Composition of oilfield water

Water invariably occurs with petroleum deposits. Thus, a knowledge of the properties of this connate, or interstitial, or formation water is important to petroleum engineers. In this chapter, we examine the composition of oilfield water water density, compressibility, formation volume factor and viscosity solubility of hydrocarbons in water and solubility of water in both liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons and, finally, water-hydrocarbon interfacial tension. An unusual process called hydrate formation in which water and natural gas combine to form a solid at temperatures above the freezing point of water is discussed in Chapter 17. 

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