QA/QC Laboratory in Chemical EOR Pilot Monitoring in an Offshore Field

Share on linkedin
Share on email
Share on twitter

As part of the commitment to providing accurate and traceable analytical data, Lab EOR ITB together with OGRINDO ITB collaborates with Yayasan LAPI ITB in implementing a laboratory QA/QC (Quality Assurance dan Quality Control) program. This program supports the monitoring activities of a Chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) pilot in an offshore field.

In the implementation of a Chemical EOR pilot, the success of performance evaluation depends not only on the chemical injection process in the field but also on the quality of the data obtained during monitoring activities. Laboratory data generated through monitoring activities provide the information needed to support the performance evaluation of the Chemical EOR.

Figure 1. The facility of offshore serving as the location for the monitoring program of Chemical EOR.

Monitoring the Chemical EOR Pilot from the Field to the Laboratory

The monitoring journey begins with the implementation of injection through the presence of a field laboratory team that supports monitoring activities and quality testing directly in the field. All activities are conducted based on established procedures to ensure that the monitoring process is carried out consistently throughout the pilot implementation.

The monitored samples include polymer powder, injection water, polymer solution to be injected, as well as production fluids from wells located within the injection pattern. Through systematic QA/QC procedures, every stage of testing, quality verification, and result documentation is performed to ensure that the generated monitoring data remain consistent, accurate, and traceable.

Ensuring Chemical Quality and Injection System Conditions Meet the Target

Quality control is carried out at various stages before and during the injection process. The quality of polymer powder is evaluated through packaging condition inspection, visual observation, viscosity measurement, and total solid analysis.

In addition, injection water quality is monitored through testing of conductivity, equivalent salinity, total suspended solids (TSS), iron (Fe) content, dissolved oxygen (DO), and pH. These parameters provide insights into the condition of the injection system that may influence the performance of Chemical EOR.

The polymer solution to be injected also undergoes testing to ensure that its condition and performance remain within the targeted specifications. The evaluation includes visual condition, solution homogeneity, dissolved oxygen (DO) content, viscosity at reservoir temperature conditions, polymer concentration, and filtration ratio (FR).

Monitoring Production Response to Evaluate Pilot Performance

Monitoring does not stop after chemical are injected into the reservoir. The team also conducts observations of production fluids from wells within the injection pattern to understand the reservoir response to polymer injection.

Several monitored parameters include wellhead pressure (WHP), bottom hole pressure (BHP), injection rate, oil production rate improvement, water cut, and production fluid conditions. Additional testing, including polymer viscosity and concentration, evaluation of flocculationphenomena, emulsion stability, and the presence of bacteria in the effluent is also conducted as part of the pilot performance evaluation.

Through this series of monitoring activities, the team ensures that the quality of polymer powder, injection water, and polymer solution remains within the target specifications. The obtained data are also used to monitor the presence and behavior of polymers within the production system and support the evaluation of production well responses throughout the pilot implementation.

Figure 3. Monitoring activities conducted within the offshore production facility environment during the implementation of Chemical EOR.

Laboratory QA/QC as the Foundation of Reliable Data for Evaluation Chemical EOR

The laboratory QA/QC program is an integral part of monitoring activities, ensuring that all testing processes are conducted according to established procedures. Through the implementation of structured QA/QC procedures, the generated monitoring data can be used to support the performance evaluation of the pilot Chemical EOR.

The collaboration between Lab EOR ITB, OGRINDO ITB, and Yayasan LAPI ITB reflects the synergy between academia and industry in providing science-based technical support for the development of technology Enhanced Oil Recovery in Indonesia.

Figure 4. The monitoring journey supported by the systematic implementation of laboratory QA/QC throughout the pilot Chemical EOR.

Let's Collaborate with Us

With experience in research, laboratory testing, and technical support in the field of Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR), Lab EOR ITB and OGRINDO ITB are ready to be your partners in providing data-driven solutions for various challenges in the oil and gas industry.

For further information regarding research collaboration, laboratory testing, or technical studies, please contact:
📧 OGRINDO ITB
info@ogrindoitb.com
📧 Lab EOR ITB
eor@itb.ac.id