The Interpretation of Chemical Water Analysis by Means of Patterns

Abstract The classification and correlation of water analysis data presents manyproblems which can be solved by graphic methods. The pattern system, a new typeof graphic procedure described in this communication, is believed to haveseveral advantages over older methods. Examples of the application of thepattern system to the solution of problems encountered in petroleum productionare given. Introduction Several graphic methods for presenting analytical water data have beendeveloped and are now in use. It is believed, however, that a recentlydeveloped type of graph called the "pattern" offers several advantagesover other methods. This system presents a better picture of the total saltconcentration than is usual in such graphs. The effect of dilution orconcentration has been reduced to a minimum, and at the same time distinctionbetween various types of water has been improved. The system is extremelyversatile, yet so simple it can be plotted on ordinary graph paper and adaptedto almost any type of filing system. Discussion The essential feature of the pattern system is the graph shown in Fig. 1.Horizontal lines extending right and left from a vertical line at zero form thegraph. Positive ions are plotted to the left while negative ions are plotted tothe right. The figure immediately beneath each ion gives the scale. Most oilfield waters can be plotted on a scale where 100 milliequivalents of sodium andchloride and 10 milliequivalents of each of the other ions are represented byone scale unit. T.N. 84