System and method for polymer distribution to well sites

Abstract

The invention relates to a polymer transport and distribution system comprising a vessel, pipeline or network of pipes containing polymer mother solution, and one or more pumps for transporting polymer mother solution from a first location to one or more injection well sites at a second remote location, each injection well comprising a polymer mother solution input feed line, a water input feed line, and a second pump for controlling mother solution flow rate and pressure upstream from the water input feed line, for producing polymer daughter solution from polymer mother solution and water, and injecting the resulting polymer daughter solution into an oil or gas field well. Also provided are methods of distributing polymer to one or more injection well sites in an oil or gas field.

1 . A polymer transport and distribution system comprising,
 a vessel, pipeline or network of pipes containing polymer mother solution, and;   one or more pumps for transporting polymer mother solution from a first location to one or more injection well sites at a second remote location, each injection well comprising a polymer mother solution input feed line, a water input feed line, and a second pump for controlling mother solution flow rate and pressure upstream of the water input feed line, and for producing polymer daughter solution from polymer mother solution and water, and injecting the resulting polymer daughter solution into an oil or gas field well.   
   
   
       2 . The polymer transport and distribution system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one mixer for mixing polymer mother solution with water. 
   
   
       3 . The polymer transport and distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer comprises polyacrylamide, hydrolysed polyacrylamide, xanthan gum, guar gum, diutan gum, welan gum or a combination thereof. 
   
   
       4 . The polymer transport and distribution system of  claim 3 , wherein the polymer comprises a viscosity in the range of about 1 to about 25000 cP. 
   
   
       5 . The polymer transport and distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein either the polymer mother solution, the polymer daughter solution or both comprise less than about 50000 ppm total dissolved solids. 
   
   
       6 . The polymer transport and distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer mother solution, polymer daughter solution or both comprise a surfactant, biocide, alkaline component, antifoaming agent, or a combination thereof. 
   
   
       7 . The polymer transport and distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer daughter solution comprises polymer mother solution diluted with water. 
   
   
       8 . The polymer transport and distribution system of  claim 8 , wherein said water is derived from a saline well, a freshwater well, a water filtration skid or a combination thereof. 
   
   
       9 . The polymer transport and distribution system of  claim 1  further comprising one or more of:
 a) a dry polymer holding vessel;   b) a dry polymer transfer system;   c) a water inlet source for hydrating dry polymer;   d) an input source for adding one or more additional components to the dry polymer, water or polymer mother solution,   e) a mixer for preparing polymer mother solution, and;   g) a polymer mother solution holding vessel.   
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9 , comprising a dry polymer polymer transfer system, wherein said system comprises a calibrated auger or a helix conveyor. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the system comprises a mixer. 
   
   
       12 . A polymer transport and distribution system comprising,
 a dry polymer transfer system, a water inlet source, and a first mixer for preparing a polymer mother solution from said dry polymer and water,   one or more pumps for transporting polymer mother solution through a pipeline or network of pipes to one or more remote injection pod sites, each injection pod site comprising,   one or more injection wells, each injection well comprising a polymer mother solution input feed line and a water input feed line to produce polymer daughter solution, and a pump for controlling mother solution flow rate and pressure upstream of the water input feed line, for injecting the resulting polymer daughter solution into a well.   
   
   
       13 . A method of distributing polymer to one or more injection well sites in an oil or gas field comprising,
 a) providing a polymer mother solution;   b) pumping the polymer mother solution through a pipeline or network of pipes from a first location to one or more remote locations comprising at least one injection pod or well site;   c) mixing the polymer mother solution with water and optionally one or more additional components to form a polymer daughter solution and;   d) injecting the polymer daughter solution into a well.   
   
   
       14 . A method of distributing polymer to one or more injection well sites in an oil or gas field comprising,
 a) storing or producing a polymer mother solution in a polymer processing station;   b) pumping the polymer mother solution through a pipeline or network of pipes from the polymer processing station to one or more remote injection pods or injection well sites;   c) mixing the polymer mother solution with water and optionally one or more additional components at the injection pod or injection well contained therein to form a primary polymer daughter solution and;   d) injecting the primary polymer daughter solution into the injection well;   e) extracting oil or gas from a producer well in fluid communication with the injection well, and;   f) optionally, mixing polymer mother solution with water and if desired, one or more additional components at the injection pod or injection well site contained therein to form a secondary polymer daughter solution, wherein the secondary polymer daughter solution is more dilute in polymer concentration and less viscous than the primary daughter solution,   g) injecting the secondary daughter polymer solution into the injection well;   h) extracting oil from the producer well in fluid communication with the injection well, and;   i) optionally repeating steps f)-h) using successively more dilute and less viscous daughter solutions.