The ultra-high temperature (150-250oC), pressure (1,000-2,000 bar) and TDS (>300,000 mg/L) in deepwater oil and gas production pose significant challenges to scaling control due to limited knowledge of mineral solubility, kinetics and inhibitor efficiency at these extreme conditions.  A new apparatus was built to test scale formation and inhibition at high temperatures and pressures up to 250oC, pressure up to 1,500 bar and ionic strength up to 6m in solutions with elevated concentrations of mixed electrolytes (e.g., calcium, magnesium, sulfate and carbonate). Predictions by a thermodynamic model based on Pitzer's ion interaction theory were updated with these new data to provide reliable predictions of solubilities. A rigorous and comprehensive study have been conducted to investigate inhibitor thermal (up to 200 �C) degradation. The results enable a more accurate understanding of thermal degradation kinetics and shed light on potential chemical treatment to enhance inhibitor performance in high temperature environments.

Scaling control for high temperature and pressure oil production

244th National Meeting (2012)

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