No abstract

Application of scale inhibitors in oil and gas production is aimed at mitigating scale blockage during production. Many experimental, mathematical, and numerical simulation modeling works have been carried out to evaluate behavior, performance, and interaction of the scale inhibitor chemicals within porous media in relation to their efficiency in solving scale problem. However, the mechanisms underpinning scale inhibitors performance are not well published. Some research works have shown theoretically that not all scale inhibitors pumped into the formation adsorb onto the formation rock. Some of the inhibitors may adsorb on produced loose sand grains or colloidal fine sand particles which float and flow within the pore spaces along with the scale inhibitor mostly in unconsolidated reservoirs This paper provides a review of research work on the effect of produced loose sand or colloidal fine particles flow on polyphosphonates and polyphosphinopolymer scale inhibitors performances during crude production.

Scale inhibitors are deployed as preventive and rejuvenation operation in oil and gas industry when production operations are under threat or menace of scale blockage. The application of scale inhibitors is carried out through a method known as squeezing. In general, the squeeze process is governed by inhibitor-rock interaction which is described by adsorption/desorption isotherm. Most reservoirs produce loose sand grains or fine sand which float and flow within the pore spaces along with the squeezed scale inhibitors. Hypothetical reports have shown that not all scale inhibitors pumped into the formation adsorb onto the formation rock. A number of factors (irreversible adsorption, pH changes, competing ions, concentration and temperature) have been considered to affect the adsorption and return profile of these scale inhibitors. This review work examines the performances of most common scale inhibitors used in the oil and gas production activities, theoretical application in reservoirs and how loose fine sand grains affect the adsorption and desorption characteristics of squeezed scale inhibitors. Additionally, presented were overviews of previous reports on fine sand production and migration of fine sands through formation pores in reservoirs.

Turbulent flow, especially around chokes, downhole safety valves and inflow control devices, favors scale deposition potentially leading to severe loss of production. Recently, scale formation under turbulent conditions has been studied and progressed, focused on the bulk precipitation (SPE164070) and a small bore valve loop test (SPE 155428). However, bulk precipitation is not fully representative the surface deposition in the fields and the Reynolds number of modified loop is unknown. The relationship between a measured Reynolds number and surface deposition up until this study has not been addressed. A newly developed test methodology with rotating cylinder has been applied to generate high shear rate and evaluate surface deposition with Reynolds numbers up to ~41000. The relationship between Reynolds number and surface deposition is addressed. Using this highly representable test method for BaSO4 scale deposition, several different generic types of inhibitor chemistries, including polymers and phosphonates, were assessed under different levels of turbulence to evaluate their performance on surface deposition. The results showed it is not always true that higher turbulence results in higher dose of inhibitor being required to control scale. It is inhibitor chemistry and mechanisms dependent. The scale inhibitorscan be classified as three types when evaluating the trend of mass deposition versus Reynolds number and the morphology of the crystals deposited on the metal surface. ➢ Type 1: Crytal growth inhibitors. The mass of surface deposition increases with the increase of turbulence, along with smaller crystals.➢ Type 2: Dispersion and crystal growth inhibitor. The higher the turbulence, the less mass deposition, along with smaller crystals.➢ Type 3: Dispersion scale inhibitors. The higher the turbulence, the less mass deposition. The size of the crystals has no major change. This paper gives a comprehensive study of the effect of flow condition on the scale surface deposition and inhibition mechanisms. In addition, it details how this methodology and new environmentally acceptable inhibitor chemistry can be coupled to develop a chemical technology toolbox that also includes techniques for advanced scale inhibitor analysis and improved scale inhibitor retention, to design optimum scale squeeze packages for the harsh scaling conditions associated with turbulent flow conditions.