BREAXIT Emulsion Breakers

Essential Expertise for Water, Energy and Air

SM

Oilfield Separation Technologies

WHY
Maximizing Production

Oil/water separation and success are mutually inclusive

Among the most critical aspects of petroleum production, no matter what the production system, is separating produced crude from water and basic sediments. Your profits depend on doing so efficiently. But at the same time, dealing with produced water in an efficient and environmentally sustainable way is equally important. Effective separation is the key to success on both fronts. At Nalco, thats our business. As the global leader in water management technologies, emulsion breaking has been a core competence and major R&D focus for over 75 years. Combined with our extensive global involvement with petroleum production chemistries of all types, Nalco brings you a combination of experience, local expertise and advanced technologies that delivers measurable, sustainable flow assurance, asset protection and production maximization.

The Nalco BREAXIT portfolio includes over 190 emulsion breakers (EBs) and over 40 reverse emulsion breakers (REBs). These are worldwide field-proven products specifically designed to provide cost-effective performance for virtually every type of crude oil production system from light condensates to heavy oil and bituminous oil sands. Product formulation is conducted via highly developed selection processes and the deployment of extensively trained, experienced demulsifier experts. Our team of professionals includes onsite consultants, field service technicians, demulsifier specialists, and process and operations personnel. Nalco invests heavily in the development of new chemicals and techniques to enhance the selection process for the formulation and application of new products. The combination of our products and techniques allow for more rapid selection protocols while at the same time increasing the success rate during field trials. Solutions begin with understanding causal factors Nalco is a pioneer in the application of advanced statistical analysis techniques to identify the root causes for separation issues. Using customer process data together with chemical and analytical data, we analyze the separation process to determine the major factors that cause separation problems in the field. The separation process is mapped to determine operational parameters and process settings for optimum separation performance. Our clients benefit from decreased production losses and increased production.

Our mission and innovation deliver value

Nalcos mission is to enable sustainable profitability concurrent with sustainable environmental performance. The two concepts are inseparable, and our innovation strategies address both. Extensive R&D resources, focused on petroleum production

HOW

Nalco employs over 500 researchers, 40% of whom have PhDs. This commitment to R&D has resulted in over 2,000 patents, with new products representing over 40% of our oil field chemicals sales over the past two years. Its the very definition of continuous improvement as Nalco R&D teams work closely with customers to stay ahead of changing environmental regulations and develop innovative products that are cutting edge for both their performance and their low environmental impact. We have developed a portfolio of Flow Assurance, Asset Integrity and Production Maximization chemistries based on meeting or exceeding the most stringent environmental regulations. BREAXIT technologies are superb examples of this commitment. Responsible Care global initiative Nalco Safety, Health and Environment programs are structured on Responsible Care, a chemical industry-specific, and voluntary, global initiative. Responsible Care has become part of our culture since we helped establish the program in 1985. Responsible Care is implemented through a management system approach that offers an integrated, structured method focused on seven key areas of our operations: community awareness and emergency response; security; distribution; employee health and safety; pollution prevention; process safety and product stewardship. Implementing Responsible Care in the United States includes mandatory independent third-party verification of those management systems.

WHAT
The most important objective of any oil production facility is the separation of water and other foreign materials from the produced crude. The breaking of these crude oil and water emulsions constitutes one of the more challenging problems in todays petroleum industry. During the productive life of an oil or gas well, a stage is reached when water will be coproduced in unacceptable quantities. This water coexists with the hydrocarbons in the reservoir and gradually infiltrates into the hydrocarbon bearing region of the formation. Eventually water becomes part of the production from the wells regardless of the method of recovery. In oil production today, water is an inevitable byproduct. In fact, nearly 90% of crude contains oil and water emulsions. The gradual encroachment of water into oil-bearing formations and the advent of secondary and tertiary recovery methods have led to the development of new technologies to break crude oil and water emulsions. BREAXIT Emulsion Breakers are designed to resolve emulsions caused by the process of extraction and production of crude oil. The result is dehydrated crude petroleum at minimum cost to the operator. Weve specialized in this type of demulsification for more than 50 years. Operators attain exceptionally rapid oil-water separations with Nalco demulsifiers, which treat virtually all types of emulsions. Nalco continues to develop new emulsion breakers for the oil and gas industry today. New areas of research include production enhancement through downhole viscosity reduction and improved separation of heavy crude emulsions including those found in the SAGD recovery processes. Our emulsion breakers offer the benefits below, including:

BREAXIT Emulsion Breaker technology delivers

Rapid, sharp separation No heavy metals or organic halides added Versatility in treating all types of emulsions Convenient to handle, easily dispersed

BREAXIT Reverse Emulsion Breaker technology delivers

WHAT
Oilfield produced water often contains residual quantities of oil and in many cases, solid particles. The oil can be either a source of revenue if removed, or a source of problems if left in the water. In the case of lost revenue, any oil left in the water wastes the time and money spent bringing it to the surface. The recovery of small amounts of oil removed from the water over a period of time can lead to significant increases in revenue. With regard to the problems that can occur if oil is left in the water, produced water that contains oil or other contaminants must be clean in order to be used to supply a water flood project or steam injection program. Oil and solids can quickly foul expensive water softening resin beads. Dirty water can also lead to costly maintenance programs for injection wells. For both of the reasons, many types of equipment and chemical treatments are used to remove as much oil as possible from the water stream. Water clarification chemicals can be used to improve the efficiency of the separation equipment and reduce the total cost of operation. The solids found in produced water are commonly particles of silt, sand and clay from the formation or can be the byproducts of corrosion and scale formation. These solids are usually removed along with the oil. They are eventually removed from the system as a waste material or passed to the refinery with the salable oil. In addition to the loss of revenue and the reuse of produced water, concerns for nature have resulted in many new laws, regulations and agencies that closely monitor the oil left in produced water. Producers are severely penalized for discharging water to the environment that exceeds regulatory limits. Offshore platforms have been shut down for discharging water into the ocean that leaves a visible sheen. Water clarification chemicals combined with Nalcos field expertise can ensure that your produced water meets environmental requirements while increasing the amount of saleable oil and avoiding costly equipment repairs. An oil and gas producers overall ROI improves significantly with the proper selection of these products and service packages.

WHERE
Faster solutions through Statistical Bottle Testing (SBT) Our research and development group has created a statistically driven selection program that augments traditional bottle testing techniques. Through specialized crude oil characterization and application of chemical markers for separation, our customers benefit from:

Nalco technology contributes to maximize sustainable

Subsea and Downhole Applications The Nalco Manufacturing Certification Program represents a paradigm shift in quality assurance, in terms of SAE specifications and other built-in checks and balances. BREAXIT products intended for use in umbilicals must adhere to strict standards for quality and purity to ensure trouble-free chemical delivery for downhole and subsea systems. The SurFlo Plus certification provides assurance that these standards have been met or exceeded. Nalco has developed advanced testing systems by working with customers worldwide to meet their umbilical chemical requirements. Nalco processes include:

Faster demulsifier selection and formulation Customized products according to produced fluid compositions Accurate identification of the specific chemistry requirements for
optimal separation and cost efficiency SBT provides a scientific process for the development of next generation intermediates and products. It also significantly reduces the time for product development to allow for a timely and continuous improvement of performance and cost-effectiveness for our customers. Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) Separations BREAXIT EOR chemicals are specifically designed for treating highly stable emulsions formed during EOR applications that utilize Alkaline Surfactant Polymer/Surfactant Polymer (ASP/SP) Flooding Technologies. In ASP/SP flooding applications, low concentrations of surfactants are used to reduce the interfacial tension between the trapped oil and the injection fluids while the polymer is responsible for increasing the viscosity of the injected fluids to minimize channeling and provide mobility control. It is inevitable that at some point during the life of the EOR project, polymer and surfactants will break into the producing wells causing severe emulsion problems. Nalcos new, patented technology, BREAXIT EOR, effectively separates persistent oil and water emulsions produced during ASP/SP flooding. Our experienced field engineers can help you determine the best solutions for emulsion separation problems in your EOR project.

Cold stress testing Automated particle size analysis Umbilical flow loop testing Specific gravity testing Pour point measurement Viscosity testing ambient and high temperature/pressure Flash point, vapor pressure analysis Materials suitability data Hydrate resistance testing Thermal stability testing Umbilical storage fluid compatibility

production
Our BREAXIT product line includes emulsion breakers that completed the SurFlo Plus process and are certified for subsea umbilical applications. These products reduce or eliminate the potential for plugging capillary strings or umbilical lines. Our experienced Nalco field engineers can help you identify the appropriate BREAXIT product to solve your downhole emulsion treatment problems. Maximize flow with Emulsion Viscosity Reducers (EVRs) BREAXIT EVR technology is utilized for reducing the apparent viscosity of crude oil containing naturally occurring emulsions. The controlled emulsion breaking activity of the EVR chemicals is responsible for causing the reduction in apparent viscosity of the produced fluids. The effective application of Nalco EVR products usually leads to a decrease in the total cost of operation by reducing energy consumption, pump stress and failures, and need for topside emulsion breaker chemicals.EVR chemicals are designed for application through umbilical and capillary string lines to reduce bottom hole back pressure and enhance the production of crude oil. Measurable increase in oil production is attained when EVR is injected downhole. To further lower costs, BREAXIT EVRs enable partial demulsification at the higher downhole temperatures, there is less heat required at the surface. Additionally, they reduce the tendency of gas-lift wells, or wells with high gas volumes, to slug fluids and kick. Oil Sands and Heavy Oil As the global demand for energy grows, oil sands production grows with it. While Canadas vast reserves promise significant oil production, they also require a substantial input of energy and water to extract and upgrade the bitumen. Additionally, environmental concerns are forcing oil sands producers to find sustainable solutions that minimize the impact on their surroundings. Each phase of the oil sands production and upgrading process has specific challenges. Nalco offers a comprehensive approach built on knowledge and experience in all phases. We understand the challenges faced by the producer from extraction to refining. Our innovative BREAXIT technologies for emulsion breaking, slop oil reduction, maximizing heat exchanger performance and using automation to ensure reliability are driven by the issues faced in SAGD and Mining operations. Were focused on cost-effective and environmentally sustainable solutions that can be applied to optimize the entire system. We utilize Nalco Total System Analysis (TSA) to do a complete evaluation of your entire operation to identify areas for improvement. The TSA involves a thorough review of equipment, operating history, software modeling, laboratory analysis, and chemical treatment program. The outcome is an optimized operation and chemical treatment plan for your heavy oil and oil sands operation. Sustainable Chemistries BREAXIT chemistries have been developed to meet or exceed the environmental regulations to which our customers adhere, and to promote the sustainable development ethos. The majority of our components are tested against strict toxicity, biodegradation and bioaccumulation requirements to minimize substitution warnings and achieve the best hazard ratings. Our procedures satisfy testing requirements for chemical applications in the North Sea. But wherever you do business, we can meet your most demanding testing requirements.

The Nalco Commitment to Sustainability

Nalco demonstrates and delivers world-class leadership on environmental sustainability for our customers with strong efforts toward Nalco operations related to environmental, social and economic objectives of sustainable development. Helping Customers Operate Sustainably Nalco Company is the worlds leading environmental solutions provider. We create value for customers and Nalco through services and technologies that save water and energy, enhance production and improve air quality, all while reducing total cost of operation. Nalco programs create significant economic value for customers. The environmental return on investment (eROISM) we provide includes savings from reducing water and energy use, conserving assets, reducing solid waste disposal, and improving utilization of natural resources and raw materials. Our performance as disclosed in our annual Sustainability Report includes: Waste Reduction: Since 2005, the total amount of waste generated by Nalco manufacturing operations worldwide has been cut by 23%. While a portion of that decline is a result of decreased production due to the global recession, we have a number of focused waste reduction projects at our global manufacturing sites. Energy Reductions and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions: Nalco is committed to a 10% reduction in energy use from 2007 levels by 2012. Because of the direct relationship between energy use and GHG, this will mean a percentage reduction in GHG emissions in the high single-digits over the same period. As part of our commitment to continuously improving our environmental performance, our manufacturing plants around the world are undergoing a comprehensive program of accreditation to either ISO14001 or Responsible Care14001, the global standards for environmental performance. We can always improve, which is why we continuously strive to do better for our employees, our communities and our customers.
NALCO COMPANY OPERATIONS
North America: Headquarters 1601 West Diehl Road Naperville, Illinois 60563-1198 USA Energy Services Division 7705 Highway 90-A Sugar Land, Texas 77478 USA Europe: Ir.G.Tjalmaweg 1 2342 BV Oegstgeest The Netherlands Asia Pacific: 2 International Business Park #02-20 The Strategy Tower 2 Singapore 609930 Latin America: Av. das Naes Unidas 17.891 6 Andar 04795-100 So Paulo SP Brazil www.nalco.com NALCO, the logos and the tagline, BREAXIT, SurFlo and SurFlo Plus are trademarks of Nalco Comapny. Responsible Care is a trademark of the International Council of Chemical Associations. 2010 Nalco Company All Rights Reserved Printed in U.S.A. 8/10 B-1105