Study of treatment methods for geothermal fluids. [Review of methods used to control scaling and corrosion, current research programs, and recommendations]
A study of methodology used to control geothermal scaling and corrosion is presented. The information used for this study was screened from the geothermal, oil and gas, wastewater disposal, and boiler water treatment industries. This information was evaluated and the current state of knowledge and methodology concerning the treatment of geothermal brines to control scaling and corrosion in geothermal electric power production was assessed. Currently, geothermal scale in pipes and wells is removed by physical or chemical methods. There is a growing effort to develop methods for controlling scale formation for both fresh and spent brines, including pH adjustment and application of an electrical potential for fresh fluids, and coagulation to treat spent fluids. Current methods of corrosion control center around planned replacement of piping and other plant components, with efforts focused primarily on development of materials with improved corrosion resistance. Recommendations for additional work include the following: (1) chemical and physical characterization of brine and scale compositions; (2) basic data on the mechanism of scale formation and the effects of inhibitors; (3) development of instrumentation to monitor geothermal brine constituents; (4) correlation of laboratory results with field test data, and (5) screening of currently available commercial inhibitors for application to geothermal brines.
- Research Organization:
- California Univ., Berkeley (USA). Lawrence Berkeley Lab.
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 7318047
- Report Number(s):
- LBL-6337; CONF-770609-5
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: SPE international symposium on oilfield and geothermal chemistry, San Diego, CA, USA, 27 Jun 1977
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
GEOTHERMAL FLUIDS
CORROSIVE EFFECTS
BRINES
CALCITE
CORROSION
CORROSION PROTECTION
GEOTHERMAL WELLS
PIPES
RECOMMENDATIONS
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
SCALING
SILICA
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
CALCIUM CARBONATES
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBONATES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
FLUIDS
MINERALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SILICON OXIDES
WELLS
Geothermal Legacy
150903* - Geothermal Engineering- Corrosion
Scaling & Materials Development