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Oilfield Produced Water Treatment Chemicals: Corrosion Inhibitors, Biocides, Scale Inhibitors & More
Created on 08.26
Introduction: The Hidden Challenges in Produced Water
Every barrel of crude oil brought to the surface comes with produced water. For every barrel of oil, oilfields typically generate 3 to 10 barrels of produced water — and in mature fields, the water cut can exceed 90%. Globally, the produced water volume is estimated at over 250 million barrels per day.
Produced water is not just water. It contains dissolved salts, residual oil, suspended solids, corrosive gases (H₂S, CO₂), sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB), and scale-forming ions. If not properly treated, this water causes:
- Pipeline corrosion
— leading to perforation, leaks, and costly repairs
- Bacterial growth
— SRB activity generates H₂S and plugging biofilms
- Scale deposition
— calcium, magnesium, barium, and strontium scales block equipment
- Environmental risk
— discharge standards for oil-in-water are as low as 5–30 mg/L in many regions
Dongying Jusen Chemical supplies a complete range of Oilfield Produced Water Treatment Chemicals designed to address all these challenges — corrosion inhibitors, biocides, scale inhibitors, scale removers, and filter material cleaning agents.
Part I: Corrosion Inhibitors
1. What Is an Oilfield Corrosion Inhibitor?
A corrosion inhibitor is a chemical agent that prevents or reduces the corrosion of metal equipment in oilfield wastewater systems. It works by forming a protective film on the metal surface, isolating it from the corrosive medium. In oilfield produced water treatment, corrosion inhibitors prevent pipeline perforation, protect metal containers and tanks, and extend equipment service life.
Our corrosion inhibitors have good inhibition effects on carbon steel, alloy steel, aluminum, and aluminum alloys. They are low-cost, strongly compatible, do not cause pitting corrosion, and are high-temperature resistant.
2. Product Types
Product Type | Characteristics |
Imidazoline | Efficient corrosion inhibition performance, high cost-effectiveness |
Organic amines | Chemical and physical adsorption, inhibiting corrosion |
How imidazoline works: Imidazoline derivatives form a dense adsorption film on the metal surface, isolating the metal from the corrosive medium and inhibiting the corrosion reaction. The imidazoline derivatives and organic amines consume dissolved oxygen and reduce oxygen corrosion through synergistic effect, further improving the corrosion inhibition effect.
3. Technical Specifications
No. | Item | Indicator |
1 | Appearance | Homogeneous liquid |
2 | pH | 5–9 |
3 | Opening flash point, °C | ≥60 |
4 | Condensation point, °C | ≤−10 |
5 | Emulsifying tendency | No tendency to emulsify |
6 | Corrosion inhibition (30 mg/L) | ≥75% |
7 | Pitting corrosion | No significant pitting |
4. Performance Data
Research on imidazoline-based corrosion inhibitors for high-mineralized oilfield wastewater has demonstrated that water-soluble imidazoline derivatives with synergistic agents provide effective corrosion inhibition. A novel imidazoline derivative corrosion inhibitor for carbon steel in CO₂-containing oilfield produced water achieved an inhibition efficiency of 87.55% at a concentration of 100 mg/L.
Application: Corrosion inhibitors are mainly used in oilfield wastewater treatment to prevent pipeline corrosion, avoid perforation of internal pipelines, and protect metal containers and tanks. They are typically dosed continuously at the wellhead or at strategic points in the water treatment system.
Part II: Biocides
1. What Is an Oilfield Biocide?
A biocide is a chemical agent that controls bacterial activity in oilfield water systems. Its primary functions are:
- Reduce corrosion and sludge production
by controlling bacterial activity
- Protect oilfield equipment
from microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC)
- Maintain stable water injection pressure and volume
- Improve crude oil production and quality
The most problematic bacteria in oilfield systems are sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) , which generate H₂S and cause severe corrosion and plugging.
2. Product Types
Product Type | Characteristics |
Quaternary ammonium salt 1227 | Broad-spectrum, high efficiency, low toxicity |
Glutaraldehyde | Broad-spectrum, high efficiency, low irritation, low corrosiveness, safe and low toxicity |
THPS | New type, high efficiency, broad-spectrum, low toxicity, low dosage, low foaming, environmentally friendly |
About 1227: Dodecyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride (1227) is a cationic surfactant with broad-spectrum bactericidal and algae-killing capabilities. It effectively controls bacterial and algae growth in water, has good biofilm stripping effects, and is particularly effective against sulfate-reducing bacteria. It is low in toxicity, has no cumulative toxicity, is easily soluble in water, and is not affected by water hardness.
3. Technical Specifications
No. | Item | Indicator |
1 | Appearance | Homogeneous liquid, no mechanical impurities |
2 | pH | 3–9 |
3 | Solubility | Completely dissolved, homogeneous liquid |
4 | Corrosive | Non-corrosive |
5 | Condensation point, °C | ≤−10 |
6 | Inhibitor concentration of SRB bacteria, mg/L | ≤50 / ≤70 / ≤100 |
7 | Organochlorine content | 0% |
Note: SRB inhibition concentration varies by product grade and application conditions.
4. Performance Data
Research comparing quaternary ammonium biocides shows that bis-quaternary ammonium compounds (Bis-QACs) act as effective corrosion inhibitors in sulfide-containing oil well formation water, with inhibition efficiency increasing with alkyl chain length. Gemini surfactant 12-B-12 demonstrated better corrosion inhibition ability than conventional 1227 at concentrations as low as 0.01 mM.
Application: Biocides are used in oilfield wastewater treatment, water injection systems, and produced water handling. They are typically dosed intermittently (slug dosing) or continuously, depending on the severity of bacterial contamination.
Part III: Scale Inhibitors
1. What Is a Scale Inhibitor?
A scale inhibitor is a chemical agent that prevents the formation of mineral scale deposits in oilfield equipment. Scale forms when dissolved ions in produced water — primarily Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Sr²⁺, and Ba²⁺ — precipitate as insoluble salts (carbonates, sulfates) on equipment surfaces.
Scale deposition reduces flow capacity, increases energy consumption, and can lead to equipment failure. Scale inhibitors work through chelation, threshold inhibition, and crystal modification mechanisms to keep scale-forming ions in solution.
2. Product Type
Product Type | Characteristics |
Organic Phosphine Carboxylic Acid | Non-toxic and pollution-free, good chemical stability and temperature resistance |
Organic phosphine carboxylic acid scale inhibitors are successfully used in offshore oil production for preventing deposition of barium and strontium sulfates.
3. Technical Specifications
No. | Item | Indicator |
1 | Appearance | Homogeneous liquid, no mechanical impurities |
2 | pH (1% aqueous solution) | ≥4 |
3 | Density @ 20°C, g/cm³ | 1.00–1.30 |
4 | Condensation point, °C | Below local minimum temperature |
5 | Scale inhibition rate (10 mg/L), % | ≥80 |
4. Performance Data
Organic phosphine carboxylic acid scale inhibitors can delay wellbore scaling and blockage effectively. In high-temperature gas lift drainage wells, the compound of organic phosphine carboxylic acid and pH regulator demonstrated good corrosion and scale inhibition performance. Carboxylic adsorption on bare silica resulted in enhanced surface resistance against scaling by as much as 700%.
Application: Scale inhibitors are used in oilfield water injection systems, produced water treatment, and wellbore protection. They are typically dosed continuously at 5–20 mg/L, depending on water chemistry and scaling tendency.
Part IV: Scale Removers
1. What Is a Scale Remover?
A scale remover is a chemical agent that dissolves existing scale deposits that have already formed on equipment surfaces. Unlike scale inhibitors — which prevent scale formation — scale removers are used for remediation and cleaning.
Our scale remover effectively removes scale substances mainly composed of Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Sr²⁺, and Ba²⁺ from equipment such as oil wells and pipelines, reducing wear and corrosion and extending service life.
2. Product Type
Product Type | Characteristics |
Chelating type | Suitable for scale mainly composed of Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Sr²⁺, and Ba²⁺ |
Chelating agents such as EDTA and DTPA have long been used to remove scale from oilfield equipment. MGDA (methylglycinediacetic acid) is an efficient chelator for removing calcium sulfate scales, with removal efficiency of 83% using 8% MGDA at 100°C after 24-hour treatment.
3. Technical Specifications
No. | Item | Indicator |
1 | Appearance | Amber liquid |
2 | pH (1% aqueous solution) | 2.0 ± 1.0 |
Application: Scale removers are used for periodic cleaning of oil wells, pipelines, and surface equipment. They are applied by circulation or soaking, depending on the equipment configuration and scale severity.
Part V: Filter Material Cleaning Agent
1. What Is a Filter Material Cleaning Agent?
A filter material cleaning agent effectively removes oil and dirt from the surface of filter media, restoring filtering performance and improving service life and efficiency. It has good wetting control performance and emulsification/solubilization ability for crude oil.
In oilfield produced water treatment systems, filter media (such as walnut shell, quartz sand, and multimedia) become fouled with crude oil and suspended solids over time. Cleaning agents restore the filter's oil removal efficiency without requiring replacement of the filter media.
2. Product Type
Product Type | Characteristics |
Anion (Alkaline) | Quickly and effectively penetrates and strips oil stains and slime from filter materials |
3. Technical Specifications
No. | Item | Indicator |
1 | Appearance | Homogeneous liquid |
2 | pH | ≥6.5 |
3 | Stability (2 h) | No stratification, no precipitation |
4 | Condensation point, °C | ≤−10 |
5 | Cleaning capacity (40°C) | ≥90% |
6 | Corrosive (80±2°C, 2 h) | Corrosion rate ≤0.65 g/(m²·h) |
Application: Filter material cleaning agents are used in oilfield produced water filtration systems. They are applied by soaking or circulating through the filter bed during backwash cycles.
Complete Product Portfolio Summary
Category | Product | Main Function |
Corrosion Inhibitors | Imidazoline, Organic amines | Prevent pipeline corrosion, protect metal equipment |
Biocides | 1227, Glutaraldehyde, THPS | Control SRB and other bacteria, reduce corrosion and sludge |
Scale Inhibitors | Organic Phosphine Carboxylic Acid | Prevent Ca/Mg/Sr/Ba scale formation |
Scale Removers | Chelating type | Remove existing scale deposits |
Filter Material Cleaners | Anion (Alkaline) | Restore filter media performance |
Why Choose Jusen Chem?
- Complete range:
Corrosion inhibitors, biocides, scale inhibitors, scale removers, and filter cleaners from a single supplier
- Field-proven:
Products supplied to major Chinese oilfields with successful field applications
- Technical support:
Our team can help select the right product and dosage for your specific water chemistry
- Direct manufacturer:
Stable supply and factory-direct pricing
- Fast delivery:
Efficient logistics from China to global markets
- Quality assurance:
Products meet international standards; third-party inspection available upon request
FAQ
Q1: What is the difference between a scale inhibitor and a scale remover?
A scale inhibitor prevents scale from forming by keeping scale-forming ions in solution. A scale remover dissolves existing scale deposits that have already formed on equipment surfaces.
Q2: What is the recommended dosage for corrosion inhibitors?
The corrosion inhibition test concentration is typically 30 mg/L. Field dosage depends on water chemistry and system conditions. Our technical team can recommend specific dosage based on your water analysis.
Q3: What is 1227 biocide?
1227 is dodecyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride, a cationic surfactant with broad-spectrum bactericidal and algae-killing capabilities. It is particularly effective against sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) and is widely used in oilfield water injection systems.
Q4: How often should biocide be dosed?
Biocide dosing frequency depends on bacterial contamination levels. It can be dosed intermittently (slug dosing) or continuously. For SRB control, typical dosing is 50–100 mg/L, applied 1–2 times per week.
Q5: Can scale inhibitors be used in high-temperature wells?
Yes. Our organic phosphine carboxylic acid scale inhibitors have good temperature resistance and are suitable for high-temperature applications, including gas lift drainage wells.
Q6: What is the packaging for these products?
Standard packaging is 200L drums or 1000L IBC tanks. Custom packaging is available upon request.
Q7: Can you provide samples?
Yes, samples can be provided for evaluation. Please contact us with your specific requirements.
Contact Us
For quotations, technical data sheets, or samples of Oilfield Produced Water Treatment Chemicals, please contact us:
📧 Email: info@jusenchem.com
📞 WhatsApp: +86 18954690080
🌐 Website: www.jusenchem.com
Jusen Chem — your reliable partner for oilfield water treatment chemicals and production solutions.
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