The deposition or mineral scaling on surfaces is caused by the accumulation of inorganic salts. When it occurs in oil and gas production equipment, it causes major operational problems and severe damage to the pipes. Besides oil wells at sea, this phenomenon also occurs on the surface of membranes used in filtration, treatment and sulphate removal of sea water. Its origins lie in the incompatibility between the chemical composition of the formation and injection water or in the thermodynamic changes of system. These of the disadvantage can be prevented by the use of chemicals that act as scale inhibitors. This article discusses the origin of scale and its implications, and addresses the chemical classes, natural and synthetic, which are used as anti-fouling, as well as promising substances for this purpose.