Formation, prevention and

removal of scales and

deposits

Class 4
Previous class:
• Corrosion
• Concepts
• Prevention
• Monitoring
In this class:
• Scale formation

• Common scales in produced water

• Prevention

• Removal
Scales
• Change in solubility 
solids precipitate

• Solubility  limit of solutes

tan can be disolved at a
given pH and
temperature.
Scales
• Every solution could potentially form deposits/scales, if:

• It has solutes capable of forming scales

• The physico-chemical conditions change

• The precipitates can “float” or adhere to the vessels, tanks

or pipes.
Common Scales
Scales
• The formation of scales in produced water depends on:

• Partial pressures

• Total pressure

• Temperature

• pH

• Reaction with other salts

Calcium Carbonate & CO2
Calcium Carbonate & CO2
Calcium Carbonate & CO2
Calcium Carbonate & CO2
Calcium Carbonate & CO2
• Scale made up of CaCO3:
• Rise in temperature
• Pressure drops
• Turbulent areas
• pH rise (acidity)
• Increase in disolved salts
Other compunds:
• Fe compounds, more difficult to treat due to iron
oxidation.

• Silica, not a problem in flow-lines or injection Wells, but a

big problem in boilers or steam generators.

• Many scales potentially can have radioactive material.

Scale formation prediction

• Aplication of standar curves and chemical knowledge

• Allows the prevention of scale formation

• Estimates that “ring a bell”

Scale formation prediction

• Solute in solution  ions

dissociation

• Ion activity

• Saturation rate
Prediction of scale formation
• Specific methods for each compound

• In general depens on:

• Specific compound
• Concentration
• pH
• Temperature
• Interaction with other salts
Water compatibility
• In many circumstances waters from different sources are
mixed

• Examples:

• Mixture of water from different formations

• Mixture of treated and formation water

Water compatibility
• Depending on temp. pH and presence of other
compounds:
• Calcium carbonate
• Calcium sulphate
• Barium sulphate
• Iron sulphate
Incompatibility evaluation
• In order to evaluate scale formation risk:
• Define potential mixture proportions
• Obtain water analysis data
• Estimate/calculate average pH in different scenarios
• Estimate the tendency for scale formation
Prevention
• In order to avoid scale formation:

• Avoid mixing incompatible waters

• Diluting wáter
• Controlling pH
• Removing compounds with strng scaling tendency
• Nanofiltration
• Water softening
• Removing disolved gases
Prevention
• Chemicals that redice scale formation
• Recover crystals to avoid nucleation
• Prevent adhesión to tank/pipe walls

• Organic chemical compounds

• Phospho-esters
• Phosphonates
• Polymers
Prevention
• Non-chemical methods

• Magnetic

• Catalytic

• Electrostatyc
Scale removal

• In order to efficiently remove depostis/scales:

• Scale characterization

• Define the best treatment

Scale removal
• Chemicals that can be used:
• Hidrocarbons  solvents
• Calcium carbonates
• Clorhidric acid
Scale removal
• Gypsum (Calcium sulphate)
• Converters
• Sodium hydroxide
• Salt water

• Barium sulphate
• Chelating agents

• Iron compounds
• Chelating and stabilizers after acid treatment
Scale removal
• Cleaning “pigs”
Scale removal
• Downhole cleaning

• Problem common in injection wells

• Chemical methods
• Exposure of well-face to solvents
• Specific tools
In this class:
• Scale formation

• Most common deposits in produced water

• Scale prevention

• Removal
Next class
• Effects on living beings of PAHs, BTEX, salt and heavy
metals

• Press article presentation

Press Article Presentation
• Article interesting about energy, alternative energy,
petroleum, mining

• Recommended magazines
• The Economist
• Project Syndicate
• Bloomberg
• New York Times

• Presentation (max 10min) + discusión activities (max 20min)

Kinder Morgan´s attempt to build
pipeline reflects badly on Canada
• Oil and gas are
landlocked

• Provinces conflict of
interests

• Climate change deal

dependent on ability to
expand pipeline
Discussion
• Split in groups of three. Talk about the following questions:

1. Who needs to decide on this the central or provincial

governments?

2. What is more important the revenue for one province or

the country climate change agreements?