Because water and gas production often causes reservoir, wellbore, and surface facility problems, controlling water and gas production is a primary concern for hydrocarbon producers.

Problems associated with water and gas production have triggered many companies, research institutions, and universities to study water- and gas-production problems and develop chemicals and mechanical products that can control these problems. Because of the varieties of studies and products there are differences in terminology regarding these chemicals and areas of application. As a consequence, there are differences in expectations of these products, too.

In this paper, chemical systems are categorized as nonsealing and sealing. A standard testing procedure is suggested to help evaluate the performance of the different systems. Standardized testing should help the industry compare the performance of different systems under specific conditions. This paper will consider treatment techniques and operations to emphasize the importance of detailedjob design and operations planning. The paper ends with a summary of the economics involved in water and gas production. The method presented for determining a treatment's value can be used to evaluate the feasibility of water- or gas-control treatments.

Keywords:
symposium, terminology, fluid dynamics, upstream oil & gas, candidate selection, permeability, injection, polymer, flow in porous media, experiment
Subjects:
Drilling Fluids and Materials, Well & Reservoir Surveillance and Monitoring, Production Chemistry, Metallurgy and Biology, Reservoir Fluid Dynamics, Improved and Enhanced Recovery, Reservoir Simulation, Formation Evaluation & Management, Asset and Portfolio Management, Information Management and Systems, Drilling fluid selection and formulation (chemistry, properties)
Copyright 2001, Society of Petroleum Engineers
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