Introduction
The concepts of Standard Solids and Expanded Solids were developed to differentiate the solid phases considered in the old OLI ScaleChem - Standard software, which was originally limited in the number of solids evaluated. Over the years, advances in technology and software capabilities have expanded the number of solids that can be analyzed, providing enhanced accuracy and relevance for users in oil and gas production. This article explains these terms, their historical context, and their application in OLI Studio: ScaleChem.
Disclaimer: The user interface, calculations, and results displayed in this article are from OLI Studio Version 12.0.0.11. Other software versions may appear different or present slightly distinct results due to continual developments to the software and thermodynamic databanks.
Historical Context and Evolution
When OLI ScaleChem - Standard was first introduced, computational power was a limiting factor. The software could evaluate only a small number of solids at a time to maintain reasonable calculation runtimes. Initially, the program was restricted to 6 solids but later expanded to 9 as computational capabilities improved. By leveraging modern advancements in processing power, the scope increased to 58 solids, covering the majority of relevant phases found in upstream oil and gas production.
To distinguish the original limited set of solids from the expanded collection, the terms Standard Solids and Expanded Solids were introduced.
- Standard Solids refer to the original 9 solids.
- Expanded Solids encompass the additional 49 solids, making the total 58.
Application in OLI Studio: ScaleChem
OLI Studio: ScaleChem maintains the distinction between Standard and Expanded solids while offering greater flexibility through its integration with the broader OLI Studio: Stream Analyzer framework.
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Standard Solids Display: The original 9 solids are always displayed if their constituent elements are detected in the selected brines.
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Expanded Solids Display: By expanding the list, users can access additional solids that are relevant to the selected brine chemistry. Only solids containing elements present in the brine are displayed. For example, while the expanded list contains 49 solids, only 22 may be shown depending on the brine's composition.
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All Solids Option: For maximum flexibility, users can enable the "All" checkbox to access all possible solids in the OLI databases. This feature is particularly useful for brines with non-traditional chemistry, such as those containing Fe³⁺ or SiO₂, increasing the available solids.
Reference Table of Solids
A detailed listing of all solids in OLI ScaleChem - Standard is available, specifying which solids are designated as Standard or part of the Expanded list. Solids marked as True are classified as Standard Solids, while the remainder are categorized as Expanded Solids.
Conclusion
The distinction between Standard and Expanded Solids ensures that OLI Studio: ScaleChem remains both computationally efficient and scientifically robust. By adapting to modern computational capabilities and offering flexible solid-phase analysis, the software continues to support accurate scaling predictions for diverse brine chemistries in upstream oil and gas operations. Users benefit from the ability to tailor analyses to specific needs, ensuring precision and reliability in their work.
For further details on accessing and utilizing Standard and Expanded Solids, refer to the software documentation or contact OLI support.