Analyzing and monitoring the quality of produced fluids and addressing issues is a critical effort for oil and gas producers.  The need for fast and accurate results is critical for identifying issues that can upset production.  J&L Laboratories can provide water monitoring and analysis using state of the art instruments to help you determine and monitor your water management strategies.

Complete Water Analysis (CWA)

Dissolved solids in the form of cations and anions are detected by way of inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES) and ion chromatograph (IC).  J&L Laboratories utilizes the ThermoFisher iCap 7400 DV ICP-OES with auto sample prep performed by ESI’s prepFast system.  This virtually eliminates operator error as dilutions are handled robotically.  The ThermoFisher Dionex Integrion HPIC is not prone to interferences regarding sulfate analysis since the method of detection is based on the principle of chromatography.  Traditional spectrophotometric methods are notorious for interferences due to sample turbidity or the presence of certain ions in high concentrations.  We also utilize the IC to determine chloride concentration, with accuracy that exceeding that of traditional silver nitrate titrations.

J&L Laboratories utilizes the latest technology not just for the automation, but for the quality control functions available.  The CWA instrumentation must pass calibration, positive quality control, and blank quality control samples before the instrumentation proceeds through the batch.

Cations detected – Ca, Mg, Ba, Sr, Fe, Mn, K

Cations calculated – Na to bring the water to an electrically neutral equilibrium

Anions detected – Chlorides and sulfates

Customer notes:

Iron and manganese are typically byproducts from corrosion of steel.  The iron should be compared over time to previous analyses to determine what is considered high for the system or formation, as there is the possibility of the water containing naturally occurring iron.  The “hardness” of a water is typically summarized as the Ca, Mg, Ba, and Sr cations.  When paired with carbonate or sulfate anions, these cations can precipitate out of solution to form “mineral scales.”  Scale modeling may be performed if the following tests are performed by the customer in the field:  pH, temperature, tubing pressure, dissolved CO2, and bicarbonate alkalinity.  As good practice, dissolved H2S should also be tested for in the field.  Field water kits are made available for purchase for our customers.  It is recommended that the customer performs acid producing and sulfate reducing bacteria serial dilution inoculations soon after sampling and turns in the inoculated serial dilution bottles with their water analysis samples for incubation at J&L Laboratories.  However, J&L Laboratories can offer serial dilution inoculations upon request.