This edition first published 2018
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Craddock, Henry A., 1956- author.
Title: Oilfield chemistry and its environmental impact / Henry A. Craddock
(HC Oilfield and Chemical Consulting, Angus, United Kingdom).
Description: Hoboken : Wiley, 2018. | Includes bibliographical references and index. | Description based on print version record and CIP data provided by publisher; resource not viewed.
Identifiers: LCCN 2018000479 (print) | LCCN 2018000920 (ebook) | ISBN 9781119244264 (pdf) | ISBN 9781119244271 (epub) | ISBN 9781119244257 (cloth)
Subjects: LCSH: Petroleum engineering. | Petroleum chemicals. | Gas engineering. | Green chemistry.| Environmental protection.|
Demulsification. | Oil well drilling-Environmental aspects. | Drilling muds. | Oil field brines-Environmental aspects.
Classification: LCC TN870 (ebook) | LCC TN870 .C73 2018 (print) | DDC 622/.3381-dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018000479
Cover Design: Wiley
Cover Image: © pan demin/Shutterstock
To my dearest wife, Hazel, without whose tolerance, patience, support and love, this book would not have been possible.
In writing this book I have designed it primarily as a reference book for chemists and environmentalists practicing in the upstream oil and gas industry. The oilfield presents a large number of technical challenges to the chemist and many of these are set against a background of increasing regulation and control of environmental impacts. This book focuses on the key chemistries used across the oilfield as defined by various upstream oil and gas exploration, drilling, development, production, processing and transportation. It is an attempt to be as comprehensive as reasonable, however other sources should be consulted particular in reference to particular chemistries or issues of interest. The work includes chemistries used in cementing, completion, work‐over and stimulation, and further covers a number of chemistries involved in enhanced oil recovery, however these areas are not as comprehensively covered as others such as drilling and production.
A number of other books and reference works have examined the subject matter but all from the viewpoint of function and then chemistry applied. This book is an attempt to look at chemistry types and their use and potential use alongside their actual and possible environmental impacts. In the final two chapters I have attempted to focus on issues concerned with the environmental impact and fate of chemicals used in the oilfield sector. An outline of the regulatory conditions in a number of regions of the globe is included as well as also a critique of these in terms of overall environmental protection and sustainability.
The organisation of the book is laid out to examine specific chemistry types (Chapters 2–8) with Chapter 1 laying out the historical context of the subject, from its early application as a fairly piecemeal approach to solving certain oilfield problems, to its development into a fully‐fledged chemical discipline. Chapter 8 also includes the key area of formulation as this is a critical part of the application of chemicals to the oilfield as rarely can neat products be added or used directly. Chapters 9 and 10 are concerned with environmental issues which in the last 20 years have been a critical part of the discipline and a growing requirement for any oilfield chemist to understand. Chapter 10 is particularly focused on issues of sustainability which at the time of writing are becoming of growing importance and I believe will become vital in the continued use of chemicals and the application of chemistry to the oilfield.
I would like to acknowledge the works of Professors Johannes Fink and Malcolm Kelland whose books on ‘Oilfield Chemicals and Fluids’ and ‘Production Chemicals’ respectively were an invaluable source of information and guided me to numerous primary references. Laurent Schramm's seminal work on oilfield surfactants was of particular use in Chapter 3, and Malcolm Stevens third edition in Polymer Chemistry kept me on the straight and narrow in Chapter 2.
Both the Royal Society of Chemistry and Society of Petroleum Engineers library databases were extremely useful in affording primary sources of chemicals and chemistry applied in the oilfield context.
Finally, I would like to thank my daughter Dr Emma Craddock for her invaluable sense check on the critique and argument in Chapter 9.
Oilfield chemistry is a fascinating subject and continues to excite and stimulate and is sure to do so into the future. It is hoped this book will aid chemists and others to enjoy it further.
October 2017
Henry A. Craddock
Kirriemuir, Angus, UK