Scale inhibiting well treatment

1. A hydrocarbon well treatment composition comprising a carrier liquid and a polymer formed from a diallyl ammonium salt of formula (I):

wherein R 1 and R 2 are each independently hydrogen or unsubstituted organic radicals having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms;

wherein each R is independently selected from hydrogen or organic radicals having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms; and

wherein X is a counterion, and

a monomer comprising one carboxylate group and a monomer comprising at least two carboxylate groups or an anhydride group, wherein said polymer comprises an end group selected from —SO 4 H, —SO 3 H, —H 2 PO 3 , —H 2 PO 4 or anionic derivatives thereof, and wherein the concentration of said polymer in said carrier is 6 to 50% wt.

2. The composition as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said polymer is formed from diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride.

3. The composition as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said monomer comprising at least two carboxylate groups is selected from maleic acid or fumaric acid.

4. A method for inhibiting scale formation within a hydrocarbon producing system, said method comprising contacting said system with a polymer formed from a diallyl ammonium salt of formula (I):

wherein R 1 and R 2 are each independently hydrogen or unsubstituted organic radicals having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms;

wherein each R is independently selected from hydrogen or organic radicals having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms; and

wherein X is a counterion,

a monomer comprising one carboxylate group and a monomer comprising at least two carboxylate groups or an anhydride group, and

wherein said polymer comprises an end group selected from —SO 4 H, —SO 3 H, —H 2 PO 3 , —H 2 PO 4 or anionic derivatives thereof, and said polymer is applied as a solution or dispersion in a liquid carrier, the concentration of said polymer in said carrier is 6 to 50 wt. %.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4 , wherein said monomer comprising one carboxylate group is selected from acrylic acid or methacrylic acid.

6. A method as claimed in claim 4 , wherein said monomer comprising at least two carboxylate groups or an anhydride group is a monomer of formula (III):

wherein Z is a counterion;

wherein each y is independently an integer from 0 to 3; and

wherein R 6 and R 7 are each independently hydrogen, an optionally substituted alkyl or aryl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, —CO 2 Z, —SO 3 Z or —PO 3 Z 2 .

7. A method as claimed in claim 4 , wherein said polymer is applied as a squeeze treatment.

8. A method as claimed in claim 4 , wherein said polymer is formed from diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride.

9. A method as claimed in claim 4 , wherein said monomer comprising one carboxylate group is a monomer of formula (II):

wherein Z is a counterion;

wherein y is an integer from 0 to 3; and

wherein R 3 , R 4 and R 5 are each independently hydrogen, an optionally substituted alkyl or aryl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, —SO 3 Z or —PO 3 Z 2 .

10. A method as claimed in claim 6 , wherein said monomer of formula (III) is selected from maleic acid or fumaric acid.

11. A method as claimed in claim 4 , wherein said polymer comprises repeating units represented by formula (IV) and/or formula (V)

wherein R is independently selected from hydrogen or organic radicals having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms;

wherein R 1 and R 2 are each independently hydrogen or unsubstituted organic radicals having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms;

wherein R 3 , R 4 and R 5 are each independently hydrogen, an optionally substituted alkyl or aryl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, —SO 3 Z or —PO 3 Z 2 ;

wherein R 6 and R 7 are each independently hydrogen, an optionally substituted alkyl or aryl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, —CO 2 Z, —SO 3 Z or —PO 3 Z 2 ;

wherein X is a counterion;

wherein Z is a counterion;

wherein each y is independently an integer from 0 to 3;

wherein m is an integer from 1 to 100;

wherein n is an integer from 1 to 500; and

wherein k is an integer from 1 to 100.

12. A method as claimed in claim 4 , wherein said polymer has a molecular weight of 500 to 10,000.