US 12,345,140 B1
Advanced waterflooding methods for enhanced hydrocarbon recovery
Mohammed Badri Al Otaibi, Dhahran (SA); and Dong Kyu Cha, Dhahran (SA)
Assigned to SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY, Dhahran (SA)
Filed by SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY, Dhahran (SA)
Filed on Feb. 16, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/443,563.
Int. Cl. E21B 43/20 (2006.01); C02F 1/26 (2023.01); C02F 1/44 (2023.01); E21B 34/14 (2006.01); C02F 103/08 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 43/20 (2013.01) [C02F 1/265 (2013.01); C02F 1/441 (2013.01); C02F 2103/08 (2013.01); C02F 2209/005 (2013.01); C02F 2209/05 (2013.01); C02F 2209/10 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method comprising:
desalinating, at least partially, a first portion of a saline aqueous fluid through a reverse osmosis system to produce a desalinated aqueous fluid;
measuring a first salinity of the desalinated aqueous fluid via a first total dissolved solids (TDS) sensor in communication with a controller;
measuring a second salinity of the saline aqueous fluid via a second TDS sensor in communication with the controller;
mixing the desalinated aqueous fluid with a second portion of the saline aqueous fluid at a first ratio based on the first salinity and the second salinity via an inline mixer fluidly connected to the reverse osmosis system to produce an aqueous flooding fluid, wherein mixing the desalinated aqueous fluid with the second portion of the saline aqueous fluid comprises:
regulating a flow of the desalinated aqueous fluid to the inline mixer via a first inflow choke valve in communication with the controller;
and
regulating a flow of the saline aqueous fluid to the inline mixer via a second inflow choke valve in communication with the controller;
measuring an online salinity of the aqueous flooding fluid via a fourth TDS sensor in communication with the controller; and
introducing the aqueous flooding fluid to a subterranean reservoir, wherein introducing the aqueous flooding fluid to a subterranean reservoir comprises:
introducing a first portion of the aqueous flooding fluid to the subterranean reservoir via a first injection well fluidly connected to the inline mixer.