Predicting tool for sulphate scale build-up around the wellbore in oilfield
by A.S. Adesina Fadairo, Olugbenga Falode
International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Technology (IJOGCT), Vol. 2, No. 4, 2009

Abstract: Formation and deposition of scale in porous media due to extensive use of seawater for oil displacement and pressure maintenance is a problem that results in production decline and loss of billions of dollars to the petroleum industry yearly. A variety of models are presently being used in the oil industry for predicting scaling tendency and average scales precipitation inside the reservoir. These models assumed that all the occurring scale precipitation would cause formation damage near the wellbore region however, only a fraction of the precipitated scales escape through the pore spaces to render havoc to flow in the production string. This paper presents a new model based on existing thermodynamic models for predicting barium and strontium sulphate scale build-up rate around an oil production well during water flooding while accounting only for the fraction resulting into formation damage. The key operational and reservoir parameter which influence the magnitude of impairment by scale deposition are identified through the derivation of an analytical expression for the rate of scale build-up, assuming idealised flow conditions. The model is capable of predicting scale build-up rate and fraction of scale deposited in pore spaces at a particular radial distance from a wellbore during water injection. [Received: June 4, 2009; Accepted: October 10, 2009]

Online publication date: Wed, 30-Dec-2009

The full text of this article is only available to individual subscribers or to users at subscribing institutions.

 
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.

Pay per view:
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.

Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Technology (IJOGCT):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:

Username:        Password:          Forgotten your password?

Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.

If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com