High Pressure High Temperature PMAC (HPHT PMAC)
The HPHT PMAC is designed to give Roemex the capability of modelling scale deposition at high temperatures (up to 250°C) and high pressures (up to 6000psi). Brines with a tendency to form scales are mixed together in a 1mm ID capillary coil, which is heated to the desired temperature. The system and coil pressures are recorded and the chemical efficiency is relative to the depression of a pressure rise; i.e. scale deposition in the capillary coil.

This equipment allows scale inhibitor efficiency under reservoir conditions to be evaluated and also facilitates studies on HPHT well treatments. Chemical stability at temperature for squeeze and gas-lift applications is always a concern and with this equipment Roemex can perform efficiency tests on products to determine their thermal stability under the reservoir conditions.

Atmospheric PMAC
The atmospheric PMAC operates under a similar principle to the HPHT PMAC described above, but works at atmospheric pressure only and at temperatures up to 95°C. This test equipment is especially useful for testing brines with a high propensity to form sulphate scales, as the process is not affected by pressure, unlike the formation of carbonate scales.

Static Bottle Test
Two incompatible waters with the tendency to form scale are combined in a glass bottle, heated and any scale precipitated is observed. This test is primarily qualitative, and gives an indication of which products are working under the scaling regime in test. The results act only as a primary selection process for removing chemicals with intolerance to the brine and those that give no protection. The test can be made quantitative by weighing the mass of scale precipitated, however a more effective means of quantifying scale inhibitor efficiency is to calculate scaling ion concentrations after any scale has formed.

Roemex recommend the testing of all products under static and dynamic conditions to obtain a product recommendation.

For the theoretical determination of scaling potential of brines, Roemex utilise a scale prediction model called multiSCALE 5.1. The model allows the prediction of scale precipitation in brine and in multi-phase systems. The model is a strong tool for use in the development of scale inhibitors and can assist clients in the design and implementation of scale management programmes. Similarly, for reservoir pre-emptive scale squeeze design Roemex has access to Squeeze V modelling and prediction tools.