Opening the Window to reliable Paraffin Control Production Chemical Design and Qualification

Paraffin related flow assurance issues continue to burden producers with costly and inconvenient mechanical interventions. All crude oil contains paraffin wax (n-C18 and above) and depending on the source and migration history to the reservoir, the proportion of this wax fraction can be significant. As these crude oils are produced, there may be instances when the fluid drops below a certain temperature that induces wax insolubility, and therefore increases the risk of paraffin deposition that can greatly reduce production rates, and in severe cases, restrict production completely. There are several solutions available to the operator to mitigate such paraffin fouling events, one of which is chemical based. However, design and selection of appropriate chemicals have suffered greatly because of poor laboratory testing procedures and laboratory to field application correlation. Here, we present a novel test method development that overcomes the main drawbacks of traditional paraffin fouling testing procedures by providing a real time measurement of the initial layer of foulant formation by measuring near infra-red (NIR) light transmittance to a temperature controlled reflective surface, the ParaWindow. The equipment and procedure will be described relative to standard industry testing protocols, and improved field correlation explained. The ability to detect fouling under more representative temperature conditions than the traditional methods allow, generates more field like deposit composition. This then affords the opportunity to select the most appropriate paraffin control production chemicals tailor made for the most insoluble and problematic wax fractions at an application dosage more suitable for the fluid composition.