Mineral scale deposition resulting from waterflooding processes and chemical treatment operations is one of the common issues in upstream oil and gas production. It can lead to significant flow assurance problems as scaling in the reservoirs, wellbores, well casings, oil pipelines, and other production facilities may cause considerable equipment damage and production loss while interfering with corrosion management. Scale usually deposits as a combination of different mineral phases due to the changes in solution conditions such as the saturation level, temperature, pressure, and pH.

Geothermal power holds immense potential as a renewable energy source with low emissions utilizing the Earth's natural heat to generate electricity. With growing concerns over climate change and the need for sustainable energy alternatives, geothermal power can provide energy independence, economic benefits, and versatility. Mineral scaling has been recognized as a major hindrance in seamless geothermal operations due to the harsh and diverse operating conditions, which can cause significant issues resulting in higher operating costs while reducing energy production's efficiency and overall economic feasibility. Therefore, there is a growing need for a tool that can help in designing preventive and remedial strategies against mineral scaling and, in effect, ensure seamless operation while reducing costs associated with equipment failure. A few of the most commonly occurring scales in geothermal operations across different regions are amorphous silica (SiO2), metal silicates, and calcite (CaCO3). Formulating an effective theoretical framework to identify the critical conditions and characteristics of scaling solids is imperative in devising preventive and/or remedial measures. This multi-faceted problem requires the simultaneous modeling of solution thermodynamics and kinetics. In this work, we propose a novel modeling scheme through the incorporation of the classical nucleation theory (CNT) with the Mixed-Solvent Electrolyte (MSE) thermodynamic model. While MSE assesses scaling risk based on the effective evaluation of the solution chemistry, CNT provides kinetic information, i.e., an estimate of induction time, based on the continuum thermodynamics treatment of clusters. This work focuses on applying the novel theoretical approach in providing accurate thermodynamic modeling of the scales and subsequent applications of the kinetic modeling in deriving remedial techniques. The theoretical framework aims to provide a consistent approach for testing various what-if scenarios and aid in making the best operational solution in the development of flow assurance.