RENEWABLES
hydrocarbons before being used in enhanced oil recovery ( EOR ) applications . Because the Kern River field tends to produce heavy oil , steam flooding is used to reduce the crude viscosity and boost production .
Continuing with the case of the Kern River oilfield , 75 percent of the produced water is not required for further oil extraction , which is at the lower-end of the range for oil producers in California ( many of whom often have to dispose of , or find ways to re-use , up to 99 percent of their produced water ). This , coupled with recent discussions by state officials regarding the closure of nearly 100 disposal wells , will more than likely push the reuse of this produced water even further .
Naturally , however , that remaining water still needs to be treated , and until now there has been little economic incentive for operators and farmers to get together in an effort to work out a deal for the treated water : Historically , re-injection has been cheaper than re-use given the treatment that is required even for agricultural purposes .
But that financial equation has not taken into account a record-breaking
‘ Kern River is the second-highest producing oilfield in California ; moreover , for every barrel of oil , the field also produces around nine barrels of water ’
drought , nor does it allow for the precipitous drop in oil prices , which have had a heavy impact on the state ’ s producers ’ bottom-line : On the one hand , farmers need water to maintain healthy production of essential crops ; on the other , oil producers are looking for innovative and cost-effective solutions to boost their margins . For the most part , these solutions look at how best to optimize output from existing wells or minimize production costs .
But technological advances mean that there are now solutions available that make it possible to treat produced water on a much more cost-effective basis . Not only does this reduce the OPEX associated with finding new
16 September 2015