Inhibition of Barium Sulfate Scale in the Presence of Sodium Tripolyphosphate Inhibitor

Abstract

The precipitation of barium sulfate from aqueous supersaturated solutions is a well-known problem in the oil industry often referred to as ‘scaling’. The formation and growth of barite on surfaces during the oil extraction process can result in malfunctions within the oil facilities and serious damage to the equipment. The effect of STPP which is commercial Tunisian inhibitors for calcium carbonate was examined for barium sulfate. The in situ conductivity and FTIR measurements allowed the identification of barium sulfate precipitation and the deposited barite in the presence of the inhibitor at various temperatures (25, 50°C). So, at 25◦C, 50°C, ph ≈5, the 1.5mg STPP inhibits the growth of the dominant barite surfaces by 85%.