Oilplus https://www.oilplusltd.com oilfield chemistry microbiology and process design Thu, 31 Oct 2024 10:59:52 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.2 Production Chemistry Team Leader https://www.oilplusltd.com/2024/10/31/production-chemistry-team-leader/ https://www.oilplusltd.com/2024/10/31/production-chemistry-team-leader/#respond Thu, 31 Oct 2024 10:52:07 +0000 https://oilplus-co-uk.stackstaging.com/?p=346 Date: Sat 18 March 23

Oil Plus has a long-standing reputation in designing and troubleshooting oilfield water handling and treatment facilities – identifying and improving flow assurance issues through a combination of chemical and mechanical engineering solutions.

Solving process issues often requires analysis at site. Oil Plus differs from other service and laboratory companies because we have the equipment, skilled scientists, and engineers to do this. A troubleshooting project often requires an on-site review of all the critical equipment and processes; necessitating real-time fluid sampling and initial testing, followed by further laboratory evaluation in our purpose-built laboratory in the UK, and computer modelling and predictions.

The role of Production Chemistry Team Lead at Oil Plus is to lead and grow the existing team and to enhance the solid foundation built to date; you’ll become a valuable part of our second-tier management team. Tackling a wide range of technical production chemistry challenges, it’s a chance to deepen your industry knowledge, experience and strengthen your leadership skills.

The position is based in Oil Plus’s Newbury office.

You’ll be seen as a role model for good practice and valued for your expertise. From day to day, you’ll work closely with your colleagues on a variety of global oil & gas projects and guide your team in a variety of areas.

Oil Plus is looking for someone proactive and assertive who has shown they can work effectively on their own initiative. A very capable communicator, you’ll enjoy networking with a variety of people from other technical disciplines.

Specific Tasks Include

Technical Operations:

  • Identifying risks and providing chemical and non-chemical solutions for field development projects and operating assets.
  • Providing production chemistry expertise input to the design and operation of development and decommissioning projects.
  • Proactively contributing to HSE activities; sharing learnings on chemicals HSE management and other aspects.
  • Proactively provide specialist advice on chemical process and flow assurance related matters to prevent operational upsets, solve problems and optimise systems and ensure safe operation.
  • Develop direct laboratory / field trials to assess new chemicals or treatments and organising appropriate laboratory analyses and interpreting their results.
  • Provide input into commercial tenders and help lead the technical generation of proposals.
  • To provide experience and wide knowledge to undertake studies and analyses / evaluations of Chemistry related issues in the oil and gas industry on request from Oil Plus clients, and to provide solutions as appropriate.

Business Growth:

  • Support or influence operational growth in the areas of responsibility by introducing innovative ways to reduce costs of our technical delivery.
  • Actively identifies, pursues, and develops opportunities for innovation such as digitalisation and technology use, diversity and inclusion to bring enhanced value to Oil Plus and their customers.
  • Foster and enhance customer relationships with open, honest, and effective communications. Work with the customer facing teams to improve scope of work / offering, understand and deliver customer required level of services.
  • Accountability for department profit and loss account, to gross margin level.

Leadership:

  • Act as a champion and role model for ethical behaviour and compliance with applicable laws and policies.
  • Responsive to customer needs whilst ensuring the company operates with the utmost integrity, in line with the Code of Conduct and Company policies.
  • Facilitate open and effective communication to optimise delivery of objectives, maximise team performance and achieve continuous performance improvement, working closely with other areas of operation to promote and enhance collaboration.
  • Generate team spirit, enthusiasm and passion, pursue eradication of unproductive practices and negative mindsets to create a vibrant culture of positive thinking and attitude.
  • Oversee the competence management system for your technical function.

Job Knowledge Required

In order to fulfil the role to the company’s expectation, it is anticipated that the following Job Knowledge/Professional Development is required:

  • Global knowledge and experience in upstream production operations.
  • Working knowledge of liquid hydrocarbon and gas processing/operations.
  • Understanding of microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC), blocked pipelines, injectivity decline and loss due to formation plugging, disintegration of concrete or the production of toxic and corrosive hydrogen sulphide (H2S) gas.
  • Leadership and HSSE role model.
  • Risk Management role model.
  • A thorough understanding of strategic and change management with the ability to translate this into appropriate goals, methodologies, and strategies for implementation.

What We’re Looking For

Skills required to effectively perform the role are:

  • Skills spanning process chemistry, chemical aspects of flow assurance and associated operations.
  • Attention to detail.
  • High level of PC-literacy and familiar with Microsoft Office applications.
  • Strong project management skills.
  • In depth report writing skills and review.
  • Ability to work in a team environment.
  • Good communicator at all levels.
  • Commercial awareness.
  • Organisational ability.

Education + Training Required

  • Scientific or Engineering Degree in a suitable subject coupled with wide experience in an oil and gas industry role (necessary).
  • Master’s degree (or equivalent) in a science subject, ideally chemical engineering or chemistry (desired).
  • Management Degree (desired).
  • Member of Professional Institute (Chartered Engineer / Manager) (highly advantageous).
  • PhD or DSc in related subject (highly advantageous).
  • PRINCE2 Practitioner or similar (desired).

What We Can Offer

A very competitive salary is on offer. In addition, following successful completion of an introductory probation period:

  • Contributory Pension Plan.
  • Life Assurance cover.
  • Income Protection plan.
  • Employee Assistance Programme.
  • Private Medical Insurance.

Reference: PCTL20231803

Closing Date: Thu 18 May 23

How to Apply

If you have the qualifications and operational experience detailed opposite please submit your CV, with current availability status, to our HR administrator via email – careers@oilplusltd.com

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Produced water – operational training pre-system start-up https://www.oilplusltd.com/2024/10/07/174/ https://www.oilplusltd.com/2024/10/07/174/#respond Mon, 07 Oct 2024 16:20:00 +0000 https://oilplus-co-uk.stackstaging.com/?p=174

Training for two operations teams on a new produced water injection plant.

Produced water – operational training pre-system start-up

Following the completion of a new produced water injection treatment plant, Oil Plus was asked to provide a training programme for its operations teams to maintain areas of strength and bridge knowledge gaps where they existed.

The course material was created specific to the facility, topics included:

  • Process equipment being used
  • Monitoring practices
  • Water quality requirements
  • Scale and scale control
  • Microbiological aspects
  • Corrosion and corrosion control
  • Production chemicals and their selection

Both sets of operations personnel felt confident in running the plant and, learnt how to best optimise performance following Oil Plus’s recommended methods and guidelines.

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Long-term operational support – production chemistry and chemical management https://www.oilplusltd.com/2024/10/07/169/ https://www.oilplusltd.com/2024/10/07/169/#respond Mon, 07 Oct 2024 16:16:04 +0000 https://oilplus-co-uk.stackstaging.com/?p=169

Oil samples taken during the project with signs of sodium stabilised soap emulsion.

Long-term operational support – production chemistry and chemical management

Reaction of organic acids with bicarbonate rich produced water causing the formation of metal carboxylate soaps.

Due to the complexity of process fluids being handled, site specific monitoring test methods were created to analyse the process fluids.

Oil Plus’s production chemists worked with the client and their operations personnel over a two year period, assisting with common process issues such as; inorganic scaling, wax control, produced water incompatibility, soap characterisation, microbial fouling, and chemical evaluation. A Chemical Management Programme (CMP) was set up that allowed successful control and cost-effective mitigation of all the flow assurance issues.

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Chemical evaluation during pilot plant trails – polymer injection https://www.oilplusltd.com/2024/10/07/chemical-evaluation-during-pilot-plant-trails-polymer-injection/ https://www.oilplusltd.com/2024/10/07/chemical-evaluation-during-pilot-plant-trails-polymer-injection/#respond Mon, 07 Oct 2024 16:04:57 +0000 https://oilplus-co-uk.stackstaging.com/?p=159

Example showing effect of polymer

Chemical evaluation during pilot plant trails – polymer injection

The client had started a polymer and ASP [Alkali-Surfactant-Polymer] pilot test and wanted to ensure that the chosen chemical(s) were successfully applied in the surface facilities, at the production wells, and were suitably treated for produced water re-injection (PWRI). This included separation issues in the process fluids.

Oil Plus analysed the production fluid properties including the viscosities of polymer-rich water, emulsion properties of the oil in presence of polymer in return fluid from the wells.

The laboratory testing concluded that the polymers had comparable performance, therefore the client could base his purchasing decision on price and available from supplier.

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Sea water injection system – ineffective biocide injection regime https://www.oilplusltd.com/2024/10/07/sea-water-injection-system-ineffective-biocide-injection-regime/ https://www.oilplusltd.com/2024/10/07/sea-water-injection-system-ineffective-biocide-injection-regime/#respond Mon, 07 Oct 2024 16:01:32 +0000 https://oilplus-co-uk.stackstaging.com/?p=151

The effectiveness of a particular biocide on a population of microorganisms. In this test, the biocide was seen to have a positive effect on reducing the population levels.

Sea water injection system – ineffective biocide injection regime

Increased amounts of biocide were required to maintain microbiological control, raising operating costs.

Oil Plus screened and evaluated six dual treatment regimens using its on-site specialised piece of equipment, Biocide Evaluation Test Apparatus (BETA). The best performing, compatible biocide regime was identified and recommended.

Operating costs were reduced with a saving of $2.5m on chemicals over five years. Total estimated ROI of study $102.05M.

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Pipeline deterioration through corrosion issues – Offshore central production facility and plant https://www.oilplusltd.com/2024/10/07/pipeline-deterioration-through-corrosion-issues-offshore-central-production-facility-and-plant/ https://www.oilplusltd.com/2024/10/07/pipeline-deterioration-through-corrosion-issues-offshore-central-production-facility-and-plant/#respond Mon, 07 Oct 2024 15:49:34 +0000 https://oilplus-co-uk.stackstaging.com/?p=143

Example of a pipe where microbial activity can be seen at the 6 o’clock position.

Pipeline deterioration through corrosion issues – Offshore central production facility and plant

A client with historical pipeline integrity issues required quantification of corrosion threats across a network of sub-sea oil and water transport lines.

Oil Plus developed a sampling matrix for the transport pipelines. Each quarter, microbial and physio-chemical changes in the pipeline were recorded.

Water quality and output was improved with an estimated ROI for the study of $78.96M.

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Corrosion and deterioration of water quality affecting production quality and output – Onshore central production facility and plant https://www.oilplusltd.com/2024/10/07/corrosion-and-deterioration-of-water-quality-affecting-production-quality-and-output-onshore-central-production-facility-and-plant/ https://www.oilplusltd.com/2024/10/07/corrosion-and-deterioration-of-water-quality-affecting-production-quality-and-output-onshore-central-production-facility-and-plant/#respond Mon, 07 Oct 2024 15:40:54 +0000 https://oilplus-co-uk.stackstaging.com/?p=139

Oil Plus undertook a facility audit together with an on-site analysis monitoring programme to determine the problem areas and check chemical effectiveness.

Corrosion and deterioration of water quality affecting production quality and output – Onshore central production facility and plant

Sulphate-reducing microorganisms were causing corrosion problems in a plant and central production facility because the current biocides were ineffective and had been neutralised by the clay stabiliser.

An action plan to control immediate situation and development of techno-economically optimised biocide treatment plan.

Production quality and output was improved with an estimated ROI of the study of $202.48m.

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Fluid characterization and chemical testing mitigates wax formation – offshore deepwater field. https://www.oilplusltd.com/2024/10/07/fluid-characterization-and-chemical-testing-mitigates-wax-formation-offshore-deepwater-field/ https://www.oilplusltd.com/2024/10/07/fluid-characterization-and-chemical-testing-mitigates-wax-formation-offshore-deepwater-field/#respond Mon, 07 Oct 2024 15:32:10 +0000 https://oilplus-co-uk.stackstaging.com/?p=133

Example of wax formation in a production process pipeline.

Fluid characterization and chemical testing mitigates wax formation – offshore deepwater field.

Initial analysis of a small oil sample recovered at the time of drilling, showed it was a waxy crude oil.

Oil Plus independently evaluated the performance of six commercially available wax treatment chemicals.

Oil Plus recommended that, if applied correctly, adding the recommended pour point depressant chemical would resolve flow assurance issues, providing an ROI of $105.18M.

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Process audit to establish the root cause of an undesirable sludge in the bottom of an induced gas flotation (IGF) vessel – onshore oil production facility https://www.oilplusltd.com/2024/10/07/124/ https://www.oilplusltd.com/2024/10/07/124/#respond Mon, 07 Oct 2024 15:11:36 +0000 https://oilplus-co-uk.stackstaging.com/?p=124

The extent of solids dropping out of the bottom of the IGF vessel.

Process audit to establish the root cause of an undesirable sludge in the bottom of an induced gas flotation (IGF) vessel – onshore oil production facility

The client had an issue with an undesirable sludge being caused by the presence of bacteria in the bottom of an IGF vessel.

During the on-site audit, additional equipment was installed so that the process fluids could be monitored and recorded as part of the overall site analysis data gathering programme.

Oil Plus was able to recommend 12 resolutions to issues found with the IGF vessel to the client; including a full review of appropriate biocide treatment options to remove the microbial contamination. Thereby enabling the client to achieve its target Oil in Water discharge value.

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Reservoir souring predictive modelling allows operator to reduce capital and operating costs – offshore new field development https://www.oilplusltd.com/2024/10/07/reservoir-souring-predictive-modelling-allows-operator-to-reduce-capital-and-operating-costs-offshore-new-field-development/ https://www.oilplusltd.com/2024/10/07/reservoir-souring-predictive-modelling-allows-operator-to-reduce-capital-and-operating-costs-offshore-new-field-development/#respond Mon, 07 Oct 2024 14:55:52 +0000 https://oilplus-co-uk.stackstaging.com/?p=118

Cross section well pair showing temperature profiling using oil plus’s souring model.

Reservoir souring predictive modelling allows operator to reduce capital and operating costs – offshore new field development

An operator was considering water injection to increase seep efficiency in secondary oil recovery for a new offshore deep-water field. Analysis of the water composition, obtained during initial well testing, indicated the field waters contained significant sulphates and short-chain carbon-containing VFAs, as well as nitrates. Laboratory tests. There was a likelihood of H2S generation and subsequent breakthrough at the producer wellheads.

Computer modelling using a 2-D finite difference flow simulator, was used to predict the reservoir souring potential for a single injector/producer well pair in each reservoir. The model incorporated the results of two laboratory test programmes for H2S generation and reservoir scavenging capacity conducted by Oil Plus:

The model provided worse case scenarios for H2S production, allowing the client to select materials resistant to H2S concentrations of up to 70ppm. Based on the results, the client was able to keep operational costs to a minimum by dosing a biocide and H2S scavenger to protect the process facilities against the risk of corrosion caused by the presence of H2S. By factoring reservoir souring into the design of the plant, this provided the client with and estimated ROI of the study of $100.4m

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