Method for controlling scale formation
First Claim
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1. A method of controlling scale formation in a hydrocarbon producing system, comprising:
- (i) injecting nanoparticles via a production well into said system to function as nuclei for scale growth, wherein said nanoparticles are nanoparticles comprising carbon functionalized with a polar group;
(ii) growing scale on said nanoparticles by attracting scaling ions to the polar group on the nanoparticle surface to produce nanoparticles comprising scale;
(iii) recovering production fluids comprising nanoparticles comprising scale;
(iv) washing said nanoparticles comprising scale with a scale dissolver to remove said scale; and
(v) reinjecting the descaled nanoparticles via said production well into said hydrocarbon producing system.
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Abstract
The present invention provides, a method of controlling scale formation in a hydrocarbon producing system, comprising; (i) injecting nanoparticles into said system to function as nuclei for scale growth; (if) allowing scale growth to occur on said nanoparticles to produce nanoparticles comprising scale; and. (in) optionally recovering said nanoparticles comprising scale.
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15 Claims
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1. A method of controlling scale formation in a hydrocarbon producing system, comprising:
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(i) injecting nanoparticles via a production well into said system to function as nuclei for scale growth, wherein said nanoparticles are nanoparticles comprising carbon functionalized with a polar group; (ii) growing scale on said nanoparticles by attracting scaling ions to the polar group on the nanoparticle surface to produce nanoparticles comprising scale; (iii) recovering production fluids comprising nanoparticles comprising scale; (iv) washing said nanoparticles comprising scale with a scale dissolver to remove said scale; and (v) reinjecting the descaled nanoparticles via said production well into said hydrocarbon producing system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for producing hydrocarbon comprising:
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(i) a hydrocarbon producing formation comprising a production well; (ii) a chemical deployment system for injecting nanoparticles into said production well; (iii) tubing for transporting production fluid and nanoparticles comprising scale out of said production well; (iv) a filter for and/or chemical that causes aggregation for separating nanoparticles comprising scale from production fluids having an inlet connected to said tubing and having a first outlet for nanoparticles comprising scale and a second outlet for production fluid; (v) a treatment tank for removing scale from nanoparticles comprising scale having an inlet connected to said first outlet of said means for separating nanoparticles and an outlet for descaled nanoparticles; and (vi) a holding tank for descaled nanoparticles having an inlet connected to said outlet of said treatment tank and an outlet connected to said chemical deployment system for injecting nanoparticles into said production well. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification