🧪

Scale Prediction Calculator

Stiff-Davis CaCO₃ + Templeton / Marshall-Slusher / Jacques-Bourland Sulfates

Predict oilfield scale from a water analysis. Enter cations, anions, T, P; the calculator returns the Stiff-Davis Stability Index for calcite plus saturation ratios for barite (BaSO₄), gypsum/anhydrite (CaSO₄), and celestite (SrSO₄). Includes charge-balance check and inhibitor-strategy recommendation.

Cations (mg/L)

Field-measured at sample T

Anions (mg/L)

Conditions

°F
60 – 350 °F at scaling location
psig
BWPD

Mixing (optional)

vol %
For incompatibility screening — second-water inputs in a future release

Methods

Ionic strength:

I = ½ · Σ ( Ci · zi2 )   (mol/L)

Stiff-Davis Stability Index (CaCO₃, high-TDS):

SSI = pH − pCa − pAlk − K(T, I)

K from Stiff-Davis 1952 chart, interpolated by T and ionic strength.

Sulfate saturation ratio (general):

SR = [M2+] · [SO42−] / Ksp(T, I)

BaSO₄ Ksp — Templeton 1960:

log Ksp = −10.03 + 0.0146·T°C − 1.95·√I + 0.59·I

Severity bands:

SSI > +0.5 → scaling | −0.5 to +0.5 → stable | < −0.5 → corrosive
SR < 1 → undersaturated | 1–2 → mild | 2–10 → moderate | > 10 → severe

Frequently Asked Questions

How is calcite scale predicted in produced water?

Stiff-Davis: SSI = pH − pCa − pAlk − K(T, I). Positive SSI → scaling, negative → CO₂-aggressive corrosive.

How is barite scale predicted?

Saturation ratio SR = [Ba²⁺][SO₄²⁻] / Ksp(T, I) using the Templeton 1960 correlation. SR > 1 → barite will precipitate; > 10 → severe.

When does a produced water need inhibitor?

Continuous phosphonate or polyacrylate (5–25 ppm) when any scale shows SSI > 0.5 or SR > 2. Squeeze for SR > 10 (especially barite).