Hydrocarbons From U.S. Gulf Coast Geopressured Brines

Abstract

U.S. Gulf Coast geopressured brines studied to date contain small amounts of C6+ hydrocarbons which are primarily aromatic in nature. They range from benzene to substituted anthracenes. In addition, the brines contain a variety of ions and light, C1 to C6, aliphatic hydrocarbons. The primarily aromatic hydrocarbon mixture was collected at −78.5°C and is referred to as a “cryocondensate.” It contains at least 95 different compounds and, from the carbon isotropic ratios, appears to be of terrestrial plant origin. For the only U.S. DOE geopressured energy design well studied for an extended period of time, i.e., the Glady’s McCall well, the concentration of the cryocondensate in the brine was observed to increase prior to the onset of oil production. It is postulated that the change in the brine cryocondensate concentration as a function of the cumulative brine volume produced from the wells results from an extraction of additional aromatic components from oil migrating into the production zone from adjacent shale. When sufficient oil has migrated, it is produced along with the brine.

Solubility of aromatic hydrocarbons in water and sodium chloride solutions of different ionic strengths: C2-Substituted benzenes

“…Considerable Interest has recently been shown in singlet delta oxygen [02(1Ag)], which is molecular oxygen in its lowest excited electronic state (1). This Is mainly due to Its use In the chemical oxygen-iodine laser (COIL) In which metastable 02-(1Ag) pumps iodine to an electronically excited atomic state that lases as the iodine atoms release their energy (2).…”

“…2KOH + H202 + Cl2 -2KCI + 2H20 + 02(1 ") (1) In order to interpret kinetic studies of this reaction and for reactor design, it is necessary to have knowledge of the solubility and dlffusivity of chlorine and oxygen in BHP solutions. It is the solubility of the unreacted gas In the case of Cl2 and not the total solubility that Is of Interest here.…”

“…They also contain a spectrum of aromatic compounds that range from benzene to alkyl-substituted anthracenes. The concentration of these aromatic compounds has been found to be a dynamic variable of the production of some reservoirs (1). We have been attempting to construct models of the reservoir which are consistent with the aromatic compounds concentration dynamics.…”