Inhibition of Scale Formation Using Silica Nanoparticle

Abstract

Because of the wide use of water injection for enhanced oil recovery in the oil fields in order to displace oil into the production well, many reservoirs experience scale deposition problems. Scale formation can cause the production path to be blocked and also cause significant reduction in productivity. One of the most common methods for preventing or lowering the amount of scale formation is applying the scale inhibitors. In this work, silica nanoparticles are used as a scale inhibitor. Conductivity is used as a property of the fluid to show the amount of ion in the solution, leading us to predict the amount of scale formed in the solution. An optimum amount of silica nanoparticles could reduce the rate of conductivity decreasing the solution and consequently lowering the scale deposition, which is the aim of this challenging subject in the oil industry.