[bpownall]

I was hoping for some assistance on a question about scale/schmoo within a pipeline. A chemical analysis on the stuff shows that it is:

Hydrocarbons: 10%
Soluble salts: 1.40%
Calcium carbonates: .84%
Iron compounds 65.08%
Acid insolubles: 22.91%

Iron compounds were iron sulfide and iron oxide. I am getting a second test done to confirm the findings. Hopefully people here can suggest what chemicals would dissolve/break up whats within my scale.

What are some options to clean this line? I would appreciate a variety of chemical options/procedures that I can test by flushing. My project is to focus on creating the best "recipie" to clean our lines. More options to test, the better.


-Brian

[eugenedakin]

Hello Brian,

I used to do legal defense with pipeline failures due to scaling/corrosion. You should be very careful when selecting a product to 'break up' the buildup. It is this material that may be providing some integrity (by way of preventing or minimizing pinholes) in your pipeline.

Each pipeline is unique, and good large chemical companies have a list of various blends which are used to 'clean' pipelines.

Again, it depends on the compounds (which you are starting to determine), the pressure, flow regime, reynolds number, temperature, pressure, sour gas composition, type of corrosion taking place, length of treatment, velocity, inhibitor used... and more ...

Sorry, there is no 'generic' fix. If there was a generic blend which worked, then it would have already been made. The good news is that due to the broad spectrum of issues, you will have a job for a long time 

Sincerely,

Eugene