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

Journal Article · Thu Feb 01 00:00:00 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), Vol. 5; ISSN 0885-9221
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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