Recent innovations in pigging technology for the removal of hard scale from geothermal pipelines

Conference · Tue Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1996

OSTI ID:494425

Arata, E; Erich, R; Paradis, R ^[1]

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1. E-P & Associates, Jackson, CA (United States)

Scaling of production lines and especially injection pipelines and lines to brine ponds is common in many geothermal operations. Previous works by Stock and Brown have discussed methods to monitor scale build-up in injection lines by pressure drops and Klein recently discussed methods for predicting and suppressing scaling in reinjection lines and wells. These writers have mentioned the process of pigging to remove scale deposits, but the geothermal literature is virtually devoid of information related to the use of pigging to remove geothermal scale in pipelines. In developing new tooling to tackle the extreme pipeline scaling problems of the Salton Sea geothermal plants, E-P & Associates has gained a wide range of experience in removing very hard scale. With regular monitoring of pipelines as proposed by Stock, Brown and Klein and the scheduling of regular cleaning events using improved pigging techniques; pigging operations no longer need be viewed as a dreaded events, but just routine maintenance.

• OSTI ID: 494425
• Report Number(s): CONF-960913--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
FLUID INJECTION
GEOTHERMAL WELLS
MAINTENANCE
PIPELINES
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
SALTON SEA GEOTHERMAL FIELD
SCALE CONTROL