Oilfield Chemistry (MLJ560)

The course is taught by several world-class experts and guest lecturers. They will teach about the chemical processes, chemical problems and chemical treatments that are used mainly in the production phase of oil and gas fields, both onland and offshore. But drilling and completion fluids are also discussed. Engineering solutions are also discussed. This includes reservoir issues, well stimulation, flow assurance and processing problems all the way to the refinery. Environmental and health issues will also be discussed.


Course description for study year 2024-2025

Facts

Course code

MLJ560

Version

1

Credits (ECTS)

10

Semester tution start

Autumn

Number of semesters

1

Exam semester

Autumn

Language of instruction

English

Offered by
Time table

View course schedule

Content

NB! This is an elective course and may be cancelled if fewer than 10 students are enrolled by August 20th for the autumn semester.

The petroleum industry needs a lot of chemists - physical chemists, analytical chemists, organic chemists, environmental chemists, HES etc. And we will have oil and gas production for many decades to come. So many jobs are available.

The course provides an introduction to the production phase of an oil or gas field see from a chemical perspective. Often, the unsung heroes of the petroleum industry, the production chemists and engineers are the technologists that keep the oil and gas flowing. You will meet several world-class experts in their fields who will teach you and can become contacts in industry for you.

The topics within the curriculum include:

Production well and stimulation methods - acidising and scale removal, water and gas shut-off, chemical sand control, liquid unloading of wells, asphaltene and scale control (including squeeze treatments, downhole injection etc.)

Water injection chemicals - biocides, oxygen scavengers, desulphation, tracers, water-based drag reducers, IOR chemicals.

Flow assurance issues - corrosion, microbiological problems, H2S scavenging, wax/paraffin, gas hydrates, scaling, naphthenates. Integration with reservoir management, HPHT, subsea tie-backs, chemical injection, wintering.

Processing chemicals - demulsifiers, flocculants, defoamers

Environmental and health issues - ecotoxicological tests and interpretations, OSPARCOM, HOCNF, HMS on platforms, human hazard coding, heavy metals.

Other topics: drag reduction, heavy oil, hydrotesting.

Learning outcome

The students will learn about the chemical processes, chemical problems and chemical treatments that are used in the production phase of oil and gas fields, both onland and offshore. This includes some downhole stimulation methods, flow assurance issues and processing problems. Environmental issues especially for offshore discharge limits are also included.

Required prerequisite knowledge

KJE150 General Chemistry

The student must have taken and passed General Chemistry (KJE150), Fundamental chemistry (KJE101) or equivalent courses.

Students ought to have a basic understanding of the naming of inorganic compounds and organic chemicals (including aromaticity and basic functional groups in organic molecules), equilibrium, amounts of chemicals (moles, weight.%, ppm/ppb), redox reactions, solubility, acids/bases. The course will begin by giving a refresher in these topics.

Recommended prerequisites

KJE200 Organic Chemistry 1, KJE220 Inorganic Chemistry

It will be very useful (but not essential) to have some understanding of:

  • kinetics and thermodynamics (part of General Chemistry course KJE150)
  • the structures and solution properties of polymers and surfactants
  • instrumental methods to analyse chemicals
  • the oil and gas industry in general (from drilling to production and on to the refinery). The course will give a summary of the whole process in the first week

Exam

Dissertation and oral exam

Form of assessment Weight Duration Marks Aid
Dissertation 1/2 6 Weeks Letter grades All
Oral exam 1/2 45 Minutes Letter grades

Written individual work - a project report - on a theme related to the course. Mimimum 3000 words plus figures and references. The student can use recommended literature and other information. The student can propose a topic that they might like to write about (to be approved by the course leader), also from contacts made in the chemical and petroleum industry. Students who do not pass the report may be given the opportunity to write a new report before the oral exam.The submitted report can be taken to the oral exam.

Coursework requirements

Students are required to attend a minimum of 50% of all lectures, in order to be able to take the exam.

Course teacher(s)

Course coordinator:

Malcolm Andrew Kelland

Coordinator laboratory exercises:

Liv Margareth Aksland

Course teacher:

Roald Kommedal

Method of work

4 hours lectures (2 x 2) per week.

Open for

The course is available for master students in Biological Chemistry, Environmental Engineering and Petroleum Technology.

Other students may be accepted as long as they fulfill the admission requirements.

Course assessment

There must be an early dialogue between the course supervisor, the student union representative and the students. The purpose is feedback from the students for changes and adjustments in the course for the current semester.In addition, a digital subject evaluation must be carried out at least every three years. Its purpose is to gather the students experiences with the course.

Literature

The syllabus can be found in Leganto