Brine pH modification scale control technology
- UNOCAL Corp., Santa Rosa, CA (United States)
UNOCAL`s patented pH modification technologies are applied at several geothermal fields to control siliceous scale deposition. Low dosages of strong acids are injected into brines to inhibit scaling in both flash and heat recovery plants. Testing has shown that pH modification technology can control scaling at low flash pressures and temperatures and at conductive cooling conditions. Typically, brine pH is reduced to the 5 - 6 range to slow the kinetics of silica polymerization without substantially increasing corrosion. Silica scaling rate prediction models and brine titration data are employed to select target acid dosages and pH. Brine injectivity is enhanced by pH modification as a result of scale control and formation stimulation. The use of acid to control siliceous scaling is cost-effective, and affords certain advantages over pH adjustment by acid gas mixing with brine or condensate dilution.
- OSTI ID:
- 494430
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-960913-; TRN: 97:002642-0107
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Annual meeting of the Geothermal Resources Council, Portland, OR (United States), 29 Sep - 2 Oct 1996; Other Information: PBD: 1996; Related Information: Is Part Of Geothermal development in the Pacific rim. Transactions, Volume 20; PB: 886 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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