Asphaltenes & Wax

deposition in production
system & remedial
measures.
Faculty Mentor: Prof. SSP Singh

Presented by- Lijo P. Lalu

Chirag Vanecha
Introduction

• Paraffin or asphaltene problem-

organic deposits hampering production

• Loss of production depends on amount

and location of the deposition

• Paraffins as major organic deposits, asphaltene deposits prominent in

low API gravity crude

• Paraffin characteristics and asphaltene content vary from reservoir to

reservoir – Wax removal treatment also varies
Paraffin-Wax

• Single chain or branched n-alkanes (CnH2n+2).

• High-molecular-components as major solid precipitates.
• Deposits contain alkanes varying from C-20 to C-60.
• Melting point range: 98 F to 215 F.
• Cloud point or Wax Appearance Temperature & pour point
determination by ASTM D 2500-66 & ASTM D 97-66.
• Deposits burn rapidly over a narrow temperature range with little
residue.
Factors for Paraffin Deposition

• Temperature differential – crude oil temperature

& cooling rate pipe wall temperature
ambient temperature
Factors for Paraffin Deposition

• Flow rate - deposits more in laminar flow then turbulent

- deposition reduces with increase in flow rate
• Pressure
- wax solubility reduces as reduction in pressure
- Gas expansion and production reduce pressure
• Crude oil Composition
- based on paraffin, asphaltenes variation with crude
• Pipe surface properties
- deposition  contact area, roughness
Removal of Wax deposits

• Deposits vary from reservoir to reservoir also from well to well of

same reservoir
• Four Methods for Removal of wax: 1) Mechanical
2) Heat (Thermal)
3) Solvents
4) Dispersants
Preventing Wax deposition
• Crystal Modifiers
• Plastic pipelines & plastic coatings
• Surfactants as deposition inhibitors
• Downhole Heaters
Mechanical

• Scraper or Cutter –
attached at the end
of sucker rods

• Wireline-scraping
tool – Gas lift & Self
flowing well
Heat (Thermal)

• Hot oiling – HOC- paraffin is dissolved and melted

• Normally pumped down the casing and up the tubing
• Can be pumped in reversed manner in case of self flowing well
or when lift equipments permit.
• Gas lift – with Coil Tubing Unit
• Circulate with temperature > Formation temperature
• Chances of formation plugging
• Hot water/ steam can be used
in low temperature reservoirs
• Effective removal is difficult-
in case of large accumulations
Solvents

• Use of Paraffin solvents- Carbon tetrachloride & Carbon disulfide

• Condensate, kerosene and Diesel oil – Asphaltene content low as
they are not soluble in straight chain HCs.
• Xylene and Toluene - for Asphaltenes and Paraffins both
+ moderate heating will fasten the removal
• Additives: ACI, PPD, surfactants
• Circulation of solvents down the annulus and back from the
tubing
• If formation is plugged with wax, then squeeze solvents and
surfactants - soaking for 24 to 72 hours
• Solvents soften the deposits – facilitates sucker rod pulling
Dispersants

• Water soluble dispersants

• Halliburton’s Paraperse – with 2% to 10% concentrations

• It can 50 times more paraffin as the best solvent.

• In case of Hard and dense paraffin - soaking for 2-4 hours is

more effective.

• Surface lines can also be cleaned

Preventing or decreasing wax deposition

• Crystal modifiers
• Paraffin comes out as single crystal and tend to agglomerate
around nucleus

• Removing nucleating agent- asphaltenes

• Halliburton’s Paracheck as crystal modifiers

• Modifies crystal growth and agglomeration

Preventing or Decreasing wax deposition

• Plastic pipe & coatings

-deposition much slower on plastic surface than steel
-pressure & Temperature ratings for PVC pipe.
-Phenolic/ Epoxy-resin coated
• Surfactants as deposition Inhibitors
-To keep pipe-surface water-wet as barrier for wax deposit
-when water-oil ration is high- pipe surface is water-wet
-sometimes as solvent for nucleating agent
• Downhole Heaters
 Asphaltene Deposition and Remedial Measure

• OUTLINE
 BASIC UNDERSTANDING OF ASPHALTENE

 HOW ASPHALTENE DEPOSITION TAKES PLACE?

 FACTORS AFFECTING ASPHALTENE DEPOSITION

 WHERE ASPHALTENE DEPOSITION PROBLEM GENERALLY ARISES?

 ASPHALTENE DEPOSITION ENVELOPE

 DIAGNOSIS, PREVENTIVE ACTIONS AND CORRECTIVE MEASURES

What asphaltenes basically is?
 Asphaltene

• Asphaltenes are a compound class,

not a single compound, concentrated
in the high-temperature distillation
residue of petroleum (> 530°C).

• Other components are:

Heavy oils

Resins

High-molecular-weight waxes
Solubility sequence used to define asphaltenes
Source- Petrowiki
 Asphaltene

• In chemistry, asphaltenes are

defined as a solubility class. They
do not dissolve in gases or in
alkane liquids such as n-
heptane[C7 H16], but they do
dissolve in aromatic hydrocarbons
such as toluene or xylene.

Hypothetical/generic structure of an asphaltene

Source- Petrowiki
 Resin

• Petroleum resins are nominally C30

compounds and are different from
nonpetroleum resins, which tend to
be a 3- to 5-membered condensed
aliphatic ring structure.
• The aliphatic side chains are the
nonpolar groups
• The condensed aromatic rings are
the polar group

Hypothetical/generic structure of Resin

Source- Petrowiki
SARA
SARA effect on the stability of several crude oils regarding asphaltene precipitation.
(Source- Petrowiki)
 How Asphaltene Deposition take place?

•When bonding chemistry between asphaltene aggregates

and the solvating entities in the crude oil is disrupted, the
aggregates come out of solution and flocculate to form larger
particles.

•These flocs are the source of the operational problems. Only

after flocculation occurs does deposition occur.

•The sequence of forms for the asphaltene during oil

production is soluble → colloidal particles → flocculated →
deposit.

•Shear effects and electrokinetic effects during flow have

been claimed as additional mechanisms for asphaltene
precipitation.
 Factors affecting Asphaltene deposition?

•Asphaltene precipitation is caused by a number of factors

including changes in pressure, temperature, and composition.
• The two most prevalent causes of Asphaltene precipitation
in the reservoir are decreasing pressure and mixing of oil
with injected solvent in improved oil recovery (IOR)
processes.
•Drilling, completion, acid stimulation, and hydraulic
fracturing activities can also induce precipitation in the near-
wellbore region.
 Where Asphaltene deposition generally arises?

• During Primary Depletion

 In normal pressure depletion, reservoirs that experience
asphaltene precipitation usually have the following
characteristics.

oFluid in place is light to medium oil with small asphaltene

content.
oInitial reservoir pressure is much larger than the saturation
pressure. That is, the fluid is highly undersaturated.
oMaximum precipitation occurs around the saturation pressure.
oHeavier crudes that contain a larger amount of asphaltene have
very few asphaltene precipitation problems because they can
dissolve more asphaltene.
 Where Asphaltene deposition generally arises?

• The injection of hydrocarbon gases or carbon dioxide (CO2)

for IOR promotes asphaltene precipitation.

• Asphaltene precipitation also may occur during solvent

injection into heavy oil reservoirs. VAPEX process uses two
horizontal wells (one injector and one producer). The
injection of solvent (e.g., propane) creates a solvent
chamber in which oil is mobilized and drained toward the
producer.

• In addition to the mobilization process, the solvent may

induce asphaltene precipitation, which provides an in-situ
upgrading of the oil.
 Where Asphaltene deposition generally arises?

• Mixing of incompatible crude oil at flowline level,

production tubing level or in any other facilities can also
lead to asphaltene precipitation.
Asphaltene Deposition Envelope

Pressure dependence of asphaltene

precipitation (cumulative) at
constant temperature, 100oC

Source- Petrowiki
Asphaltene Deposition Envelope

A pressure/temperature phase
diagram for the stability of
asphaltenes in a crude oil

Source- Petrowiki
 Asphaltene Deposition Envelope: Measuring Techniques

• Gravimetric Technique
• Light Scattering Technique
• Filtration Technique
• Electrical Conductance Technique
• Viscometric Technique
A Typical Graph generated after Gravimetric Technique

Gravimetric Technique
(Source: Petrowiki)
 Diagnosis of Asphaltene Precipitation

STEP 1:
DETAILED ANALYSIS OF
RESERVOIR FLUID
 Diagnosis of Asphaltene Precipitation

STEP 2: Determination of Pressure

DETERMINATION OF PRESSURE
PROFILE
Profile will enable to select the
optimum choke size to displace
the zone of maximum
occurence of precipitation to
near well surface.
 Diagnosis of Asphaltene Precipitation

STEP 3: THRESHOLD OF Influence of Temperature on

FLOCCULATION AND ZONE OF Asphaltene Precipitation is
MAXIMUM PRECIPITATION Neglected
 Diagnosis of Asphaltene Precipitation

PHASE ENVELOP IS A
STEP 4:PHASE ENVELOP POWERFUL TOOL TO PREDICT
ASPHALTENE PRECIPITATION
 Diagnosis of Asphaltene Precipitation

STEP 5: EVALUATION OF Purpose is to establish possibilty

STATBILTY LEVEL AND of mixing fluids proceeding from
COMPATIBILITY OF OIL different lens and programming
segregation of oils at manifold
level
 Diagnosis of Asphaltene Precipitation

Purpose is to know the

STEP 6: CHARECTERIZATION OF composition of deposits in
DEPOSITS production tubing and surface
installations.
 Preventive Action for Asphaltene Precipitation

It minimizes the probability of

STEP 1:CONTINUOUS CHEMICAL asphaltene precipitation in
INJECTION production tubing and surface
facilities.

If zone of precipitation is near

perforation, go for hydraulic
fracturing.
 Preventive Action for Asphaltene Precipitation

When zone of precipitation is in the

STEP 2: INJECTION OF vicinity of perforation, preventive
DISPERSANT IN THE RESERVOIR measure will be to inject
dispersant into the reservoir.

In principle, it is possible that it

could also cause formation damage
by altering the wetting properties
of the rock. It is obviously prudent
to evaluate this possibility on core
samples before treatment.
Corrective Measure for Asphaltene Precipitation

STEP 1:COIL TUBING/ SNUBBING If deposits are in production

UNIT AND/OR USE OF AROMATIC tubing, coil tubing operation or
SOLVENT snubbing unit is used with or
without aromatic solvent.

If it occurs at choke level or at any

other surface facilities,
Solvents such as toluene and
xylene are used.

In extreme cases, scrappers are

used or pipes are cut.
Corrective Measure for Asphaltene Precipitation

If zone of maximum deposition is in

STEP 2: HYDRAULIC FRACTURE
production tubing or at sand
TREATMENT
surface, hydraulic fracturing is
done to reduce pressure
differential and to displace the
zone nearer the wellhead where
dispersant injection can handle it.
Corrective Measure for Asphaltene Precipitation

If zone of maximum deposition is in

STEP 3:PERFORATION perforation, re- perforation should
be considered as an ideal solution.

Greater the charge density,

penetration of perforation and
angle of phase, lower will be
apparent damage to perforation.

Proper kick-off pressure should be

applied for tunnel cleaning, else
obstruction material will be a good
nucleation site for Asphaltene
precipitation
 Recommended Practise

• Chemical treatment to dissolve asphaltene should have minimum

70% xylene and maximum 30% gas-oil.

• Use dry gas for gas-lift system and reservoir gas injection and
rich gas should strictly be not used.

• Analyis of Crude oil compatibilty should be made

• A monthly analysis of asphaltene content should be made for well

 Recommended Practise

• Analysis of fluids for hydraulic fracturing and completion should be

checked if it is compatible with produced oil.

• Acid stimulation should not be done without previous analysis