APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MEASURING CONCENTRATIONS OF SCALE-FORMING IONS

摘要

This invention relates to methods and apparatus for determination of ion concentrations, particularly in downhole water from hydrocarbon wells, aquifers etc. It is useful in a wide range of applications, including predicting the formation of scale and fingerprinting waters from different sources. More particularly, the invention relates to the use of ligands whos e electronic configuration is altered by the binding of the scaling ions withi n a water sample. These alterations are detected, for example by electrochemic al means, and are indicative of the concentration of scaling ions in the sample .