Scale Inhibitors Case Study for Drastic Temperature and Salinity Conditions

Abstract This study investigated the development of inorganic scale inhibitors for extreme application conditions in new offshore fields in Brazil, characterized by high salinity (up to 230,000 mg/L) and temperatures (120°C). Traditional scale inhibitors, including phosphonates and polymers, were evaluated alongside newly developed synergistic formulations. Water compatibility tests and dynamic efficiency tests were conducted using synthetic representative brine. The results highlighted that conventional inhibitors struggled to control the inorganic scale under the extreme tested conditions. Most of the conventional scale partially failed during the compatibility tests, while all of them failed when tested under dynamic conditions. However, two novel formulations (Products A and B) demonstrated compatibility across all tested concentrations and achieved scale inhibition at a Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of 100 ppm. These findings highlight the potential of custom-designed chemical solutions for challenging offshore scenarios, addressing the limitations of conventional inhibitors in extreme salinity and temperature conditions. The study emphasizes the importance of synergistic combinations of inhibitors to combat multiple scale types simultaneously and withstand harsh application environments. By presenting the results found in this development, we aim to provide valuable insights into the future of scale inhibition technology for the oil and gas industry, particularly in its most challenging frontiers.