Abstract
Summary Inorganic scales are one of the most common flow assurance challenges damaging well productivity and decreasing injectivity in oil and gas reservoirs by reducing permeability. In this study, the effect of ultrasonic waves on the removal of potassium chloride from carbonate reservoir rock is investigated using a modified coreflooding apparatus equipped with ultrasonic. According to results, ultrasonic waves improved permeability by methanol injection from 36% to 76%. The mechanical effects of these waves on KCl crystals in porous media increase the temperature 20 °c, cracking the crystals and reducing the binding force between crystals and rock surface. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images illustrate that ultrasonic waves broke the strong and continuous structures of KCl crystals in porous media. These factors increase the solubility of these sediments with methanol and restore the permeability. Based on the results of this study, ultrasonic waves can be used as a novel technology in the removal of mineral deposits, especially in gas wells, because these waves have high efficiency in the removal of inorganic scales and also reduces the environmental impact of using solvents.
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