Our specialised laboratories and equipment offer the opportunity to perform scale formation and scale inhibition studies for conventional and exotic scale species. Our services include review of field data, scale prediction modelling and consultancy to assist in understanding the potential and location of scale deposition in production systems. We provide supportive laboratory testing to form scale deposits and evaluate inhibitors under field representative conditions. Tests are supported by in-house analytical services to qualitatively and quantitatively characterise the scale formed.

Solutions to help you understand and mitigate scaling risks.

Scale inhibition protocols have been established together with custom-designed equipment. This allows performance testing under more representative field application conditions, critical for today’s challenging production environments. This includes HPHT testing up to 200°C, and 10000 psi. We also provide static adsorption tests to screen candidate scale inhibitors in terms of their adsorption, retention or formation damage to reservoir rock material, prior to more sophisticated core analysis and testing. <link to Scale Inhibitors in core flooding section>

Scale testing includes:

  • Static bottle tests
  • Dynamic tube blocking
  • Jet impingement

Types of scales investigated include:

  • Conventional scales (carbonates and sulphates)
  • Iron scales (e.g. iron sulfate and iron carbonate)
  • Sulfide scales (e.g. zinc sulfide, lead sulfide and iron sulfide)
  • Silicates (e.g. calcium silicate, magnesium silicate and iron silicate)
  • Halite

We can also provide Innovative R&D support facilities to investigate less well known exotic scale types. To discuss testing options, please get in touch.