| Title | Field Tests of Organic Additives for the Control of Scale at the Salton Sea Geothermal Field |
|---|---|
| Authors | Harrar, J. E.; Locke, F. E.; Otto, C. H., Jr.; Lorensen, L. E.; Deutscher, S. B.; Frey, W. P.; Lim, R. |
| Year | 1979 |
| Conference | Geothermal Resources Council Transactions |
| Keywords | Scaling; Inhibition; Brine Technology; USA; California; Imperial Valley; Salton Sea; Silica; Chemistry; Hydroxyethylcelluloses (HEC); Polyoxyethylenes; Polyethylene Imines; Ethoxylated Quaternary; Ammonium; Ethoquad; Armak Methylpoly-Oxyethylene; Octadecy |
| Abstract | A variety of organic compounds have been evaluated for potential use in the reduction of silica scale formed from hypersaline brine. A brine treatment test system for operation from Magmamax No. 1 and Woolsey No. 1 wells was assemble and used for the testing of the additives. Injection of prospective compounds at 200°C and measurement of silica precipitation rates in the effluent brine revealed the following classes of substances to be effective inhibitors: hydroxyethylecellulosesm polyoxyethylenes, other compounds with high ethylene oxide content, polyethylene imines, and exthoxylated quaternary ammonium compounds. One compound, Ehtoquad 18/25 (Armak methylpolyoxyethylene octadecylammonium chloride), was found to retard the deposition and change the morphology of the silica rich scales in the 90-125°C temperature range. |