The accurate and precise analysis of scale inhibitors plays an important role in making key decisions on the efficiency of scale-squeeze and continuous-chemical-injection treatments. Numerous techniques exist for scale-inhibitor analysis, ranging from the simpler methods to more-complex techniques such as high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and mass spectroscopy (MS). This paper presents a state-of-the-art review of scale-inhibitor-analysis techniques and describes how these techniques can be used to provide cost-effective scale management.
Introduction
Inorganic-scale deposition is a major problem encountered during production of oil and gas and is often managed by the use of chemical scale inhibitors to prevent scale from forming in the system through continuous chemical injection or by periodic batch squeeze treatments. In most cases, scale prevention through chemical inhibition is the preferred method of maintaining well productivity. Scale-inhibitor squeeze treatments provide one of the more-common and -efficient methods for preventing the formation of carbonate and sulfate scales in the near-wellbore region, tubing, and topside facilities of production wells.
For any scale-management strategy where squeeze treatments are deployed, the objective will be to achieve the longest possible treatment lifetime to maximize oil production and minimize the number of costly well interventions, especially in complex production scenarios.
