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Understanding Wax Problems Leads To Deepwater Ow Assurance Solutions
Understanding Wax Problems Leads To Deepwater Ow Assurance Solutions
Fig. 1. Two uids with similar wax appearance temperatures can have different wax
contents and deposition rates.
Originally March 2006 issue, pgs D -7D-10.
appreared in: Posted with permission.
MARCH 2006 World Oil
Fig. 2. Fluid temperatures can drop precipitously in a short period during a dry tree
riser shutdown.
MARCH 2006 World Oil
Fig. 3. (Top) An uninsulated pipelines temperature drops
toward ambient, wax buildup insulates, extending the
temperature prole. (Bottom) As wax is deposited, its
insulating properties make the temperatures warmer and
move the deposit further down the pipeline.
MARCH 2006 World Oil
might be required to allow produced
fluid displacement to remove all of the
in-situ production fluid prior to gel for-
mation. The insulation selected should
provide sufficient cooldown time for
non-problematic system restart and
fluid circulation through the flowlines,
as well as sufficient storage volume for
the displaced and circulation fluids.
These can be complicated for minimal
facility system designs. Pipelines should
be preheated prior to restart to retard
wax gelation until the production fluid
warms above the pour point. Whichever
heat medium is usedhot water, heated
diesel or treated hot production fluid
each has its own challenges.
CONCLUSION
Wax deposition and wax gelation
problems can cause serious flow assur-
ance concerns for operators in deepwater
installations. To help combat these issues,
laboratory measurements are required
to develop an understanding of fluid
characteristics and temperature require-
ments. Intelligent data interpretation of
these measurements can provide rules of
thumb and accurate models for establish-
ing pigging and treating programs.
Modeling can also provide key indi-
cators for profiling pipeline temperatures
and wax buildup. These tools can greatly
assist the operator in making economic
decisions and exploring multiple design
options. Current modeling technology
includes real-time, online pipeline moni-
toring and advisory systems that help
manage a myriad of flow assurance is-
sues. A number of operators worldwide
have deployed such systems. WO
THE AUTHORS
Thomas S. Golczynski is general manager,
Services, with Multiphase Solutions, Inc. (MSi)
in Houston. He is technical lead for all ow
assurance studies carried out within MSi and
provides ow assurance analysis for deepwater
and ultra-deepwater developments. Golczynski
earned a BS degree in chemical engineering
from the University of Michigan.
Elijah C. Kempton is a staff ow assurance
consultant with Multiphase Solutions, Inc.
(MSi) in Houston. He previously served as
MSis parafn deposition laboratory manager,
supervising all laboratory procedures and per-
forming extensive parafn-related analyses,
including diffusion coefcient determinations,
wax deposition predictions and gel formation
measurements. Kempton earned a BS degree
in chemical engineering and petroleum rening
from the Colorado School of Mines.
Article copyright 2006 by Gulf Publishing Company. All rights reserved. Printed in U.S.A.