Implication of high-pressure/high-temperature reservoir conditions on selection and application of conventional scale inhibitors: Thermal-stability studies

With the development of new high pressure/high temperature fields, a number of `scale' control problems are expected. One of the problems is sulfate scaling in the near-wellbore area in which the use of desulfated seawater as wash water still causes a severe sulfate-scaling problem in the tubing and topside equipment. This can be prevented by the use of a scale inhibitor in the wash water. Experimental investigation and thermal stability studies for the implication of high temperature/high pressure reservoir conditions on the selection and application of conventional scale inhibitors are presented.