Use of inhibitors for scale control in brine-producing gas and oil wells

Journal Article · Thu Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1990 · SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) Production Engineering; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2118/15457-PA· OSTI ID:6976179

Rogers, L A ^[1]; Varughese, K ^[2]; Prestwich, S M ^[3]; Waggett, G G ^[4]

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1. Gas Research Inst., Chicago, IL (USA)
2. Alquatani Pipe Coating Termina (US)
3. U.S. DOE (US)
4. Arnold White and Durkee (US)

Field and laboratory work showed that calcium carbonate (CaCO{sub 3}) scale formation in waters produced with natural gas and oil can be prevented by injection of phosphonate inhibitor into the formation, even if the formation is sandstone without calcite binding material. After the inhibitor squeeze in coproduction field tests, inhibitor squeezes have been successfully used to prevent scaling. Laboratory work has been conducted to determine what types of oilfield waters are subject to scaling. This research has led to the development of a saturation index and accompanying nomographs that allow prediction of when scale will develop into a problem in brine production. Core samples from both fields were used in laboratory studies. Analytical methods to analyze inhibitors in brine a low levels were extended. A complete history of field development and the laboratory backup experiments is included in this paper.

• OSTI ID: 6976179
• Journal Information: SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) Production Engineering; (USA), Journal Name: SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) Production Engineering; (USA) Vol. 5; ISSN SPENE; ISSN 0885-9221
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
03 NATURAL GAS
030300 -- Natural Gas-- Drilling
Production
& Processing
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400201 -- Chemical & Physicochemical Properties
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
BRINES
CALCIUM CARBONATES
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBONATES
CHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
CONTROL
CORROSION INHIBITORS
CORROSIVE EFFECTS
DRILLING FLUIDS
ENERGY SYSTEMS
FLUIDS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOPRESSURED SYSTEMS
GEOTHERMAL WELLS
INJECTION
INTAKE
KINETICS
MINERAL RESOURCES
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NATURAL GAS WELLS
OIL FIELDS
OIL WELLS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
PHOSPHONATES
REACTION KINETICS
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
RESOURCES
ROCKS
SANDSTONES
SATURATION
SCALE CONTROL
SCALE MODELS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
STRUCTURAL MODELS
US DOE
US ORGANIZATIONS
WATER SATURATION
WELLS