Use of zirconium salts as scale inhibitor squeeze enhancers

A method for enhancing a scale inhibition treatment, comprising:

• mixing a base fluid and a zirconium salt comprising a zirconium lactate to form an aqueous fluid;
• placing the aqueous fluid downhole to contact a subterranean formation;
• afterwards placing a scale inhibitor fluid downhole to contact the aqueous fluid forming a zirconium salt/scale inhibitor complex,
• wherein the zirconium salt/scale inhibitor complex enhances retention of scale inhibitor within the subterranean formation by at least 85 additional pore volumes, and
• wherein the aqueous fluid comprises at least about 1%, by weight, of the zirconium lactate based on total weight of the aqueous fluid.

A method for enhancing production from a well site, comprising:

• detecting equal to or greater than about 1%, by volume, water in a produced hydrocarbon fluid;
• placing a scale inhibitor and an aqueous fluid comprising a zirconium salt comprising a zirconium lactate downhole;
• and
• contacting the aqueous fluid comprising the zirconium salt with the scale inhibitor in a subterranean formation to form a zirconium salt/scale inhibitor complex for inhibiting scale formation to enhance retention between 85- to 2,100 additional pore volumes.