Use of Drag Reducer in Improving Water (Flooding) Injectivity in Ukpokiti Field, Niger Delta

Evaluation of water-flooding injectivity involves identifying the causes of the problem(s) of the operation and coming up with possible solutions. Ukpokiti field was projected to be injected with 40,000BWPD, however, on commencement of operation only about 30,000BWPD could be injected. This live field experimental work identified pipeline restriction to the injector wellheads as responsible for the lower injectivity. The test involved injecting 15ppm, 20pm and 27ppm of Conoco drag reducer (CDR) downstream the turbine pumps that supply water to the injector wells. Velocity and the injection rate of water to the injector wells (with no CDR added) were measured. From the field results, 20ppm of CDR injection gave optimum injection increase of 13% and adding a third side outlet 3 pipeline into the wellheads gives independent 16% increase in injectivity. The test had no negative impact on the environment. The result could be applied as an aid and quick means of predicting water-flooding operation in similar operating condition as Ukpokiti field.