Preventing reservoir souring is essential to maintain the value of oil reservoirs and fight corrosion in pipelines. See how PetroCare helps.

Every day, the leading oil service companies rely on Yara’s PetroCare to control biological hydrogen sulphide (H₂S) formation, prevent acidification in the oil tank, and to optimise drilling fluids.

Why PetroCare? 

PetroCare works by preventing the biological formation of H₂S, through stimulation of natural processes. It is an environmentally friendly solution in comparison with alternatives available on the market.

• PetroCare offers the benefits of Yara’s extensive experience of controlling H₂S in industrial processes and wastewater treatment plants worldwide.
• You can expect consistent high quality thanks to our experience gained as the world leader in the production of nitrates.
• PetroCare can be delivered around the world in liquid or solid form. Yara supplies in IBC, flexiliner, container or ISO container.

Combat oil reservoir souring with PetroCare

Yara's H₂S reduction solutions for the oil industry: 

• Prevent and mitigate biological souring
• Fight corrosion in pipelines
• Improve safety for the workforce

Independent academic reports, laboratory and field tests recommend nitrates to reduce H₂S formation and help improve work safety.

What causes oil reservoir souring?

Biological reservoir souring happens when water injection is used for secondary oil recovery, especially in offshore installations where sulphate-rich seawater is used. The lack of oxygen, warm temperatures and the presence of sulphate, stimulates naturally-occurring microbes, which then produce toxic H₂S. This turns sweet oil to sour.

Sour oil has a lower market value and the presence of H₂S gas at the producer can lead to:

• Material damage (MIC corrosion)  
• Restricted production rates  
• Serious occupational health issues 

How PetroCare works 

PetroCare is dosed into the injected seawater. This encourages the microbes to generate harmless nitrogen gas – instead of the harmful sulphide produced when sour conditions prevail.

Specialty nitrates like PetroCare change the bacterial environment, so that they no longer produce sulphide gases. Nitrate is a natural substance present in soil, where it is a major nutrient for plants. Yara’s nitrate-based technology is, therefore, a natural, environmentally friendly way to eliminate the problems caused by H₂S.

PetroCare for drilling fluids 

Selection of an acceptable drilling fluid is now increasingly linked to environmental legislation on waste management, cost savings, as well as traditional technical aspects. Disposal of waste drilling fluids and associated contamination is becoming a concern worldwide.  

Operators adapt by developing and following waste minimization, recycling and bioremediation strategies. In addition the right choice of drilling fluid will increase Rate of Penetration (ROP) of the bit and therefore total drilling depth is increased. These are some of the reasons why the leading oil service companies have come to rely on Yara’s environmentally-friendly PetroCare in drilling fluid.

Yara’s knowledge of nitrates has allowed our experts to develop speciality nitrates that can be added to drilling mud (fluid).