ABSTRACT

Chemical and thermodynamic concepts and methods are used in the analysis of inorganic scaling. A multitude of chemical and thermodynamic factors are involved in inorganic scaling in oil and gas production. The first and foremost, is the concentration of dissolved species in the produced water/brine. The second important factor, is chemical reaction kinetics. The third important factors, are temperature and pressure. The fifth important factor affecting scaling is alkalinity; the ability of a solution to neutralize acids. The sixth factor, is the influence of other dissolved species; the ionic composition of a subsurface brine solution. Formation water/brine contains ionic species from the dissolution of minerals in the sedimentary formations, at the reservoir temperature and pressure. The brines produced in oil and gas operations, contain dissolved minerals that form inorganic scales. The carbonates are one of the two important groups of inorganic scales. The other important group are the sulphates.