Review of Nanotechnology Impacts on Oilfield Scale Management

Nanotechnology has grown rapidly in both research and applications over the past two decades including in the upstream petroleum industry. A recent hot area for studying nanotechnology has been oilfield scale management. The formation of oilfield scale deposits such as calcium carbonate and Group II sulfate scales in conduits and on equipment, both downhole and topside, can cause serious loss of hydrocarbon production and unwanted downtime. Scale management is expensive to the field operator, mostly due to downtime causing deferred or loss of production. Many types of nano-based materials and treatments have been developed to combat this problem, most of them containing one form or another of an organic scale inhibitor. In this review, we reviewed the various types of nanotechnologies that have been developed and include comparisons to conventional treatments where available. The nanotechnologies include nanoemulsions, nanoparticles, magnetic nanoparticles, polymer nanocomposites, carbon-based nanotubes, and other miscellaneous technologies. Several nanoproducts developed for squeeze treatments indicate improved squeeze lifetime compared to conventional squeeze treatments. Other potential benefits include improved thermal stability for high-temperature wells, reduced formation damage for water-sensitive wells, and environmental impact.