Treatment of geothermal brine sulfate-rich fluids to facilitate the precipitation of silica
A method for the treatment of geothermal brines to control the precipitation of silica is disclosed. A sulfate-rich liquid is introduced into geothermal brine within a production well prior to flashing or is introduced into the residual geothermal brine remaining after the brine has been flashed to produce steam. The sulfate in the liquid reacts with the barium, calcium, and/or lead salts within the brine to produce a colloidal suspension which serves to accelerate precipitation of silica from the brine and to adsorb the precipitated silica particles. The colloidal suspension with its adsorbed silica particles is then removed from the brine by conventional gravimetric or filtration methods. The method of the invention substantially reduces the deposition of silica in wellbores and in energy extraction equipment and facilitates removal of the silica from the brine. The method further reduces the deposition of silica in injection wells wherein the silica cleansed brine is discharged.
- Assignee:
- 501 Republic Geothermal, Inc.
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4437995
- OSTI ID:
- 6474359
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
150903* -- Geothermal Engineering-- Corrosion
Scaling & Materials Development
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
BARIUM COMPOUNDS
BRINES
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CATALYTIC EFFECTS
CHALCOGENIDES
COLLOIDS
CONTROL
DISPERSIONS
DRILLING EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
FLUIDS
GEOTHERMAL FLUIDS
GEOTHERMAL WELLS
INJECTION WELLS
LEAD COMPOUNDS
MINERALS
OXIDE MINERALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PRECIPITATION
SCALE CONTROL
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SILICA
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SILICON OXIDES
SULFATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
WELLS