Abstract
Different mechanisms are contributing to mineral scale generation in the gas condensate producer wells in Ghawar Field. Carbonate scales are the main mineral scale growing up in the reservoir side while sulfate scales are the mineral compounds deposit along the production strings.
Several methods have been implemented to dissolve the mineral scales in the reservoir and to mitigate the mineral deposits found into production string. A combination of mechanical tools (Vibra hammer, motor-mills, Pulsonix and variety of scale blasters) with chemical fluids (foam, DTPA, water and low HCl concentration) have been the main methods used to clean the deposits into tubing string. Currently, a scale strategy to mitigate the future impact of mineral scales in the reservoir, as consequence of reservoir pressure decline, is being development.
This paper summarizes the scale phenomena in Ghawar gas condensate field, the mineral scale distribution in the total production system, the techniques involved to control their growing, the current scale map distribution, the techniques used to scale identification and stabilization (scale index) and the future program that require to be implemented in order to minimize scale impact on production and well interventions.
