Estimating the kinetic parameters regarding barium sulfate deposition in porous media: a genetic algorithm approach

Scale formation and precipitation of sparingly soluble salts are categorized among the most costly and critical problems that occur when injected fluid starts to break through in petroleum reservoirs during secondary recovery processes. Many oilfields are encountering the problem of barium sulfate deposition as a result of mixing barium rich formation water with seawater bearing excessive amounts of sulfate anions. To study the extent of permeability reduction imposed on a reservoir, it is vital to comprehend the mechanisms and kinetics of barium sulfate deposition. In this study, an analytical model is employed to estimate the kinetic parameters of barium sulfate deposition over various temperature ranges. Because the problem is highly nonlinear and can possess multiple local minima, global parameter estimation is more preferable than iterative least square methods. Therefore, genetic algorithm is used to estimate the activation energy and the pre-exponential factor for the precipitation of barium sulfate in porous media. Optimization results revealed a good agreement with experimental data, and the estimated kinetic variables are in accordance with the collision theory of chemical reactions. © 2013 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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