Bacteria control

Very often, oilfield-producing systems experience severe problems with corrosion or hydrogen sulfide gas (H2S) attributed to bacteria. The bacteria causing the problem are the acid producing bacteria (APB) and the sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB). These organisms can attach to surfaces, forming a biofilm. The activities of the attached or “sessile” bacteria living in the biofilm can lead to the following problems in the oilfield:

• Corrosion of metal surfaces
• The generation of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and iron sulfide
• Plugging of production and injection wells (fresh and produced water)
• Plugging of water filtration systems
• Fouling of production processing equipment and storage vessels

These problems impact profit through lowered production revenues, the need for costly well interventions, increased piping and equipment maintenance or repair costs, or the use of hydrogen sulfide scavengers to control biogenic H2S at levels safe for personnel and equipment, and to meet regulatory or contractual agreements.

To counter the threats of bacteria in oil and gas systems, ICTC has experience in applying the technology to detect, chemically control and monitor bacteria and related problems. ICTC offers a complete range of liquid and solid biocides to control bacteria and to mitigate the operational problems that they cause. All ICTC biocides are registered for use in Canada.

ICTC Econo Cides are biocides and other formulations designed to control bacteria populations and the resulting damage caused by bacterial action. As with all ICTC chemistries, each potential application should be evaluated carefully and thoroughly, to ensure the selection of the appropriate product, application technology and monitoring systems. This provides a treating program that delivers the cost-effective treatment results that meet or exceed the expectations of customers.

Scale Control

ICTC provides scale control programs to create value and maximize performance for the Canadian oil and gas industry. Scale control utilizes a documented process that helps our customers reduce mineral scale formation and deposition and lowers the cost associated with scale.

Typically the process includes:

• An interactive approach to mineral scale control
• Detailed understanding of the scale risks
• Custom design of products and services
• In-depth experience and expertise in mineral scale control
• Prediction of various scales

ICTC designs scale control programs for each oil field in the context of a well/field life cycle model. As an oil well or field matures, changing conditions in the well and the formation can fundamentally change the risk of scale, and the type of scale formed across the entire production system. The scale control process reassesses the changing scale risks at each stage of the well/field life cycle, and ensures that the right scale control products and treatment solutions are applied as conditions evolve.

The process can lower risks to well integrity by assessing current scale mitigation strategies with respect to predicted requirements and provide recommendations for optimized control. In many cases, the scale control approach can lower the product dosage rate and reduce expenditure due to over-treatment technologies and capabilities.

ICTC’s Edmonton Research Center houses state of-the-art testing equipment and instruments for determining scale risks, developing treatments and evaluating products and technologies. The PMAC can simulate systems parameters up to 180°C and 6000 psi.

High pressure and high temperature testing equipment include core flooding apparatuses, automated scale tube-blocking devices, and automated capillary flow loops. ICTC also has developed proprietary computer software for scale  prediction and for designing scale squeeze and scale removal treatments.

ICTC’s unique product line can manage the following types of scale

• Calcium carbonate
• Calcium sulphate
• Barium and strontium sulphates
• Various iron types of scales

ICTC’s product line has inhibitors, removers, chelators and dispersants. ICTC has an industry-leading single phase barium sulphate remover.

Water Clarification

Precipitants, coagulants and flocculants are used in waste treatment to separate unwanted components from water and sludge and to promote improved oil recovery and to reduce costly injection well clean ups. Not only do these materials make the task easier, in some cases the separation would be impossible without them.

ICTC’s water clarification product line is capable of:

• Solids removal
• Improved water quality by enhanced oil separation
• Reduce fires associated with frac and drilling operations
• Works synergistically with various mechanical processes