Accounting for ~1.2 million bbls/day, the Bakken shale plays a significant part in the North American unconventional boom. The formation is characterized with low porosity and permeability, where wells exhibit high initial production rates and steep decline curves. Mitigating excessive decline is paramount to maintain return on investments.

The system conditions and the produced water in the Bakken shale causes challenges that can impact productivity. The water composition is generally characterized with high total dissolved solids (TDS), resulting in high scaling tendencies for various species. In addition, corrosion is also a challenge due to high TDS, high downhole temperature (~250 °F / 121 °C), medium CO2 partial pressure (40-50 psi / 0.28 - 0.34 MPa), and varying wall shear stress.

A chemical qualification process is herein discussed where a combination corrosion- and scale inhibitor has been developed. The chemical is a synergistic blend of corrosion inhibitor actives and surfactants for corrosion mitigation and solids control, combined with scale inhibitor and chelating agent for high iron tolerance scale prevention.

Subject
Stability, Corrosion failures, Water, Precipitation (solids), Corrosion rate, Scale inhibitors, Fresh water, Corrosion scales, Corrosion inhibitors, Produced water, Scale, Corrosion coupons, Scaling
Keywords:
Scale inhibitor, corrosion inhibitor, high TDS compatibility, combination production chemical, Bakken
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2019
Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP)
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