Bony Budiman

PRODUCTION CHEMICALS
COMPATIBILITY AGAINTS
FLUID
BONY BUDIMAN
2021
Bony Budiman

OUTLINE

• Objective
• Introduction
• Compatibility Against Production Fluid
• Compatibility Against Others Chemicals
• Field Cases
• Summary
 Bony Budiman

OBJECTIVE

• This presentation introduce some basic

principle of production chemicals
properties and mechanism
• Share possibility of incompatibility and how
to mitigate the compatibility issue in the oil
and gas field
• Share some field cases

Courtesy picture : https://www.gate.energy/the-arrow-blog/pme/cse/gat2004-gkp-2010-06/chemical-compatibility-considerations

Bony Budiman

OUTLINE

• Objective
• Introduction
• Compatibility Against Production Fluid
• Compatibility Against Others Chemicals
• Field Cases
• Summary
Bony Budiman

INTRODUCTION

• Production chemicals that are used in the process system both onshore and offshore vary in
configuration, carrier solvents, type, viscosity and performance. These can be based on a range
of inorganic, organic, simple, complex and polymeric chemicals. As such, they have different
fluid characteristics and respond differently to pressure and temperature
• Chemical compatibility testing is important from the standpoint of selecting chemicals that
are compatible with the production, fracturing, completion, storage and hydrotest fluids that
they may encounter, as well as other production chemicals that they may contact in direct or
dilute form.
• Chemical incompatibility can result in the formation of solids, gels and deposits that can plug
injection lines and valves or reduce product effectiveness.
Bony Budiman

COMPATIBILITY CONSIDERATION

• There are a number of other operational issues with the use of production chemicals, which can be
lumped under the heading “compatibility.” They include the following:
o Will the use of a production chemical cause or worsen other production chemistry issues? Conversely, could it
work synergistically with other production chemicals?
o Is it compatible with all materials found along the production line?
o Will it cause downstream problems?
o Are there any injection problems—viscosity, cloud point, foaming?
o Is it compatible with other production chemicals used simultaneously?
o Does one production chemical affect the performance of another and vice versa?
o Can it be coinjected with other production chemicals?

• To asses the compatibility issue, a test, or series of tests, performed to check that no undesirable
reactions occur with a specific fluid.
 Bony Budiman

EFFECT OF INCOMPATIBILITY

No Effect Example
1 Oil-Water separation Some film-forming corrosion inhibitors can make emulsion and foam problems
worse in the separators
2 Deposit The use of THIs such as methanol and glycols can make scale deposition worse
3 Scaling tendency Triazine-based hydrogen sulfide scavengers will increase the pH in the produced
water, which can worsen the potential for carbonate scale formation
4 Sludging Acids used in downhole acid stimulation can cause asphaltene precipitation
(sludging)
5 Product quality Too much methanol pollution can lower the value of the hydrocarbons
6 Chemical performance Too close injection of Scale Inhibitor and Corrosion Inhibitor will reduce
performance in corrosion inhibition and scale inhibition.
Bony Budiman

OUTLINE

• Objective
• Introduction
• Compatibility Against Production Fluid
• Compatibility Against Others Chemicals
• Field Cases
• Summary
Bony Budiman

PRODUCTION FLUID

• Compatibility parameter between production chemicals with fluid are : physical properties
and chemical properties
• The physical properties could be assessed by mix the chemicals in to the fluid (water, crude
oil or even gas) at specified dosage, temperature and pressure then observe the following
parameters :
• Solubility
• Foaming
• Emulsion
• Viscosity
• The chemical properties more complex to analysis. The analysis are to ensure the chemical
addition will not affect the overall fluid chemistry. For example the chemical will not cause
catalyst degradation in the refinery.
 Bony Budiman

GENERAL PROCEDURE

• Determine the parameter analysis. For example : color, phase separation, sedimentation and Total Suspended Solid (TSS).

• Prepare the fluid sample (usually produced water and or crude oil). Take a photo, and observe the color, phase layer, sedimentation. Note as blank

• Add chemical at desired dosage to the fluid Take a photo, and observe the color, phase layer, sedimentation. Note as initial condition after mixing.

• After 5 (five) minutes, take a photo, and observe the color, phase layer, sedimentation.

• Put in the oven with temperature refer to field temperature..

• After 24 (twenty four) hours, take a photo, and observe the color, phase layer, sedimentation

• Analysis the TSS (total suspended solid) for all samples (include blank)

• Tests consist in the preparation of brine of candidate chemicals with the other chemicals at dosages representative of field conditions. Solutions
are then mixed by vigorous shaking and mixtures allowed settling for 24 hours before evaluation.

• Acceptance Criteria if result of the blank and sample after chemical addition not significantly change, for example not found separation, change of
color, no deposit, no TSS increase more than 5 % etc
Bony Budiman

OUTLINE

• Objective
• Introduction
• Compatibility Against Production Fluid
• Compatibility Against Others Chemicals
• Field Cases
• Summary
Bony Budiman

PRODUCTION CHEMICALS

• Each chemical has specific characteristic due to its chemical composition such as pH,
reactivity and solubility
• It is possible that one chemical will react with another create new substance, create new
phases, change color or increase heat.
• Chemical reaction may decrease its original performance
Bony Budiman

DETERMINE COMPATIBILITY BETWEEN CHEMICALS

• Refer to MSDS, especially at Section Handling and Storage. Supplier usually mention
others chemicals that shall be avoided such as oxidizing agent, strong acid or strong
alkaline chemical
• Refer to compatibility chart. But this is only applicable for commodity chemicals. For
specialty chemicals we must know the major component that sometime being property
of the manufacturer.
• Conduct laboratory compatibility test
 Bony Budiman

PROCEDURE FOR DETERMINING CHEMICAL

COMPATIBILITY
• Obtain as much information as possible about the chemicals from the MSDS or from other
technical information. Learn about the composition, physical properties, handling and storage
section.
• Labelling each chemical such as acid, alkaline, oxidizer, alcohol, amine, glycol etc. More specific
labelling is better
• Check if the chemical label has potency to be incompatible each other from the well known
chemical compatibility chart
• If one or more chemicals cannot be identified or cannot found the compatibility from the
chemical compatibility chart, a laboratory compatibility test suggested to conduct refer to general
procedure of compatibility between chemicals against production fluid.
Bony Budiman

OUTLINE

• Objective
• Introduction
• Compatibility Against Production Fluid
• Compatibility Against Others Chemicals
• Field Cases
• Summary
Bony Budiman

FIELD CASE

1. Scale Inhibitor and Corrosion Inhibitor

2. Oxygen Scavenger and Corrosion Inhibitor
3. Reverse Demulsifier in Washtank
4. MEG and Corrosion Inhibitor
Bony Budiman

1. COMPATIBILITY BETWEEN
SI AND CI
 Bony Budiman

FIELD DESCRIPTION

CI SI • At water injection facilities, Corrosion Inhibitor (CI)

was injected side by side to the Scale Inhibitor
Injection (SI). Both injections located inlet of the
watertank
• The two injection points are separated by a distance
of about 70 cm.
• Routine monitoring was conducted outlet of
watertank. Residual amine for CI and residual
phosphonate for SI
Bony Budiman

CORROSION INHIBITOR PROPERTIES

• Corrosion Inhibitor that used in the oil and gas facility basically contain amine compound
as the active content
• Amine is an alkaline
• To create stability and improve performance, formulator may add mutual solvent,
surfactant and acid.
• As final product some corrosion inhibitor may has pH below 5.
Bony Budiman

SCALE INHIBITOR PROPERTIES

• Scale Inhibitor that used in the oil and gas facility basically contain phosphonate
compound as the active content
• Phosphonate is an acid
• To reduce acidity, formulator may add pH adjuster
 Bony Budiman

LABORATORY TEST : CI EFFECT TO SI

PERFORMANCE
1. Add CI to the test solution,
CI Effect To SI Performance
after 5 seconds add SI to the
8,0
same test solution
7,0 2. Do an effectiveness test refer
% Effectiveness (x10)

6,0
5,0 to NACE TM0374
4,0
3,0 3. Repeat step 1-2 by changing
2,0 steps of adding chemicals
1,0
0,0 4. Add CI first will decrease SI
CI then SI SI then CI SI only
performance up to 40%
Chemicals Added
 Bony Budiman

LABORATORY TEST : SI EFFECT TO CI

PERFORMANCE
CI vs SI to Corrosion Protection Effectiveness
1. Add CI to the test
solution, after 5 seconds
94.5
93.5
add SI to the same test
% Protection

92.5 solution
2. Do a corrosion wheel test
91.5
90.5
89.5 3. Repeat step 1-2 by
changing steps of adding
88.5
CI then SI then CI Only CI Only
SI CI chemicals
Che m icals Te s t
4. Add CI first will decrease
CI performance up to 3%
If CI injected first, it will react with SI so the effectiveness will decrease
 Bony Budiman

CONTACT TIME EFFECT

(SI FIRST THEN CI)
Contact time effect (SI then CI) 1. The test is to review the effect of time
in dual injection.
7,85 2. At test sample, inject SI then after 1
second immediately inject CI. Check
% Effectiveness (x10)

7,8
7,75 the corrosion inhibition effectiveness
7,7
3. Repeat step no 2 by change the time
7,65
7,6
of CI injection to 2,5,10,20,30,60,120,
7,55 and 300 and compare to blank (sample
7,5 treated by CI only without SI).
1 2 5 10 20 30 60 120 300 Blanko 4. At laboratory test, SI need 5 seconds
contact time (second) to react completely before the CI
injection.
Bony Budiman

CI MECHANISM

Before Treatment CI After Treatment CI

CO2, O2 CO2, O2,

CI’s molecules filming the metallic pipe.

The film protect the pipe from chemical corrosion attack
Bony Budiman

Which one must be injected first ?

SI ?

CI ?
Bony Budiman

IF CI IS THE FIRST ONE :

CI molecules
SI molecules
CI-SI reaction
Crystal CaCO3
SI-CaCO3
CI SI

Remember : CI just filming the metallic and not react with corrosion chemical, then when
CI molecules meet SI molecules :
1. CI and SI can react and weakening both of their effectiveness.
2. Some molecules of CaCO3 were not treated by SI
3. Some part of metallic pipe not filmed by CI
Bony Budiman

IF SI IS THE FIRST ONE :

CI molecules
SI molecules
CI-SI reaction
Crystal CaCO3
SI-CaCO3
SI CI

Remember : SI react chemically with CaCO3 and destroy its surface , then when
SI-CaCO3 molecules meet CI molecules :
1. SI-CaCO3 not react with CI
2. CI performance not decrease since SI was react to CaCO3
 FIELD RESULT (ALPHA EOR)

Date CI content (ppm) % Decrease

SI off SI ON
Sept 06 0.60 0.43 40%

Nov 06 (full 2.96 0.35 85%

stroke CI &SI)
CI SI

Sampling Corr
point coupon
Bony Budiman

HOW IF CI INJECTION POINT SWITCH

WITH SI INJECTION POINT ?
Bony Budiman

Field Test of CI-SI at ALPHA EOR

3.50
3.00

CI content (%)
2.50
2.00
1.50
1.00
0.50
0.00
CI then SI SI then CI CI only

Sample

SI CI

Switch injection point from

CI to SI only gives little Sampling Corr
effect since the distance is point coupon
too short (< 1 m)
 RECOMMENDATION ON
Bony Budiman

SI-CI INJECTION POINT

CI SI SI CI

WRONG WRONG

CI SI SI CI

WRONG CORRECT
Bony Budiman

2. COMPATIBILITY BETWEEN
OS AND CI
Bony Budiman

OXYGEN SCAVENGER PROPERTIES

• Oxygen Scavenger that used in the oil and gas facility has wide range of active content
such as sulphite, hydroquinone, and hydrazine-carbohydrazide
• Oxygen scavenger is a reductor, it will react with the oxygen scavenger then it will
oxidized.
• As reductor, OS may react with others chemicals.
Bony Budiman

LABORATORY TEST OF DISSOLVED OXYGEN

• Effect if inject OS then CI

• Effect if inject CI then OS
• Parameter check :
• Dissolve oxygen effectiveness
• Corrosion protection performance

Courtesy picture : https://ambarteknindo.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/DO-2700_With-Arm.jpg-650.jpg

 Bony Budiman

OS THEN CI

Compatibility Oxy vs CI thdp Effectivitas Oxy • At sample solution, OS was injected

then Dissolved Oxygen (DO) measured
9.00
Inject CI
by time. Note as blank
8.00
Inject CI • To second sample solution, similar with
7.00
blank then at 5 minutes, CI was injected
O2 (ppm)

Oxy Only
6.00 then continue measure the DO
Only Oxy

5.00
• At second sample solution, CI injected
After 5 min

4.00 after 10 minutes

After 10 min

3.00 • More time space of CI injection provide

0 10 20 30
menit ke- better performance of DO
 Bony Budiman

CI THEN OS

Compatibility CI vs Oxy thdp Efektivitas Oxy • At sample solution 1 (blue line), OS injected
then DO measured by time
Inject Oxy after 5 min • At sample solution 2 (yellow line),CI has
9.00
Inject Oxy after 10 min injected then after 5 minutes OS added.
8.00
• At sample solution 2 (pink line),CI has
O2 (ppm)

7.00
injected then after 10 minutes OS added.
6.00 • AtOxygraph
saja
beside, performance of dissolved
5.00 oxygen in blue and pink line relatively similar.
4.00 Both of them much lower than the blank.
3.00 • This test show that inject Corrosion Inhibitor
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
then Oxygen Scavenger will reduce the
minute
menit ke-
performance no matter when the CI injected.
Bony Budiman

THE MEANING OF GRAPHS :

1. Oxy Sca and CI react chemically when they meet each other.
2. Oxy Sca need to inject first to completed its reaction to O2
3. A longer contact time of Oxy Sca gives more effective result
Bony Budiman

EFFECT TO CORROSION PROTECTION

 Bony Budiman Corrosion Protection
CI vs Oxy to Corrosion Protection 1. Add CI to the test solution,
after 5 seconds add OS to the
88
Effectiveness same test solution
87
2. Do a corrosion wheel test
86
% Protection

85 3. Repeat step 1-2 by changing

84 steps of adding chemicals
83 4. Add CI first will decrease CI
82
performance up to 2%
81
80
CI then Oxy (5') Oxy then CI (5')

Chemicals Test
Bony Budiman
RECOMMENDATION OF OS-CI INJECTION POINT

OS CI CI OS

WRONG
WRONG

CI OS OS CI

WRONG CORRECT
Bony Budiman

3. REVERSE DEMULSIFIER IN WASHTANK

 Bony Budiman

3. LAYOUT INJECTION

• Reverse demulsifier (RD), flocculent type,

injected at inlet washtank to reduce oil in
RD Injection
Point water emulsion
• Fluid composition : 15,000 BWPD and
2,300 BOPD
WASH
TANK • At laboratory bottle test, RD “3211”
show best performance and chosen for
field trial.
 Bony Budiman

3. TRIAL RESULT

• At first hours, the oil content outlet washtank meet specification, < 25
ppm
• After 5 hours, the BS&W increase from < 0.5% to 1-2% then after 8
Jelly Crude
Oil hours BS&W reach > 5%. Field trial stopped then operator found the
crude oil outlet of washtank become jelly.
• 2 days later after stopped injection BS&W back to normal < 0.5% and no
more jelly crude oil found.
Bony Budiman

3. ANALYSIS

• Flocculent need to convert its phase prior to work as reverse demulsifier, called as
inversion. This condition require high amount of water and high turbulence of fluid.
• In case inversion not occurred, the flocculent will act like a glue that tied to crude oil
molecule. This cause incomplete water-oil separation and the crude oil will looks like a
jelly.
• The solution is change the type of reverse demlsifier to coagulant demulsifier. It is less
effective in term of higher dosage injection but compatible with the crude oil.
Bony Budiman

4. MEG AND CORROSION INHIBITOR

Bony Budiman

LABORATORY TEST

• Subsea Corrosion Inhibitor Injected to inlet 10 µm filter of

Lean MEG Line at dosage 500 – 1,000 ppm.
• Prior trial, compatibility test has been conducted between
the Subsea CI and MEG at various concentration.
• Cleanliness of Subsea CI meet requirement as per SAE
AS4059 : ≤ 8. No found separation or jelly during
laboratory test between MEG and Subsea CI
 Bony Budiman

FIELD TRIAL RESULT

• 4 hours after injection Control Room

Operator found rapid increase of delta
pressure. The flow was changed to standby
filter but after the next 4 hours the delta
pressure rapidly increase as well.
• During filter cleaning, found jelly substance
at the filter.

Courtesy picture : https://polarislabs.com/diesel-fuel-identifying-fuel-filter-plugging/

Bony Budiman

ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS

• It was suspected that increase of delta pressure at Lean

MEG filter caused by the jelly materials and the jelly
material may come from reaction between MEG and
Subsea CI
• Even Subsea CI and MEG looks compatible during
laboratory test but in microscopic view it still possible of
reaction.
• To prove the hypothesis, laboratory test required by
conduct cleanliness and Total Suspended Solid (TSS)
analysis at various concentration mix between Subsea CI
and MEG.
 Bony Budiman

LABORATORY RESULT

• Based on table beside, the TSS and

DOSAGE of CI (PPM)
cleanliness increase when the dosage
of CI increase as well.
• At dosage CI 100 ppm, the cleanliness
not meet the specification
• Based on test result below, it
conclude that the Subsea CI not
compatible with the MEG in term of
cleanliness
 Bony Budiman

PROBLEM SOLVING

• As per discussion with the chemical

DOSAGE of NEW CI (PPM)
vendor, it suggested to add co-
solvent to improve solubility of
Subsea CI in MEG
• The physical properties of new
formula shown at table beside.
• Dosage up to 5000 ppm not affect
the TSS significantly, not increase
class of cleanliness.
Bony Budiman

OUTLINE

• Objective
• Introduction
• Compatibility Against Production Fluid
• Compatibility Against Others Chemicals
• Field Cases
• Summary
Bony Budiman

SUMMARY

• Compatibility between production chemical to fluid is important to ensure the chemical

could provide its best performance without significant negative impact such as cause
problem in oil-water separation, corrosion, or precipitation.
• The compatibility against fluid could be to production fluid (gas, crude oil and water) or
with others chemicals.
• Chemicals that works with chemically mechanism should be injected before chemicals
that works with physically mechanism
• Chemical reaction need enough time to react completely
Bony Budiman

REFERENCES

• Production Chemicals for the Oil and Gas industry , Malcolm A. Kelland, Second Edition,
CRC Press , 2014
• EPA-600/2-80-076, A Method for Determining The Compatibility of Hazardous Wastes
• ASTM E2012 Standard Guide for the Preparation of a Binary Chemical Compatibility
Chart
• https://www.gate.energy/the-arrow-blog/pme/cse/gat2004-gkp-2010-06/chemical-
compatibility-considerations