| BMP ID: |
6192 |
| Title: |
Use downhole oil/water separation technology to reduce water production |
| Text: |
"Downhole Oil/Water Separators: Downhole oil/water separation (DOWS or DHOWS) technology is installed in the bottom of an oil well. It separates oil and water in the well bore. The oil-rich stream is produced to the surface, while the water-rich stream is pumped directly to an injection formation without ever coming to the surface." |
| Source Publication Name: |
Produced Water Management Information System |
| Citation Section: |
Technology Descriptions: Fact Sheet - Downhole Separation |
| Citation Page: |
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| Supplemental Documents: |
Feasibility Evaluation of Downhole Oil/Water Separation (DOWS) Technology
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| Usage Type: |
Recommended |
| Timing: |
• Production / Operation / Maintenance
|
| Oil / Gas Field: |
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| Surface Ownership: |
• Federal
• State
• Private
|
| Mineral Ownership: |
• Federal
• State
• Private
|
| Primary Contact: |
Argonne National Laboratory |
| Phone: | |
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Alt. Phone: | |
| Fax: | |
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E-mail: | |
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| Alternate Contact: |
National Energy Technology Laboratory |
| Phone: | |
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Alt. Phone: | |
| Fax: | |
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E-mail: | |
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| Categories: |
Water Quantity and Rights
|
| Location: |
General / Federal |
| Species: |
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| Vegetation Types: |
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| General Comments: |
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| Cost-Benefit Analysis: |
"...saving the cost of having to pump water to the surface, treat it, and pump it back down. It also allows for more oil to be recovered."
See Supplemental Docs for more. |
| BMP Efficacy: |
“Although a few of the DOWS installations were very successful and remained in service for extended periods, many other installations did not meet expectations. Either their performance was deemed not adequate or they stopped working after only a few weeks or months of operation. As a result of the inconsistent performance of the installed DOWS systems, few new installations have occurred since about 2001.†Factors permitting a well’s candidacy for DOWS, include “good injectivity of the receiving formation…good vertical and mechanical separation between the production and injection formations†among others. |
| Date Entered: |
2009-08-19 13:50 UTC |
| Last Updated: |
2011-07-17 12:44 UTC |
