Method of increasing scale inhibitor retention
View Patent ↗A method for increasing the retention of a scale inhibitor within a hydrocarbon producing system is provided. The method includes, the steps of: (i) pre-flushing the system with a liquid; (ii) treating the system with a scale inhibitor; and (iii) over-flushing the system with a composition comprising an ionic polymer and a liquid carrier. The concentration of the ionic polymer in the composition is 5 to 50% wt.
1. A method for increasing the retention of a scale inhibitor within a hydrocarbon producing system, the method comprising:
(i) pre-flushing the system with a liquid;
(ii) treating the system with a scale inhibitor after step (i), the scale inhibitor comprising a scale inhibitor other than a polyamino acid; and
(iii) over-flushing the system with a composition comprising an ionic polymer and an aqueous carrier after step (ii), wherein the pH of the composition is 4 to 6, and the ionic polymer present in the over-flush comprises a polyamino acid.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the pre-flushing and/or the treating step further comprises contacting the system with the ionic polymer.
3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the pre-flushing step comprises contacting system with the ionic polymer.
4. The method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the polyamino acid present in the over-flush comprises a polyaspartate.
5. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the treating step further comprises treating the system with the ionic polymer.
6. The method as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the polyamino acid present in the over-flush comprises a polyaspartate.
7. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises treating the system with the ionic polymer after the pre-flushing step and before the treating step.
8. The method as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the polyamino acid present in the over-flush comprises a polyaspartate.
9. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the treating step comprises simultaneously treating the system with the ionic polymer and the scale inhibitor.
10. The method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the polyamino acid present in the over-flush comprises a polyaspartate.
11. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the over-flushing step further comprises over-flushing the system with an aqueous fluid after over-flushing the system with the composition.
12. The method as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the polyamino acid present in the over-flush comprises a polyaspartate.
13. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the over-flushing step is the final step prior to a shut in period.
14. The method as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the polyamino acid present in the over-flush comprises a polyaspartate.
15. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the scale inhibitor comprises at least one anionic group, the anionic group comprising a carboxylate group or a phosphonate group.
16. The method as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the polyamino acid present in the over-flush comprises a polyaspartate.
17. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the scale inhibitor comprises a phosphonate, phosphate ester or a polymer comprising phosphonate or phosphonate ester groups.
18. The method as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the polyamino acid present in the over-flush comprises a polyaspartate.
19. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising placing the system back on production after the over-flushing step.
20. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the polyamino acid present in the over-flush comprises a polyaspartate.