The effect of temperature and pressure on oilfield scale formation

• Published in: Journal of petroleum science & engineering Vol. 35; no. 1; pp. 95 - 107
• Main Authors: Dyer, S.J, Graham, G.M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.07.2002; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Characteristics of producing layers. Reservoir geology. In situ fluids; Crude oil, natural gas and petroleum products; Crude oil, natural gas, oil shales producing equipements and methods; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Fuels; Kinetics; Oil extraction from wells. Pumping. Shale oil extraction. Well workover; Pressure; Prospecting and production of crude oil, natural gas, oil shales and tar sands; Scale; Temperature; Temperature; Scale; Kinetics; Pressure; Producing well; Formation plugging; Oil field; Temperature effect; High temperature; Experimental study; Barium sulfate; High pressure; Pressure effect; Calcium carbonate; Formation damage; Scale formation
• ISSN: 0920-4105; 1873-4715
• DOI: 10.1016/S0920-4105(02)00217-6

Dynamic tube blocking tests have been conducted to determine the effect of increasing temperature and pressure on barium sulphate and calcium carbonate scale formation, as part of a study considering the application of scale inhibitors in high pressure and high temperature reservoirs. As pressure was increased, the scaling tendency of the carbonate and sulphate scaling brines tested was found to decrease, as was predicted by scale prediction software. As temperature was increased, the scaling tendency of the carbonate scaling brine increased, whereas that of the high sulphate scaling brine system was found to decrease. The effect of temperature on scaling tendency was more significant than that of pressure. A low sulphate scaling brine was also tested and this failed to precipitate scale during the tests at the lowest temperature (50 °C), although at this lowest temperature, it was predicted to have the highest scaling tendency. Under these test conditions, the kinetic rate of scale precipitation was low, so the kinetic rate of precipitation became more significant relative to the thermodynamic drive for precipitation.