Investigation of the Impact of Scale Inhibitors: Nonionic Surfactants for Scale Deposition Control in Oilfield

Authors: Hosny R*, Amine M, Fathy M and Ramzi M

DOI: 10.23880/ppej-16000189

Volume 3, Issue 2

Abstract

In this work two non-ionic surfactants (1-Octanol ethoxylate (OE-8.7) and Methylcyclohexanol ethoxylate (MCHE-9) were prepared by the reaction of their hydrophobs with ethylene oxide for used as a novel scale inhibitors in the oilfields. Their structures were characterized by FT-IR, 1HNMR and SEM. Evaluation of the performance of these inhibitors was investigated for CaCO3 scale. From the results, the minimum inhibitor concentration (MIC) 10 ppm for scale inhibitor MCHE-9 and 50 ppm for scale inhibitor OE-8.7. The inhibition efficiency of inhibitor MCHE-9 & EO-8.7 were 61.5% & 64.3% at inhibitor dosage of 10 ppm & 50 ppm, respectively. OE-8.7 and MCHE-9, led to modifications in the morphology of scales particles as observed by SEM. These inhibitors distorted the crystal lattice of the precipitates, thus delayed the formation of scales crystal. From the induction time study, inhibitor MCHE-9 had the longest induction time of CaCO3 precipitation. Therefore; the scale inhibitor MCHE-9 was the suitable inhibitor used technically and economically feasible to improve oilfield scale deposition.

Keywords: Oilfield Scale deposition; Scale deposition control; Scale inhibitor; Nonionic surfactants

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