Carbohydrates as Scale Inhibitors

Abstract

The scale inhibitors, especially for anti-scaling, have been made from synthetic and natural polymers. Among the many bio-polymers, carbohydrate compounds (such as guar galactomannan polymer [GGM], konjac glucomannan polymer [KGM], xanthan gums polymer [XGP], guar gum polymer [GGP], chitosan and substituted/modified chitosan, and cyclodextrin.) may effectively control oilfield scales, many of which are for environmental, commercial, and safety reasons. Oilfield applications frequently employ carbohydrate inhibitors. Recently, several new carbohydrate-based green scale inhibitors have been reported in the literature. Carbohydrate-based green scale inhibitors have been used to prevent, regulate, and delay the production of scale since they are biodegradable, inexpensive, renewable, environmentally friendly, acceptable, and easily and sustainably available. The notion of scale, utilization of different carbohydrates as scale inhibitors in the oil and gas industry, kinds, methods, performance, scale inhibition mechanism, and relevance are outlined in this chapter taking the facts into account.