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SPE Scale Symposium
20–21 May 2026 | Ardoe House Hotel, Aberdeen, UK

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Training Course

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Training Course

Training Course - Inorganic Scale Management in the Energy Sector

Disciplines: Production and Operations

 

This training course introduce inorganic scale management to those working in the energy sector who need to be involved in identifying and managing scale risk, or who need to be aware of its implications to production/operations.  The authors and contributing colleagues from their respective organisations have a wealth of industrial and research experience of scale management in the oil and gas industry, and the course is richly illustrated using field case examples.

The course extends this knowledge to non-hydrocarbon related aspects of the energy sector. It is therefore useful to those wishing to learn about oil and gas field scaling, as also to those engaging with the Energy Transition who wish to understand what are the potential inorganic scale risks and how these can be mitigated.

Held in conjunction with the SPE Scale Symposium during 18 & 19 May 2026 - Ardoe, Scotland

Day 1 - Monday 18 May 2026

Delivered by SSL

  • Introduction to inorganic scales
    • Scale Types, mechanisms and inhibitor types
  • Defining the issue
    • Understanding how scale is predicted and how to interpret model generated results
    • Defining a mitigation strategy  based on risk assessment and operational environment
  • Chemical Qualification – Continuous injection
    • Chemical compatibility – fluids & materials
    • Performance testing
    • Downhole injection qualification challenges
  • Analysis
    • Onshore analysis methods
    • Offshore analysis methods

Instructor

Gail Smith, Scaled Solutions Ltd (SSL)

Day 2 - Tuesday 19 May 2026

Delivered by PCT and HWU
  • Subsurface batch treatment qualification
    • Coreflood formation damage and inhibitor retention testing
    • Inhibitor isotherm derivation
  • Subsurface batch treatment design
    • Squeeze design
    • Inhibitor placement
    • Impact of reservoir processes
  • Scale management in the Energy Transition (I)
    • During Enhanced Oil Recovery
    • Geothermal brine production and disposal
  • Scale management in the Energy Transition (II)
    • Halite precipitation during Carbon Capture and Storage
    • Novel applications, including well Plugging and Abandonment (P&A) operations

Instructors

Steve Heath, Production Chemistry Training Ltd (PCT)

Professor Eric Mackay holds the Energy Simulation Chair in CCUS and Reactive Flow Simulation in the Institute of GeoEnergy Engineering at Heriot-Watt University

Additional information about the training course

Q&As

Ample time will be provided for Q&A. The instructors welcome Q&A during presentations, at end of sessions or during breaks. Attendees are invited to bring specific scaling challenges for discussion during the course.

Learning Level - Introductory

Course Length

Two days

Who Attends

Chemists, engineers, geoscientists, researchers, students, and managers who need to learn about inorganic scale management in the sectors of the energy industries where there is water flow and mineral scaling risk. Sectors include oil and gas, geothermal, CO2 and H2 storage, brine disposal, amongst others.

Special Requirements

No prior knowledge is assumed, although understanding of technical terms in the English language associated with inorganic chemistry and fluid flow in pipelines is helpful.

Additional Resources

The attendee receives:

  • Online accessible PDFs of slide packs, including final slides with associated publication references
  • Certificate of course completion signed by instructors
Cancellation Policy

All cancellations must be received no later than 14 days prior to the course start date. Cancellations made after the 14-day window will not be refunded. Refunds will not be given due to no show situations.

Training sessions attached to SPE conferences and workshops follow the cancellation policies stated on the event information page. Please check that page for specific cancellation information.

SPE reserves the right to cancel or re-schedule courses at will. Notification of changes will be made as quickly as possible; please keep this in mind when arranging travel, as SPE is not responsible for any fees charged for cancelling or changing travel arrangements.

We reserve the right to substitute course instructors as necessary.

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