Experimental study of the hydrodynamic effects on calcium carbonate scaling in pressurized systems in the presence of CO2
Name: LUILA ABIB SAIDLER LIMA
Publication date: 21/08/2026
Examining board:
Name |
Role |
|---|---|
| ANDRÉ LEIBSOHN MARTINS | Examinador Externo |
| BRUNO VENTURINI LOUREIRO | Coorientador |
| FABIO DE ASSIS RESSEL PEREIRA | Examinador Interno |
| HELGA ELISABETH PINHEIRO SCHLUTER | Examinador Externo |
| RENATO DO NASCIMENTO SIQUEIRA | Presidente |
Pages
Summary: Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) scaling represents one of the main flow assurance challenges in oil production systems, potentially causing flow restrictions, increased operational costs, and reduced productivity. In Brazilian pre-salt reservoirs, this phenomenon becomes even more critical due to the combined effects of high pressure, elevated temperature, and dissolved CO2, which promote both solution supersaturation and mineral precipitation throughout the production system. Although the thermodynamics of CaCO3 precipitation is relatively well established, the mechanisms governing calcium carbonate scaling and deposit adhesion under dynamic flow conditions remain incompletely understood. In this context, the present work experimentally investigates the influence of hydrodynamic conditions and the presence of CO2 on CaCO3 scaling under representative oil and gas production conditions. For this purpose, a pressurized experimental flow loop was designed and constructed, allowing the control of pressure, temperature, and flow regime using aqueous solutions of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) and calcium chloride (CaCl2) solutions with continuous CO2 injection. Experiments were conducted over a range of Reynolds numbers, at temperatures of 25°C and 40°C, and under different pressure conditions, including tests at 15 and 100 bar, in order to evaluate calcium carbonate scaling behavior along a straight pipe section. The resulting deposits were characterized in terms of deposited mass, morphology, polymorphic composition, and mechanical adhesion strength. The results demonstrate that hydrodynamic conditions influence not only the amount of deposited material but also the crystalline structure and adhesion properties of the deposits, with direct implications for scaling mechanisms in pressurized systems containing CO2. The findings contribute to an integrated understanding of the interactions among hydrodynamics, thermodynamics, and deposit adhesion phenomena in calcium carbonate scaling, providing valuable insights for the development of more effective mitigation strategies in oil production systems.
Keywords: Calcium carbonate scaling. CaCO3 adhesion. Pressurized flow. Continuous CO2 injection.
