TY  - EJOU
AU  - Zhang, Bo 
AU  - Ai, Guosheng 
AU  - Wu, Junlin 
AU  - Zhang, Mingyi 
AU  - Zhang, Xinqing 
AU  - Li, Cong 
AU  - Zhang, Xuanwei 
AU  - Li, Na 
AU  - Yuan, Limin 

TI  - Experimental Investigation of Particle Deposition and Pipeline Plugging Mechanisms in Produced Fluids from High-Salinity Gas Reservoirs
T2  - Fluid Dynamics \& Materials Processing

PY  - 
VL  - 
IS  - 
SN  - 1555-2578

AB  - This study investigates the physicochemical characteristics, particle deposition behavior, and plugging mechanisms of produced fluids from drainage-gas recovery wells in high-salinity gas reservoirs, using a representative well from the Tarim Oilfield as a case study for a broad class of production systems affected by liquid-phase pipeline plugging. A comprehensive experimental methodology was adopted, combining physicochemical characterization, filtration and static sedimentation experiments, dynamic deposition tests, scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). This combined experimental approach was employed to identify the dominant deposition mechanisms and determine the particle-size fractions most responsible for pipeline plugging. The produced fluid was identified as a high-salinity, weakly acidic CaCl<sub>2</sub>-type aqueous system with potential scaling tendencies associated with BaSO<sub>4</sub>, SrSO<sub>4</sub>, and CaCO<sub>3</sub>. Particle-size analysis revealed that particles were predominantly distributed within the 2–10 μm range, representing 58.89% of the total particle population and constituting the principal plugging-risk fraction. In particular, particles between 2 and 5 μm were found to play a dominant role in turbidity breakthrough, membrane bridging, and the initiation of deposit formation. Microscopic characterization further showed that the deposits consisted primarily of NaCl, CaCO<sub>3</sub>, SiO<sub>2</sub>, together with minor sulfate- and metal-containing phases, indicating a composite deposition mechanism involving both suspended particles and salt crystallization.
KW  - High-salinity produced fluid; pipeline plugging; particle-size distribution; dynamic deposition; composite deposition mechanism

DO  - 10.32604/fdmp.2026.086215