DUBLIN, IRELAND, April 24, 2015 -- Research and Markets, a leading provider of global market research, has announced the addition of a new report that addresses innovative water opportunities for the offshore oil and gas industry. Further, the study highlights the many prospects for water companies to provide solutions to meet ongoing market developments.
Called "Water for Offshore Oil and Gas: Opportunities in sulphate removal, produced water treatment and deepwater operations," the report discusses the prediction that the number of offshore platforms installed per year will double between 2011 and 2016, representing the continued growth in the offshore oil and gas sector.
Driven by increasing global energy demand and technological improvements, exploration and development (E&P) companies are increasingly exploiting deepwater fields and investing in solutions to maximize production from mature oilfields.
Public pressure, tightening regulations for produced water, depleting shallow water resources, and new deepwater developments require significant capital investment from E&P companies. The water sector can help reduce the risks of these investments by providing new and sophisticated treatment technologies for water injection.
The report analyses the two major avenues of opportunity for water companies working within the sector:
- Water Injection and Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR)
- E&P companies are investing to maintain production in mature fields, with the added challenge of operating in difficult and inhospitable offshore environments.
This report looks at opportunities for innovative water treatment solutions to capitalize on the resources available:
- Sulphate Removal Systems -- As the complexities of offshore deepwater oil development increase, so has the use of specialized membrane systems to remove sulphate from the seawater used for water floods and pressure maintenance. The report explores the opportunities for solutions that enable E&Ps to maintain production levels and increase well productivity.
- Low-salinity water -- Although still being tested by some E&P's, pilot data suggest that this incremental oil recovery using this method can be potentially significant. The report explores the future potential for companies offering low-salinity pre-treatment solutions that can improve the wettability of reservoirs and maximize production for E&Ps.
- Enhanced oil recovery --- EOR increased the amount of oil that can be extracted from a well by reducing the viscosity of the oil. This report outlines how advanced water treatment solutions can support chemical injection for EOR.
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