Title : Technical feasibility study in obtaining hydrogen through electrolysis using process water from crude extraction wells and existing energy surplus in a Colombia oil field
Abstract:
In the hydrocarbon production process, water is the largest by product of extraction. In Colombia, in particular, for every barrel/oil, an average of thirteen barrels of water are generated. For the CPF (Central Processing Facility) in a well in Colombia, the hydrocarbon production that arrives comes from the wells belonging to the oil field and said production enters through 6 trunks, this production is composed of gas, water and crude oil. Upon arriving at the field they enter a system called slug catcher, which is a fluid buffer, the liquids and a portion of gas pass through an oven to deliver the crude oil at adequate pressure and temperature specifications.
Making a summary description of the produced water system in the oil field, we then have that the system was designed to treat, store and transfer the water obtained in the high, medium and low pressure separators, which is received in the degasser drum or “flash drum” to eliminate crude oil and vapors. It then flows to the storage tanks from where it is propelled by the booster pumps to the transfer system, and from there it is dispatched through the interfield pipeline to the CPF of the field, for its final injection into the reservoir with the injection wells. Water dispatch is carried out with the “Batching” system, dispatching crude oil and water alternately through the “interfield” pipeline; It is currently carried out through the “Wet Oil” scheme, injecting water continuously into the suction of the transfer pumps to dispatch it in the form of a mixture with the already controlled crude oil.
The objective of the project is to establish the viability of producing hydrogen in the CPF, through the use of the electrolysis technique, using production water from oil wells and current energy surpluses, estimated at approximately 20MegaWatt. For the project, it is proposed to develop several power scenarios in order to observe the technical-economic viability (scenarios 5 - 10 - and 15 MW). This project seeks to include a new energy resource, such as hydrogen, in Colombia's service portfolio.
Audience Takeaway Notes:
- This research could serve as a case study for other professors and universities or companies.
- This work can serve as support in other designs and research
- One of the main results expected in this project is obtaining the mass balance, in order tohave certainty about the hydrogen production process. As well as having on hand an evaluation of all the efficiency parameters, in order to study and control the real capacity of the equipment in operation in terms of the use of electrical energy.
