temperatures. Heating
vessels, heated pipelines, diluents, power lifts, and booster pumps make up just some of the
technologies that help meet flow and processing challenges caused by the effects of viscosity.

Schlumberger offers a single-source solution for the enhancement of even the most
challenging heavy oil production applications. Our portfolio of chemicals can be used to
reduce oil viscosity (for lifting, processing, and transport), maintain system operability and
integrity, and improve production performance. And to ensure optimal production conditions,
Schlumberger specialists can assess production systems, identify bottlenecks, and develop
customized process treatment solutions.
TREATMENT STRATEGY
Schlumberger executes field evaluation total system analysis (TSA)
in conjunction with laboratory testing to analyze (and replicate) field
conditions to determine the most effective production chemical
treatment strategy for optimal process performance.

Schlumberger provides the technology and expertise to ensure quality of oil produced,
optimal equipment operability, and recycled water quality, as may be required to meet
environmental discharge limits or SAGD steam generation operations.

Our heavy oil production optimization treatment strategies draw from a wide range
of production chemical solutions as utilized throughout each stage of production.

These solutions are further enhanced when coupled with our proprietary ChemWatcher*
integrated chemical management software in the Avocet* production operations software
platform to deliver informed, real-time decisions regarding production chemical applications
to drive operational efficiency, safety, and performance.
Process Steam Oil/Water Water
Drilling Injection
Steps Production Separation Treatment

Chemicals Lubricants Corrosion Corrosion Emulsion Flocculants

Used Resins inhibitors inhibitors breakers Lime and
Admixtures Scale Scale Calcium magnesium
inhibitors inhibitors naphthenate oxide (MgO)
Additives inhibitors
(fluid loss Biocides Hydrocarbon Caustic soda
mitigation agents, solvents pH modifiers Oxygen scavenger
dispersants, (vapor extraction)
Hydrogen sulfide
surfactants, etc.) Asphaltene (H2S) scavenger
precipitation
inhibitors
KEY PRODUCTS
Emulsion breakers Efficient crude oil separation from produced water yields both dry oil for export and clean water for discharge and reuse,
thereby maximizing crude oil value and minimizing operating costs.

Reverse emulsion Where undesired levels of dispersed oil and solids in produced water streams are encountered, reverse emulsion breakers may be
breakers deployed to improve efficacy of secondary separation equipment.

Water clarification Water clarifiers remove remaining fine oil dispersions and other insoluble matter from produced water streams, ensuring that purity
specifications are met before water injection, reuse, steam generation, or disposal.

Fouling control Organic (such as asphaltenes and polymers) and inorganic (such as mineral scale) deposition in production equipment can reduce
efficiency of equipment (such as heat exchangers and compressors) and may lead to production flow restrictions. Schlumberger
provides specialist expertise and treatments to minimize flow assurance issues caused by fouling, minimizing nonproductive time
and ensuring optimal system performance. Our EXKAL* descaling, decontamination, and decommissioning service ensures rapid
remediation of fouling issues while preventative treatments—including scale, corrosion and asphaltene inhibition management
programs—mitigate future fouling potential.

Flow improvers and The application of flow improvers and viscosity reducers can help reduce oil viscosity by up to 95% depending on the causes for
viscosity reducers the increased viscosity. Application of flow improvers consistently results in reduced energy lift needs and therefore reduced
operational and capital expenditure, as well as increased oil production and revenue.
 TYPICAL SAGD OPERATION SCHEMATIC

Flow Reverse
improver Diluent breaker

SAGD well First-stage Second-stage

Mixer Sales specification tank Export
production separation treater

Demulsifier

Skim tank Stop tank

Fouling
control†

Water
treatment
Fouling Steam generation
control†

Emulsion
Dry oil
Produced water
†
Fouling control includes scale, corrosion inhibitors, microbiocides, etc., as required per location of injection.
CHEMWATCHER SOFTWARE
Schlumberger ChemWatcher integrated chemical In addition to real-time production performance monitoring and analysis,
ChemWatcher software is enabled for SCADA and telemetry. It also works
management software enables informed, real-
as a central repository hub, providing information exchange and analytics for
time decisions about operational efficiency, safety, all data relating to
and performance. ■■ flow assurance and integrity management

ChemWatcher software leverages our global specialist knowledge and

■■ production and product performance
technical expertise, continually adding value from field startup through ■■ inventory management and commercial performance
cessation of production. It integrates with market-proven tools such ■■ laboratory data and trend analysis.
as PIPESIM* steady-state multiphase flow simulator, OLGA* dynamic
multiphase flow simulator, and dbrHydrate* fluid analysis software to
manage the workflow related to chemical applications, injections, and
production processes.

ChemWatcher software depicts asset status and trends using a variety

of visualization methods, ranging from simple traffic lights to detailed
interactive reports. These facilitate real-time decisions regarding production
chemical applications that help drive high-performance, efficient, and
safer operations.
UNLOCK POTENTIAL
OPTIMIZE PRODUCTION
Complete service offering to maintain and restore full production

Schlumberger production technology specialists deliver targeted, integrated strategies

that help to decisively remediate production challenges, enabling customers to restore
and improve flow performance and revenue while avoiding costly repairs and shutdowns.

Firmly established at the forefront of technology, Schlumberger has a full service offering
that integrates pioneering chemical and process solutions, equipment, and software with
unrivalled technical expertise.

Working with the world’s largest oilfield services provider, our customers benefit from
a truly unique combination of outstanding technological capabilities and improve their
understanding of how to successfully address production challenges in an increasingly
competitive marketplace.

The company's global footprint and extensive suite of technologies helps customers to
maximize production more reliably, safely, and efficiently—regardless of system complexities
or geography.
GLOBAL PRESENCE.
OUTSTANDING CAPABILITY.

With established technology groups led by industry-recognized

discipline leaders, Schlumberger ensures correct assessment of
applications, selection of effective and fit-for-purpose products,
and assured success in individual applications through accurate
measurements. Results analysis drives development to ensure
continuous improvement.

Our procedures, in combination with ChemWatcher software, form

the foundation of this process, ensuring that tailored solutions are
managed, accurately monitored, and delivered.

Locations
Technology centers are located in Houston; St. Louis, Missouri, USA;
Aberdeen; Stavanger; and Dubai.

Technical service centers are located in Nisku, Alberta, Canada;

Broussard, Louisiana, USA; Bogota, Colombia; Rio de Janeiro;
Bergen, Norway; Volski, Russia; and Kuala Lumpur. These centers are
supplemented by local facilities.
Global workforce
Scale and footprint
Mergers and acquisitions
track record
Executional capability
Case Study

TOTAL SYSTEMS ANALYSIS ENHANCES HEAVY OIL PRODUCTION OPERATION

Evaluation of production chemistry requirements improves oil quality and process uptime

CHALLENGE RESULTS
Schlumberger was tasked with conducting a TSA of a production facility Using high temperatures in treater units led to soluble water condensing out
in Canada in order to optimize production activity. of produced oil in the sales tanks as distilled water. This water would tie up
■■ Field consisted of >100 progressive cavity pumped (PCP) wells with throughout the entire system and register in sales oil, preventing offload.
sand in flow of API 10–14.° ■■ A resolution was attained by restricting communication between sales
■■ Large treater units offered high residence time and operated at a high tanks (one hot, one cold) while treating with a batch demulsifier (EB-8088).
temperature of 130 degC [266 degF]. ■■ A scale inhibitor (SI-4330) was used to mitigate increased scaling potentials
■■ Sand removal was affected by hot water jetting twice daily and in system heaters and vessels as a result of high process temperatures.
hydrocarbon soaking of deposited solids to mobilize hydrocarbon deposits. ■■ Produced water was treated with a corrosion inhibitor (KI-3482) to minimize
■■ Produced water was used to enhance oil recovery. process corrosion potential.

SOLUTION
Schlumberger undertook a field TSA in combination with laboratory
evaluation of selected treatment chemistries prior to field trial deployment
and optimization.
UNLOCK POTENTIAL
OPTIMIZE PRODUCTION

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