1. n. [Enhanced Oil Recovery]
A common well-intervention operation involving a wide variety of mechanical scale-inhibitor treatments and chemical options. Mechanical removal is done by means of a pig or by abrasive jetting that cuts scale but leaves the tubing untouched. Scale-inhibition treatments involve squeezing a chemical inhibitor into a water-producing zone for subsequent commingling with produced fluids, preventing further scale precipitation. Chemical removal is performed with different solvents according to the type of scale: · Carbonate scales such as calcium carbonate or calcite [CaCO3] can be readily dissolved with hydrochloric acid [HCl] at temperatures less than 250oF [121oC]. · Sulfate scales such as gypsum [CaSO4·2H2O] or anhydrite [CaSO4] can be readily dissolved using ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA). The dissolution of barytine [BaSO4] or strontianite [SrSO4] is much more difficult. · Chloride scales such as sodium chloride [NaCl] are easily dissolved with fresh water or weak acidic solutions, including HCl or acetic acid. · Iron scales such as iron sulfide [FeS] or iron oxide [Fe2O3] can be dissolved using HCl with sequestering or reducing agents to avoid precipitation of by-products, for example iron hydroxides and elemental sulfur. · Silica scales such as crystallized deposits of chalcedony or amorphous opal normally associated with steamflood projects can be dissolved with hydrofluoric acid [HF].
See: damage, precipitate, scale, scale inhibitor, scraper
