Oil well scale formation in waterflooding operations using ocean brines, Wilmington, California

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1965 · Rep. Invest. - U.S., Bur. Mines; (United States)

OSTI ID:6648136

Gates, G L; Caraway, W H

This Bureau of Mines report presents results of a study in the Wilmington, Calif., Oil Field to determine the following: (1) the composition of scales from wells; (2) the composition of the injection and formation waters; (3) the solubility of barium sulfate in Wilmington brines; (4) the factors that affect the rate of precipitation of barium sulfate from the produced waters; (5) the effect of addition of excess sulfate on scale formation; and (6) supersaturation of barium sulfate in the Wilmington brines. The data obtained were studied to show how the scale and the produced waters changed as the flood progressed. The results of this study indicated that the scales analyzed were primarily barium sulfate, probably formed from barium in the formation water combining with sulfate from the injected seawater. This was indicated by analysis of the injection and produced waters. The produced waters after breakthrough were supersaturated with barium sulfate. Barium sulfate precipitated slowly from the produced waters when the brines were not agitated at room temperature and pressure. Precipitation of barium sulfate was accelerated by agitation of the brines seeded with barium sulfate crystals. (16 refs.)

• OSTI ID: 6648136
• Journal Information: Rep. Invest. - U.S., Bur. Mines; (United States), Vol. 6658
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
BARIUM SULFATES
SOLUBILITY
OIL WELLS
SCALING
BRINES
CALIFORNIA
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
ENHANCED RECOVERY
PETROLEUM
WATERFLOODING
WELL STIMULATION
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
BARIUM COMPOUNDS
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUID INJECTION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
NORTH AMERICA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RECOVERY
STIMULATION
SULFATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
USA
WELLS
WESTERN REGION
020300* - Petroleum- Drilling & Production