Development of a Carbonate Scale Inhibition Program at Dixie Valley, Nevada

Abstract

A scale inhibition program was initiated at Dixie Valley in lat 1988 to reduce the high annual cost of removing carbonate scale from the production wellbores. An exceptionally low calcium content in the fluid allowed an inexpensive and quick test of six different polymeric antiscalants. Nalco 1340, a polyacrylate, was selected as the most efficient and cost effective chemical. A dosage rat near 3 mg/l appears to result in 100% inhibition. The most difficult problem in implementing the program was development of a hardware system that allows uninterrupted delivery of chemical. These problems were solved by protecting the stainless tubing actually transporting the chemical within a larger diameter hang done tubing string. The main remaining problem is long term corrosion of the stainless tubing and plugging by the corrosion products.