Extended Release nano-enabled scale squeeze technology doubles deepwater squeeze Life
SCAL21313XR protects a subsea well for two years and saves USD 400,000 in OPEX
Following successful development to meet customer requirements in the Gulf of America, SCAL21313XR protected a deepwater subsea well for two years, more than doubling average squeeze life, and saved USD 400,000 in OPEX.
Extend scale protection while reducing subsea interventions
A Gulf of America operator had successfully used scale inhibitor squeeze treatments across its deepwater assets but wanted a treatment with substantially longer squeeze life. Although squeeze treatments can reduce chemical spend compared with continuous injection, deepwater subsea interventions require high upfront costs, advanced planning, and access to specialist equipment with limited availability.
Enabling less frequent interventions while maintaining scale protection would allow the operator to reduce costs over the life of the well. The formulation also had to address the formation-damage risk inherent in squeeze applications through careful qualification, planning, and design.
Two years of scale protection for approximately 430,000 bbl
Extended Release™ nano-enabled scale squeeze technology was developed to increase retention in the reservoir and enable controlled release over a longer period than an equivalent non-nano-enabled inhibitor. Extended Release technology is part of the ChampionX™ nano-enabled technology portfolio.
Before the field trial, SLB evaluated fluid and chemical compatibility, used a dynamic scale loop to determine the minimum effective dosage, and conducted intact core testing to assess formation-damage potential. Strong performance in these laboratory evaluations supported a field trial in a deepwater subsea Gulf of America well.
A conventional phosphonate scale inhibitor had historically provided protection for approximately 185,000 bbl of produced water over one year. The single Extended Release technology squeeze provided scale protection for approximately 450,000 bbl of produced water over two years, delivering a two-fold increase in squeeze life.
USD 400,000 in OPEX savings from one squeeze
By reducing the need for frequent deepwater subsea interventions while maintaining scale protection in a well with increasing water cut near the end of its production life, the Extended Release technology squeeze delivered over USD 400,000 in OPEX savings.
The strong performance indicates potential application across assets early or late in their production lifecycle, where longer scale protection can help operators lower intervention frequency and improve the economics of scale management.
