Thick deposits of various types of mineral scales are presently forming in the tubulars and formation of gas producers drilled in Saudi Arabian carbonate reservoirs. These mineral scales precipitate when ideal thermodynamic conditions and dissolved minerals present in formation waters combine. Without remedial action over time, these deposits can grow thicker and end up plugging tubulars and the reservoir. Thick deposits of mineral scales have recently begun to appear in gas producers in certain areas of the field. A comprehensive study was conducted to ascertain the nature of the precipitation mechanism and identify potential solutions to the problem. This paper details how laboratory analysis data, well production history, reservoir geology and petrophysics, and reservoir description were analyzed and used with sophisticated computer software to identify the formation damage mechanism and the different scale types precipitating in the wellbore and formation. Extensive simulation work was conducted as part of the study to forecast the type and amount of mineral scale precipitation that can be anticipated at varying reservoir and producing conditions. The study also evaluated the most cost effective and feasible ways to remove different types of scale deposits. The future scale inhibition and removal strategies to be implemented in existing and future gas producers are being derived in large part from the results of the study described in this paper.
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