Monitoring Injection Wells—Basic Hall Integral Method

10min 59s Intermediate

How can water injected into the ground be monitored?

An injection well is used to emplace fluids into the subsurface using pressure. This technical animation describes the injection process. It will also describe the use of operational data in understanding the character of the flow-path within the injection formation. This technique continuously tracks water-injection well operations and was developed by Howard Hall in 1963. It is a simple tool that is based on the assumption of steady state radial flow. Hall’s method uses information about the mean ambient reservoir pressure, water injection volumes, and operating injection pressures to create a response graph of an injection well’s operating behavior.

Made in collaboration with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Written, directed, and narrated by: Nancy Dorsey, Geological engineer, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Keypoints:

Fluid injection is used in a number of industries, but it is most commonly associated with oil and gas production.  Salty wastewater is typically produced along with the hydrocarbons from the oil and gas-bearing reservoir zone. The produced water can include flow back fluid from hydraulic fracturing well stimulations.  The recovered wastewater is most commonly managed by one of two injection processes. It can be used as a reservoir pressure support mechanism aka waterflood where fluid is injected back into a hydrocarbon production zone. Alternately, the wastewater can be injected for disposal into a saline disposal zone to protect all our fresh water resources.  Key parts of this water injection cycle include:

  • Water Production: the withdrawal of native groundwater in association with hydrocarbon production, or as flow-back fluid from previous hydraulic fracturing operations;
  • Produced Water Handling: the on-site collection of all produced fluids at the surface of the production site, separation of the hydrocarbons from the produced wastewater, and handling and transportation of the separated water in preparation for its disposal or reuse via injection;
  • Well Injection: the injection and movement of fluids through a well into a targeted rock formation;

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