Coreflood Studies to Examine Potential Application of Novel Scale Inhibitor Products to Minimise Intervention During Field Life Cycle

Abstract

AbstractWith the development of more and more subsea fields, the challenge for scale inhibitor squeeze treatments is to reduce intervention frequency by extending squeeze treatment lifetime whilst concomitantly reducing any potential damage in both low water cut and higher water cut wells. This paper discusses the technical problems and examines new technologies for treatment of such production wells through their life cycle.Scale control technology available to control scale formation within the reservoir and near-wellbore area of production wells will be outlined with a focus on the current developing technology to control scale within low water cut wells. Moreover, it is shown that the new technical area of emulsion scale inhibitor delivery systems, originally designed to control scale within low water cut wells, has application in both low and high water cut wellsThis study assists in developing an understanding of the mechanism of interaction of emulsion-based products; in particular the impact of the level of water saturation within the core system. In addition, it demonstrates that the emulsion particles are retained in the core matrix during both crude and brine flowback. This paper indicates that the emulsion product offers the potential for extremely long squeeze lifetimes with minimal damage in oil production wells with rising water cut. It also demonstrates how different technologies have their own place in the life cycle of a production well.