Structure-property Relationship of Flavonoids as Potential Green Inhibitors for Oilfield Scales: A Mini-review

Scale deposits are a significant flow assurance issue in oil and gas operation with huge financial consequences. Not only does scaling drastically impair well performance, but it also has the potential to permanently destroy formation and equipment. Scale inhibitors are commonly used to prevent the accumulation of scales. A good scale inhibitor should be stable at the minimum effective inhibitor concentration under imposed operating conditions without interfering with or being affected by other chemical additives. However, most conventional scale inhibitors that possess these attributes, do not meet environmental restrictions which make them unfavorable for continuous application, prompting the industry to focus more on developing eco-friendly substitutes. This paper reviews the various types of scale inhibitors and general scale inhibition mechanism, summarizes scale concepts and ultimately, assesses the potential of flavonoids from natural plants as potential green scale inhibitors.