A Novel and Comprehensive Study of Polymeric and Traditional Phosphonate Inhibitors for High-Temperature Scale Control

Abstract

Summary A novel barite-inhibition assay based on the nucleation and inhibition model has been proposed and used to evaluate the thermal stability of phosphonates and polymeric scale inhibitors with regard to their potential application in high-temperature wells. Systematic experiments have been conducted to investigate the time (minutes to days) and temperature (up to 200°C) dependence of inhibitor thermal degradation, the impact of stainless steel and iron on the degradation of inhibitors at high temperatures, and the difference between aging tests with inhibitors in solution and with those inhibitors adsorbed on core materials. The results not only enable a more accurate understanding of the thermal degradation of scale inhibitors but also facilitate the selection and placement of scale inhibitors for high-temperature oil and gas production.