By Jennifer Sanders Those in the industry of oil extraction understand how asphaltene and paraffin wax build up could have crippling effec...
Those in the industry of oil extraction understand how asphaltene and paraffin wax build up could have crippling effects on well production. Waxy build-up of organic materials is referred to using the term paraffin. Mostly, paraffin solution is contained in crude oils. When these solutions cool down, they clump together and crystalize. The crystals that have clumped together accumulate on production equipment, making downhole paraffin removal important.
An excess of 85 percent of the oil wells are affected by solidified paraffin deposits. They eventually stop the oil flow by totally clogging the tubing and flow lines if they are neglected for a long time without being treated. Clogging additionally extends to the well itself as well as pipes apart from the flow lines and tubing. This happens slowly but becomes imminent after a long time.
As such, before any oil extraction process begins, plans must be made on how to deal with the problem of wax build-up. Even though the problem can be a real bottleneck to production operations, removal of the wax buildup is relatively easy. A wide range of methods for removing wax build-up have been invented over the years. Some of them include using hot water, hot oiling, chemicals, coiled tubing, mechanical methods, scraping, and thermal treatment.
There are incidences where a number of strategies may be used together to eliminate the wax issue. Forecasting the solidification of wax, possible points of occurrence, and when total blockage will take place is now possible, thanks to technological advancements. Among the methods of predicting is the gas chromatography.
Before one selects a technique to use in getting rid of wax issues, it is often essential for them to examine the deposits to determine their nature. Although organic deposits in extraction of oil are mostly made of paraffin and wax, these components are not the only ones in the deposit. Paraffin and asphaltenes are often contained in the deposits. Apart from asphaltenes and paraffin, substances like clay, resins, sand, gums, salt crystals, and scale are also contained in the deposits.
That means that in case one decides to use chemicals to remove the deposit, the chemical chosen should be able to remove more than just paraffins. Most chemicals that are used in these operations today usually require to be used together with heat in order for them to be effective. Different chemicals require different amounts of heat.
The addition of heat into the operation usually requires additional expense in the form of additional equipment, labor, and energy consumption. These expenses can be reduced by using a chemical solvent that can work effectively at low temperatures. A variety of solvents have been invented that can be used at a low temperature while maintaining a high level of efficiency.
Finally, it is vital for one to consider their safety as well as that of the environment. Mostly, caustic reagents are the ones that are used in chemical treatments. The reagents are often hazardous and very harsh to both the workers and the equipment used. Both human health and the environment are at risk from the toxic chemicals that are contained in caustic chemical treatments.
An excess of 85 percent of the oil wells are affected by solidified paraffin deposits. They eventually stop the oil flow by totally clogging the tubing and flow lines if they are neglected for a long time without being treated. Clogging additionally extends to the well itself as well as pipes apart from the flow lines and tubing. This happens slowly but becomes imminent after a long time.
As such, before any oil extraction process begins, plans must be made on how to deal with the problem of wax build-up. Even though the problem can be a real bottleneck to production operations, removal of the wax buildup is relatively easy. A wide range of methods for removing wax build-up have been invented over the years. Some of them include using hot water, hot oiling, chemicals, coiled tubing, mechanical methods, scraping, and thermal treatment.
There are incidences where a number of strategies may be used together to eliminate the wax issue. Forecasting the solidification of wax, possible points of occurrence, and when total blockage will take place is now possible, thanks to technological advancements. Among the methods of predicting is the gas chromatography.
Before one selects a technique to use in getting rid of wax issues, it is often essential for them to examine the deposits to determine their nature. Although organic deposits in extraction of oil are mostly made of paraffin and wax, these components are not the only ones in the deposit. Paraffin and asphaltenes are often contained in the deposits. Apart from asphaltenes and paraffin, substances like clay, resins, sand, gums, salt crystals, and scale are also contained in the deposits.
That means that in case one decides to use chemicals to remove the deposit, the chemical chosen should be able to remove more than just paraffins. Most chemicals that are used in these operations today usually require to be used together with heat in order for them to be effective. Different chemicals require different amounts of heat.
The addition of heat into the operation usually requires additional expense in the form of additional equipment, labor, and energy consumption. These expenses can be reduced by using a chemical solvent that can work effectively at low temperatures. A variety of solvents have been invented that can be used at a low temperature while maintaining a high level of efficiency.
Finally, it is vital for one to consider their safety as well as that of the environment. Mostly, caustic reagents are the ones that are used in chemical treatments. The reagents are often hazardous and very harsh to both the workers and the equipment used. Both human health and the environment are at risk from the toxic chemicals that are contained in caustic chemical treatments.
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