1.
n. [Well Completions]
A chemical treatment used to control or prevent
scale deposition in the
production conduit or
completion system. Scale-
inhibitor chemicals may be continuously injected through a downhole injection point in the completion, or periodic
squeeze treatments may be undertaken to place the inhibitor in the
reservoir matrix for subsequent commingling with produced fluids.
Some scale-inhibitor systems integrate scale inhibitors and
fracture treatments into one step, which guarantees that the entire well is treated with scale inhibitor. In this type of treatment, a high-efficiency scale inhibitor is pumped into the matrix surrounding the fracture face during
leakoff. It adsorbs to the matrix during pumping until the fracture begins to produce water. As water passes through the inhibitor-adsorbed zone, it dissolves sufficient inhibitor to prevent scale deposition. The inhibitor is better placed than in a conventional
scale-inhibitor squeeze, which reduces the retreatment cost and improves production.