Rocky Mountain Section Short Course

January 23-25, 2013

Tom Pickthall
EnhanceCo Inc.
 Potential Causes

 The Potential Problems

 Some Potential Solutions

 Transferred Water Rights (i.e. Ag)

 Purchased from Municipal Supplier

 Fully Consumable Water

 Leased / Purchased Water
 Ground Water

 Produced Water

 Estimate Water Used 2012 = 6,500,000,000

 Scale
 Calcium Carbonate
 Calcium Sulfate
 Barium Sulfate

 Corrosion
 Acid Gas
 Bacteria
 Scales may form if,

 Water contains ions which are capable of

forming compounds of limited solubility.

 There is a change in physical conditions or

water composition which lowers the solubility
below the concentrations present.
 Calcium Carbonate CaCO3

 Calcium Sulfate CaSO4 (Gyp)

 Barium Sulfate BaSO4

 Strontium Sulfate SrSO4

 Iron Compounds FeS, Fe2O3

 Corrosion Byproducts
Compound Temperature Pressure pH TDS
Increase Increase Increase Increase

CaCO3

CaSO4

BaSO4
Scale Solubility (mg/L)

Gypsum CaSO4 2080.0

Calcium Carbonate CaCO3 53.0

Barium Sulfate BaSO4 2.3

 Keep incompatible waters separate

 Know the type of scale you are dealing with. Good

analysis.

 Possible solutions, maybe not practical.

 Scale prediction models
 Dilution
 Lower pH, Carbonate scale only
 Water softening, ion exchange.
 Chemical treatment, inhibitors
 Most work by adsorption of inhibitor on scale crystal
and prevent further growth. Two principles for
successful operation;
 Again treating fluid, inhibitor must be present in every drop
of water. Pumps must work.
 Inhibitor must be present where scale crystals begin to
form. Inject far enough upstream.
 Phosphate Esters good to about 175OF
 Phosphonates good to 350OF
 Organic Polymers good to above 350OF
 Inorganic polyphosphates seldom used in oil and
gas operations. Just not as efficient.
 Scale Coupons

 Deposit Analysis

 Water Chemistry
 Strong “Depolarizer”

 Forms deep pits

 Usually found in surface

equipment where air
has entry point.

 Can greatly accelerate

other corrosive agents
 CO2 forms a weak
acid that attacks
metal
 Often takes the form
of “Mesa” pitting
type attack
Has characteristic “rotten egg” smell

 Creates a black deposit FeS

 Usually a shallow “dish” type attack,

but may have pitting

 H2S forms a weak acid that attacks

metal

 Usually has etching in the bottom of

the pits
Courtesy- Corrosion of Oil and Gas Well Equipment, API cc 1958
 300
250
200
MPY 150
100
50
0
No Air/No Inhibitor/No Air/No Inhibitor/Air
Inhibitor Air Inhibitor
 Coupons

 Probes: ER, LPR, Galvanic, Arrays

 Water, Gas & Solids Analysis

 Bacterial Analysis

 Metallurgical & Chemical Analysis

Bacteria thrive in conditions such as:

 High Temperature/Low Temperature

 High Chloride/Low Chloride

 High Pressure/Low Pressure

 With or Without Oxygen

 pH ranges from 1-10

 One common trait - Must Have Water

 Aerobic: must have air for survival

 Anaerobic: cannot have air

 Facultative: adapts to either environment

Sessile Bacteria adhere to a surface

Planktonic Bacteria are free floating in system

The difference is important

Fluids

Slime Formers FeS

SRBs Fe

APBs Fe

Pipe Wall
Courtesy, Mr. Gale Farquhar gbfarquharjr@enhanceco.net
 Planktonic
 Serial Dilution
 Rapid Check

 Sessile
 Serial Dilution
 Robbins Device
 Screen
 Swabs
 Remember, with corrosion you are treating the pipe
and with scale you are treating the water. Understand
the difference.

 Modeling is a place to start, not complete, your

investigation.

 “You don’t need to monitor everything, just the things

you want to keep”. Dee Lawrence