One sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) mitigation measure is the injection of biocide into produced and/or injected water. However, determining the suitable injection spot and the required biocide concentration can be a challenge. At a water treatment plant for an onshore oil field in northern Germany, formaldehyde injection was started at the end of 2015. The goal of this study was to understand the chemical parameters and microbial distribution in the water system and whether formaldehyde injection was achieving the desired effect. The data obtained by the authors not only can help operators to optimize biocide injection, but also to better understand the complex microbial growth occuring in the production facilities.
Introduction
Oil and water are produced from three fields and processed in a joint processing plant.
