Methods of identifying types of iron scale
This disclosure relates to methods for identifying an onset of a scale formation. This disclosure also relates to methods of identifying a scale type in a hydrocarbon containing formation. This disclosure also relates to determining an amount of a scale formation in a hydrocarbon containing formation.
1 . A method for identifying an onset of a scale formation, the method comprising:
applying an alternating current to a sample from a hydrocarbon containing formation;
varying the frequency of the alternating current to the sample;
measuring a phase shift and conductivity magnitude of the applied alternating current;
identifying an onset of a scale in the sample based on the phase shift and conductivity magnitude;
differentiating a portion of a signal resulting from the applied alternating current, wherein the portion of the signal results from production tubing; and
determining a real component of a complex conductivity using the phase shift and conductivity magnitude, wherein the real component comprises energy loss; and/or
determining an imaginary component of a complex conductivity using the phase shift and conductivity magnitude, wherein the imaginary component comprises an out-of-phase energy storage.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon containing formation comprises production tubing.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon containing formation comprises reservoir rock formations.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the scale type comprises one or more iron sulfides.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the scale type comprises iron (II) disulfide.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the frequency of the alternating current is varied within a frequency range of about 0.01 to about 10,000 Hz.
7 . A method for identifying scale type, the method comprising: applying an alternating current to a sample comprising scale from a hydrocarbon containing formation;
varying the frequency of the alternating current to the sample;
measuring a phase shift and conductivity magnitude of the applied alternating current;
identifying a scale type of the sample based on the phase shift and conductivity magnitude;
identifying a structure of the scale based on the phase shift and conductivity magnitude; and
determining a real component of a complex conductivity using the phase shift and conductivity magnitude, wherein the real component comprises energy loss; and/or
determining an imaginary component of a complex conductivity using the phase shift and conductivity magnitude, wherein the imaginary component comprises an out-of-phase energy storage.
8 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising determining the amount of a scale formation in the hydrocarbon containing formation.
9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the hydrocarbon containing formation comprises production tubing.
10 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the hydrocarbon containing formation comprises reservoir rock formations.
11 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising differentiating a portion of a signal resulting from the applied alternating current, wherein the portion of the signal results from production tubing.
12 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the scale type comprises one or more iron sulfides.
13 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the scale type comprises iron (II) disulfide.
14 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the frequency of the alternating current is varied within a frequency range of about 0.01 to about 10,000 Hz.
15 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising identifying at least one grain property of the scale.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the grain property comprises at least one of the following: size, geometry, distribution, and roughness.
17 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising identifying a composition of the scale based on the phase shift and conductivity magnitude.