The influences of calcium, magnesium, and zinc ions on the efficacies of inorganic and organic based halite precipitation inhibitors are compared and contrasted. Calcium ion enhances the activity of the inorganic inhibitor and decreases the efficiency of the organic inhibitor. Magnesium has negligible influence on the efficacy of either inhibitor. Zinc, although not commonly found in oilfield brines, has a significant inhibitory influence on its own, but this influence is largely canceled by the presence of the organic or, especially, the inorganic halite inhibitor.
Keywords: halite, inhibition, brine, oilfield, salt