| CPC C09K 8/588 (2013.01) [C09K 8/032 (2013.01); E21B 21/068 (2013.01); E21B 43/385 (2013.01); C09K 2208/26 (2013.01); C09K 2208/28 (2013.01)] | 20 Claims |
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1. A system of treating fluid, the system comprising:
a production wellbore for producing fluid comprising hydrocarbons, water, and polymer from a hydrocarbon-bearing formation;
a first injection apparatus for adding a concentration of a viscosity reducer to the fluid to degrade the polymer present in the fluid;
a second injection apparatus for adding a concentration of a neutralizer to the fluid to neutralize the viscosity reducer in the fluid; and
surface fluid processing equipment for separating the hydrocarbons from the fluid; wherein:
a pH of the viscosity reducer is lowered to a pH of 7 or less;
the addition of the concentration of the viscosity reducer is in a sufficient quantity to allow for complete chemical degradation of the polymer prior to the addition of the concentration of the neutralizer in the fluid such that excess viscosity reducer is present in the fluid; and
the addition of the concentration of the neutralizer is sufficiently upstream of any of the surface fluid processing equipment to allow for complete neutralization of the excess viscosity reducer such that excess neutralizer is present in the fluid prior to the fluid reaching any of the surface fluid processing equipment,
wherein the concentration of the viscosity reducer is added at a first location, and wherein the concentration of the neutralizer is added at a second location.
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