silica

Management of Fluid Injection in Geothermal Wells to Avoid Silica Scaling at Low Levels of Silica Oversaturation

Basic Information
Author: 
Klein, C.W.
Description: 
In the design of geothermal installations, the possibility of scale precipitation caused by silica over saturation has often been taken as a design constraint upon steam separation pressure. At installations where over-saturation is allowed to develop, the resulting scale formation is a nuisance and in some cases affects the performance of injection wells. A review of the thermodynamics, reaction mechanisms, and kinetics of silica deposition, compared with actual experience at various locations, shows that it is possible to predict low-level scaling with sufficient confidence for production and injection system design. With foresight it thus becomes possible to suppress or manage the silica scale. A useful suppression technology is fluid pH reduction, achieved by mixing with noncondensible gases and/or steam condensate. Results from several geothermal systems will be presented. Further improvements of predictive technique will benefit from more uniformity in data collection, designing experiments, reporting of results, and reporting measurements of scaling in actual production systems.
Publication Date: 
Monday, January 2, 1995
Resource Language: 
English
Intelectual Originator Contact
Organization Name: 
GeothermEx, Inc.
Street Address: 
3260 Blume Drive,Suite 220
City: 
Richmond
State/Province: 
CA
Postal Code: 
94806
Country: 
United States
Phone: 
510-527-9876
Fax: 
510-527-8164
Resource Information
Access Statement: 
Abstract available online at http://www.geothermex.com/files/Klein_1995-2.pdf For a copy of this paper please e-mail us at mw@geothermex.com
Resource Distribution Contact
Organization Name: 
GeothermEx, Inc.
Street Address: 
3260 Blume Drive,Suite 220
City: 
Richmond
State/Province: 
CA
Postal Code: 
94806
Country: 
United States
Phone: 
510-527-9876
Fax: 
510-527-8164
Geographic Extent
North bounding latitude: 
38.3614
South bounding latitude: 
35.1225
West bounding longitude: 
-122.168
East bounding longitude: 
-117.949
Previous Citation
Bibliographic Citation: 
Christopher W. Klein, 1995. Management of Fluid Injection in Geothermal Wells to Avoid Silica Scaling at Low Levels of Silica Oversaturation. GeothermEx, Inc., Richmond, California.
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