Acetic and formic acids have been found in the separator water of gas condensate wells containing CO2 and they are titrated as alkalinity. Traditional pH equations which neglect these acids and calculate pH based on alkalinity greatly over-predict the downhole pH. Since all scale calculations depend on an accurate pH value, a more sophisticated method of calculation has been developed. The methodology can be used to calculate the in-situ bulk pH and the saturation pH at different depths within a well. The difference in the saturation pH and the bulk pH is the delta pH, a negative delta pH indicates a potential to scale whereas a positive value indicates a potential to corrode. The saturation pH is discussed with respect to iron carbonate saturation, but can be used for any other scale by making the appropriate ch auges.
Keywords: pH calculation, CO2 corrosion, scale and corrosion prediction