Page 247 - Geochemistry of Oil Field Waters

RESEARCH STUDIES 23 1

1,000 C
000 -
- A Louisiana
600 Mississippi
400 - A Alabama
o Arkansas
Texas
00

0
V
40 - 0
0
20 - d

10 I I 1 I I , I I I I I I I I OI,I I 1 I I

300
200

- 100
\
m
w
2 50
0
4
3 30
20 C- J
T
, I T 1 I II,] I 1 1 1 I I I L

19 3 100 200 500 1,000 2,000 5,000 10 100
POTASSIUM, mg/ I
Fig. 7.7. Relationships of the concentrations of chloride and potassium in a normal
evaporite-formed brine to oilfield brines taken from formations of Tertiary (T), Creta-
ceous (C), and Jurassic (J) age in the United States.

compounds are higher than those of other alkalies and alkaline earths. There-
fore lithium tends to stay in solution.
Fig. 7.7 compares the potassium concentration of some Louisiana oilfield
waters with those of waters subjected to evaporation. All of these waters are
depleted in potassium with respect to a brine subjected to evaporation,
indicating that potassium was lost to the associated sediments during