Oilfield chemistry

Graphene Nanoplatelets Extend Life of Scale-Inhibitor Squeeze Treatment

This study proposes graphene nanoplatelets as a preflush system to extend the lifetime of a conventional scale-inhibitor squeeze treatment.

TEM image of GNP vs. P-GNP.
Fig. 1—TEM image of GNP vs. P-GNP.
Source: SPE 215228.

Scale-inhibitor squeeze (SISQ) treatment is an established method for offshore fields that allows an extended effectiveness of scale inhibitors in preventing deposition over time. One of the primary issues in SISQ campaigns is the short squeeze lifetime of less than 1 year. The study detailed in the complete paper proposed graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) as a preflush system to extend the lifetime of a conventional SISQ treatment. This carbon-based nanomaterial allowed enhanced adsorption of the phosphonate-based scale inhibitor.

GNP as a Preflush System

A high-surface-area GNP preflush system was chosen to condition the rock surface to overcome the apparent lack of suitable surfaces available for scale-inhibitor adsorption during SISQ treatment.

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