Green Chemistry: How to Breath New Life into Aging Oil Fields

Who says you can’t teach an old oil field new tricks? In this blog, we’ll embark on a journey through the latest chemical innovations that are reviving aging reservoirs and giving them a new lease of life.

As oil reservoirs age, their production rates decline despite the presence of significant untapped reserves, typically ranging from 40-60%. Conventional oil extraction methods may not be cost effective for tapping these remaining reserves. Therefore, enhanced oil recovery methods must be employed to optimize production in mature oil fields and address the unique challenges that arise in aging reservoirs. 

Mature oil fields often encounter issues such as paraffin wax and asphaltene build-up, debris, and corrosion. Such issues demand innovative solutions that can optimize production and maintain operational efficiency. As environmental, social, and governance (ESG) concerns gain more attention, oil and gas companies are increasingly turning to eco-friendly chemicals as a viable solution for production optimization and well remediation in mature fields. 

Green Chemistry Solutions

Green chemistry has emerged as a game-changer for optimizing production in various stages of oil and gas production, particularly in enhanced recovery, where the remaining reserves consist of heavy oil, and the old infrastructure needs remediation. Also known as sustainable chemistry, green chemistry focuses on minimizing the use or generation of hazardous substances, making them ideal for use in the sensitive environments where most oilfield production is located.

By preventing pollution and reducing toxicity, green chemicals are not only safe for the environment but also for the personnel working with them. Non-hazardous, environmentally-responsible green chemistry solutions are employed every day in the oil and gas industry, and are used in every step of the process. Some of the chemicals that have proved their effectiveness of green oilfield chemistry include:

• Biocides
• Chelating agents
• Clay control additives
• Corrosion inhibitors
• Demulsifiers
• Scale inhibitors
• Solvents
• Surfactants
  
  

Of all these chemicals, surfactants and demulsifiers have proven especially effective in addressing concerns with mature oil fields. PipeRenew® and WellRenew®–both Green Seal® Certified, non-hazardous, biodegradable, and environmentally-responsible–remove paraffin and asphaltene blockages to restore existing infrastructure and make revitalizing old wells more cost-effective. They work by neutralizing the charge associated with paraffin stickiness, breaking apart solids, and allowing them to be pumped out of equipment. 

Another green chemical, LamFlo®, has shown impressive results in reducing viscosity, lowering the pour point temperature of lower API gravity oils, and breaking apart and suspending paraffin wax and asphaltenes, preventing them from reforming. This eco-friendly solution is biodegradable, BTEX-free, non-hazardous, and environmentally-responsible. It is particularly effective in revitalizing mature fields, where most remaining reserves are heavy oils that require chemical additives to extract them.

Struggling with paraffin wax pipeline blockages? Choose Ideal Energy Solutions’ Production Optimization package for efficient, worry-free wells. Download our Fact Sheet.

Benefits of Environmentally-Responsible Chemicals

Using environmentally-responsible chemicals, such as green chemistry, indicates a commitment to reducing harm to the surrounding environment, wildlife, and population. With increasing regulations established by local and federal agencies, the importance of environmental responsibility cannot be overstated. Adopting green chemistry practices helps oil and gas producers meet the criteria monitored by these agencies. 

In addition to meeting regulatory requirements, implementing a sound program using green chemistry demonstrates a commitment to sustainable practices, which is increasingly important to investors. Such commitment can increase long-term success through higher corporate valuation, and optimizes production in mature oilfields. 

Using non-hazardous chemicals has other benefits as well, such as fewer regulations and limitations on shipping and application, reducing the risk of damaging effects from possible spills. Additionally, safer chemicals result in cost savings because the stringent safeguards for hazardous chemicals are no longer necessary. One unexpected benefit of using green chemistry is that it produces production chemicals that not only replace their hazardous counterparts but perform even more effectively in many cases. This means green chemicals provide not only short-term benefits but also long-term sustainability for oil field production and well remediation while significantly reducing environmental harm.

Green Chemistry and the Future of Oil and Gas

As the importance of going green permeates all aspects of our society, the oil and gas industry is poised to become a leader in advancing green chemistry. The partnership between the oil and gas and chemical industries is committed to continuous improvement, and the development of new green chemistry technology is at an all-time high.

While green chemistry is proving to be particularly effective in mature oil fields, it has applications in all aspects of oil field production. In fact, there is great promise on the horizon for the use of green polymers in drilling fluids, enzymes as biocides, plant extracts as corrosion inhibitors, and bio-based polymers as scale inhibitors, among many more green chemical-based solutions for oil production.

Green chemistry is at work and constantly improving every phase of the oil and gas industry. Other industries are taking note of the success of green chemistry in the oil and gas industry and are looking to adopt similar practices in their operations. The potential of green chemistry is vast and goes beyond just oil and gas production. It has the power to break down PET plastics, purifies water, improves paint performance, and more. As the importance of sustainability continues to grow, green chemistry will play an increasingly vital role in meeting the needs of the oil and gas industry and beyond.

Proven Green Solutions for Oil Field Maintenance and Remediation

Undoubtedly, the build-up of paraffin wax and asphaltenes is a significant challenge in producing mature oil fields. Fortunately, green chemistry technology has emerged as a proven solution that maintains production levels while reducing the environmental impact of the oil and gas industry. 

At Ideal Energy Solutions LLC, we provide non-hazardous and environmentally responsible flow assurance and production maintenance chemicals. Our solutions are designed to optimize oil field production while minimizing the industry’s carbon footprint. By utilizing our ESG-friendly chemical solutions for oil field production optimization and well remediation, your business can achieve sustainable, long-term success.

To sum up, the demand for environmentally-responsible solutions in the oil and gas industry is increasing, and we’re proud to be at the forefront of this shift. Contact Ideal Energy Solutions LLC today to learn more about our innovative chemical solutions and how we can help your business achieve its ESG goals while maximizing production.