Oily solid deposits cleaning in heavily fouled injection water pipeline at PT. Pertamina Hulu Energy Ogan Komering

Abstract

PT. Pertamina Hulu Energi Ogan Komering (PHE OK) Water injection began in 1998, by injecting excess water in abandoned wells in Central ASD and continued in October 2000 and January 2002, and since May 2006 the injection rate was increased above 30,000 BWPD. From the analysis carried out, one of the obstacles in the injection water process at PHE OK is the main pipe capacity of the injection water which is getting smaller and the pressure drop along the pipe is very big. The pressure drop occurs due to the solid / deposition pile on the inside of the pipe, causing obstacles in the process of transferring injection water from the Block Station to the injection wells. From the laboratory analysis, the solid deposits inside the pipe wall is consist of more than 50% organic and hydrocarbon matters (paraffin, oils, and light asphaltene) often called as "Schmoo" deposit. Some pigging activities can not be done due to pipe size, pipe geometry that does not support, pipe construction that is not designed for pigging activities. To overcome the solid deposit problem, PHE OK carried out a field trial of Schmoo Remover Chemical to clean the pipe without using pipe pig. From the field trial result, the removal of the schmoo solid deposit resulted in a significant increase in water injection rates and decrease pipe pressure drop.