Surface Operations in Petroleum Production, I

Book excerpt: This is the first part of a two-volume work which comes at a time when oil producers are taking a close look at the economy of oilfield operation and redesign of production technology to improve ultimate recovery. The very high cost, and risk, of the search for new oilfields demands the re-evaluation of production technology and reservoir engineering to improve the production characteristics of existing oilfields.It is the aim of this work that it will be instrumental in the improvement of the global enhancement of oil production and ultimate recovery. It is the outcome of extensive collaboration between experts in petroleum who have devoted their time to the lucid expression of the knowledge that they have acquired through experience in the evaluation and solution of field problems, and development of economic field processes. Oil production companies have been generous in their cooperation through assistance and encouragement to the authors and permission to publish data, designs and photographs.Together, the two books provide a detailed and comprehensive coverage of the subject. The physical and chemical properties of the fluids encountered by engineers in the field are clearly described. The properties, methods of separation, measurement, and transportation of these fluids (gases, condensate liquids derived from natural gas, crude oils and oilfield waters) are dealt with. Following a presentation of the fluids and their process technology, a series of chapters give a thorough discussion of every type of surface equipment that is encountered in the myriad aspects of oilfield operations, ranging from waterflooding to new enhanced oil recovery techniques. Included are all methods for pumping, water control, production logging and corrosion control. The coverage also extends to: well completion and work-over operations, methods for design and operation of underground gas storage, and a review of offshore technology.Surface Operations in Petroleum Production is therefore a comprehensive reference which will be invaluable for field production managers and engineers; as well as being an ideal text on production technology to complement the study of reservoir engineering.