Use of polyalkoxy sulfonate surfactants for inhibition of scale formation

摘要

The accumulation of inorganic mineral scale such as barium sulfate in oil field formations and/or production equipment is inhibited by adding to formation fluid or produced fluid a scale formation inhibitory amount of a polyalkoxy sulfonate of the general formula (RO[R'O]x(CH2)ySO3)zM wherein R is a hydrophobe, R'O is a C2H4O or a C3H6O group or some combination thereof, M is a monovalent or divalet cation, x is 2 to 10, y is 0 to about 4 and z is 1 or 2.