Investigating the Mineral Potential of Brines in Southeastern Saskatchewan … · 2010. 3. 18. ·...
Transcript of Investigating the Mineral Potential of Brines in Southeastern Saskatchewan … · 2010. 3. 18. ·...
Investigating the Mineral Potential of Brines in Southeastern Saskatchewanof Brines in Southeastern Saskatchewan
Examining the potential of aExamining the potential of a brine industry in Saskatchewan
G.K.S. Jensen
www.er.gov.sk.ca
Study MotivationStudy Motivation• Possibility of a new industry in
Saskatchewan.• Global demand increasing for• Global demand increasing for
Lithium, Iodine and other trace elements.
• Utilizing a substance that is already b h fbrought to surface.
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Previous ResearchPrevious Research
• 2002‐ Brine Sampling Program involved the Ministry of Energy andinvolved the Ministry of Energy and Resources.
• This study is building upon the y g presults from the 2002 paper.
• This study will only investigate samples collected from currentlysamples collected from currently producing wellheads therefore minimizing the risk of a contaminated sample from a drill stem test No potash shaft samplesstem test. No potash shaft samples at this point.
• Markets have changed.g
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Why trace ion data is limitedWhy trace ion data is limited
• Oil companies typically aren’t interested in trace ions Major ions
Formation water Stiff plots
interested in trace ions. Major ions that are analyzed include:Cl, Na, K, Mg, HCO3, SO4, Fe, CO3
• Stiff plots are produced to hi ll di l h h i fgraphically display the chemistry of
the formation water.• Recently trace elements have been
utilized to “fingerprint” and g pdetermine the evolution of the formation water.
• The reproducibility is often a problem with trace ions, dilutionproblem with trace ions, dilution factor.
• New analytical techniques for Br,I have increased measurement precisionprecision.
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Neutron Activation AnalysisNeutron Activation Analysis
• Developed at the University of Alberta with the SLOWPOKE N l R t D t iNuclear Reactor. Determines the total Bromine and Iodine in solution.
• Iodine is scavenged from solution via sorption to iron hydro oxides once the sample is subjected to atmospheric conditions.
• This talk will focus on Lithium & Iodine
World Lithium Production & Demand World Lithium Production & Demand
• 2011‐ Lithium production will be 104‐115,000 tonnes.1
• By 2020‐ world demand could reach between 280, 000 to 360,000 tonnes.1
www.er.gov.sk.ca 1. Industrial minerals Apr. 2011
Lithium demand next decadeLithium demand next decade
• Future demand looks to at least to• Future demand looks to at least to double by 2020.1
• The surge in demand is based upon g pmobile energy. i.e phones batteries (a few grams) and electric car batteries ( 30 kg).2
• Li prices have increased 10 times in the last 5 years.2
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1. Industrial minerals Apr. 20112. Scientific American Mar. 18, 2010
Lithium Potential from Brines• Two recent articles from 2011
• Developing industry
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Iodine ProductionIodine Production
• World Production, 2010Country (Metric tons)1 Chil 18 0001. Chile 18, 0002. Japan 9,8003. China 5904. Russian Federation 3005. Azerbaijan 3006. Turkmenistan 2707. Indonesia 758. Uzbekistan 28 U be sta
• United States produces Iodine in Oklahoma and Montana (Iofina), however production volumes are i hh ldwithheld.3
• Iofina, wellhead extraction technology (WET), mobile
www.er.gov.sk.ca 3. USGS 2011
Iodine ConsumptionIodine Consumption
• USA accounts for around 3% of global production. Which supplies b t 12% f d ti d d
Iodine consumption by countryabout 12% of domestic demand.
• The price of Iodine jumped following the Japanese nuclear disaster, from
p y y
the Japanese nuclear disaster, from $24/kg to $80 /kg
www.er.gov.sk.ca1. Source: SQM
First Stage is Lower Paleozoic in First Stage is Lower Paleozoic in Southeastern SaskatchewanSoutheastern SaskatchewanSoutheastern SaskatchewanSoutheastern Saskatchewan
• Sampled lower Paleozoic wells in southeastern Saskatchewan
• Sampled 30 wells over 5 days.• Each sample taken directly from well
head.• Next phase will be Mississippian SE• Next phase will be Mississippian SE
and southwest portion of the province.
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Samples by FormationSamples by Formation
• Devonian aged Birdbear formation: 6 samples6 samples
• Devonian aged Duperow formation: 1 sample1 sample
• Devonian aged Winnipegosis formation: 9 samples
• Ordovician aged Red River formation: 13 samples
Sample LocationsSample Locations
Importance of Sampling ProtocolImportance of Sampling Protocol
• Only 2 Duperow wells are currently producing in Saskatchewanproducing in Saskatchewan.
• However due to flooding only one well was operating when we were
lisampling.
• Watercut on lone producing well was low 12% uncertain of volumewas low, 12%, uncertain of volume of water for analysis.
• Sample from the treater tank was taken.T k l h d ll• Treater tank only had one well supplying it. Oil and brine are separated within the treater tank.
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Importance of Sampling ProtocolImportance of Sampling Protocol
• Wellhead sample only Chloride and bromide was analyzed due to lowbromide was analyzed due to low sample volume.Cl 185 800 mg/LBr 262 mg/L
• Treater SampleCl 95 200 mg/LB 137 /LBr 137 mg/L
• Treater sample is not representative of Duperow formation waterof Duperow formation water
• Always take a sample directly from the well head/ pump jack.
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Preliminary Results of Sample Preliminary Results of Sample AnalysisAnalysisAnalysisAnalysis
• Lithium ranged from 9 to 79 mg/LDuperow treater sample was 79 mg/LDuperow treater sample was 79 mg/LWinnipegosis samples Li>45 mg/LBirdbear samples Li~40 mg/LRed River Samples Li> 40 mg/LRed River Samples Li> 40 mg/L
• Iodine 3 analysis at presentRed River 7.1mg/Lg/Winnipegosis 11.5 mg/LBirdbear 33 mg/L
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Mass calculation of Li & I (2 wells) Mass calculation of Li & I (2 wells)
• 2 Birdbear producing wells:I= 33 mg/LI= 33 mg/LLi= 40 mg/LCombined average daily production is 195 m3 of formation water.So..
195 m3 = 195 000 L33mg/L *195 000 L = 6 435 000 mg or 6.435 kg of I
40 mg/L * 195 000L = 7 800 000 mg or 7.8 kg of Li
B d 100%• Based on 100% recovery• Feasibility will depend on the recovery rate.
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SummarySummary
• Initial results seem promising .
• More sampling needs to be done to determine the concentrations in other formations.
• As market price increases the economics will help the development of a brine industrydevelopment of a brine industry.
• Better recovery rates will also help the development of the industry.
• Full set of results will be released in an open file report in 2012
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AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements
Scott McKnight for help in d i f ll li iproduction of well list, trip
preparation and field sampling.
The oil companies for allowing us to sample their wells. As well as the field operators for taking timethe field operators for taking time to collect samples for us.
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