Slide 2 Theory of Wax Deposition Anomalous Behaviour of Waxy Wells Tools for preventing Wax deposition Waxy Wells Intervention Techniques Case Histories Application of Geochemistry for Identification of Waxy Wells Outline Slide 3 Theory of Wax Deposition in the Tubing Pressure
Bubble Point Curve Wax-Precipitation Envelope Slide 4 Theory of Wax Deposition in the Tubing Biodegradation The tubing wall must be below the cloud point A negative radial temperature gradient Adequate wall friction for wax crystals to stick Molecular Diffusion Shear Dispersion Gravity Settling Brownian Diffusion Conditions for wax deposition: The processes driving Wax Deposition: Slide 5 Anomalous Behaviour of Waxy Wells 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 Nov-00 Sep-01 Oct-01 Nov-01 Jan-02 Time G r o s s
P r o d u c t i o n
( b p d ) /
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S i z e
( 1 / 6 4 " ) 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 T H P
( p s i ) /
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( s c f / b b l ) BEAN GROSS GOR THP Slide 6 Anomalous Behaviour of Waxy Wells 1 9 9 3 9 4 9 5 9 6 9 7 9 8 0 3 0 0 6 0 0 9 0 0 1 2 0 0 1 5 0 0 C a l e n d a r
D a y
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) 0 1 6 3 2 4 8 6 4 B E A N Time ( Y e a r ) Slide 7 Tools for reducing wax deposition In the tubing Magnetic Fluid Conditioner (MFC) (P) The MFC is based on use of a magnetic field to reduce wax build-up. There is no sound physical basis of why it would prevent wax deposits. Wax is fully a non-polar and magnetism no effect on wax crystallization whatsoever. Silver Hawg (SH) (P) The SH is based on an alloy composition that provides electrons to the crude in a catalytic manner to reduce the electron deficiencies in the crude. There is no sound physical basis why an electrostatic charge will have effect on a non-polar, non-ionic species like paraffins. In the flowline Glassfibre Reinforced Epoxy (GRE) Flowline GRE has lower thermal conductivity than steel and might provide some small insulating effects; it is smoother (at least initially) than steel and deposits might be less adhesive. It waxed-up against our expectation. Pigging (R) Slide 8 Waxy Wells Intervention Techniques Traditional Methods Periodic Wax Cutting Mechanical scratcher (R) Solvent Dewaxing solvent soak (R)
New Approach High rate: high THT & turbulent flow (P, R) Commingling with HBSW wells (P, R) Conservation of heat energy: Nitrogen Annular Insulation (next slide on modelling) (P) Coiled tubing + Jet blaster (uses less chemical) (R) Open-up sequence + wax cutting schedule
Slide 9 60 80 100 120 140 250 300 400 500 600 800 1000 GROSS (BPD) T H T
( F ) Brine Nitrogen Annular Insulation Model Slide 10 New Approach to Waxy Wells Surveillance
Case Histories Slide 11 Res. Interval Status Bn Gross Oil GOR GOR / Rsi BSW Bn Gross Oil GOR GOR / Rsi BSW 1/64 bpd bopd scf/stb % 1/64 bpd bopd scf/stb % F7.0M 003L FTL 32 1794 1,794 3,802 2 0 16 0 0 1,794 G6.0W 004T FTT 28 1691 1,691 770 1 0 16 0 0 15,822 1,691 M4.0Y 005T FTT 36 966 966 1,617 1 0 16 0 0 0 0 0 966 G8.0W 022L FTL 24 617 617 6,804 5 0 16 213 213 17,231 14 0 404 G8.0W 024L FTL 40 1208 1,208 665 1 0 24 482 482 970 1 0 726 F9.0W 031L FTL 28 1866 1,120 1,163 1 40 16 627 577 1,341 1 8 543 F1.0M 031S FTS 24 917 825 1,693 1 10 16 0 0 1,740 1 30 825 F1.0M 034S FTS 28 4210 1,937 3,146 2 54 24 1907 1,030 5,752 3 46 907 F7.0M 036L FTL 24 715 672 5,124 4 6 16 609 548 5,007 4 10 124 F7.0M 037L FTL 24 798 654 1,781 1 18 8 82 57 4,200 3 30 597 F1.0M 038L FTL 32 655 655 4,025 2 0 32 0 0 0 0 0 655 F1.0M 040S FTS 28 1006 1,006 2,885 2 0 8 0 0 19,177 10 24 1,006 F1.0M 042L FTL 32 439 439 9,258 5 0 16 0 0 14,100 8 28 439 F7.0M 043L FTL 32 1548 1,548 1,171 1 0 20 61 61 25,839 23 0 1,487 F1.0M 043S FTS 32 1905 1,791 1,746 1 6 12 28 25 5,976 5 12 1,766 F7.0M 044L FTL 28 760 760 2,779 2 0 8 85 85 13,714 11 0 675 F1.0M 044S FTS 36 1167 1,167 1,547 1 0 16 344 344 1,800 1 0 823 22,262 18,850 2,469 15 4,438 3,422 5,064 23 15,428 Total Production Data Post-Optimisation Production Data Pre-Optimisation Gain bopd Field Experience Slide 12 Geochemistry for Determining Waxy Reservoir Petroleum geochemistry is the application of chemical principles to the study of the origin, migration, accumulation, and alteration of petroleum...(John M. Hunt, 1979) Biodegradation - "A process by which microbial organisms transform or alter (through metabolic or enzymatic action) the structure of chemicals introduced into the environment." - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2009 Acquire Fingerprints for all produced oils from the reservoirs (Gas chromatography) Determine the differences in oil chemistry among producing reservoirs that could lead to preferential wax deposition in some wells Determine potential waxy reservoirs
This work depend largely on High Resolution Gas Chromatographic (HRGC) fingerprints
Slide 13 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 n C 8 n C 1 1 n C 1 4 n C 1 7 n C 2 0 n C 2 3 n C 2 6 n C 2 9 n C 3 2 n C 3 5 n C 3 8 12L D3 22S D2 19L D3 22L D3 26L D3 48L D3 57S D3 59T D3 65S D3 48L D3 Waxy Region Gaseous Liquid Liquid hydrocarbons in C 8-18 range completely depleted. Waxy range hydrocarbons dominates the distribution. D3- HYDROCARBON DISTRIBUTION PATTERN Slide 14 IMO R.56L (9,1) defproj ,Instrument3.HRGC i nst 3 03-06-19,9,1 Acqui red Thursday, June 19, 2003 5:38:30 PM 0 20 40 60 80 100 R e s p o n s e 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 Retenti on ti me
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n C 3 8 E2X-65L IMO R.45L (4,1) defproj ,Instrument3.HRGC i nst 3 03-06-19,4,1 Acqui red Thursday, June 19, 2003 8:53:47 AM 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 R e s p o n s e 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 Retenti on ti me
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n C 3 8 E5A-45L All hydrocarbon groups are intact.Light to medium range hydrocarbon greater than waxy,heavy molecular weight compounds. Oils are pristine, non-biodegraded non-waxy GAS CHROMATOGRAMS: E2-E5 RESERVOIR OILS Slide 15 D1 D9 IMO R.25S (17,1) defproj ,Instrument3.HRGC i nst 3 03-06-16,17,1 Acqui red Tuesday, June 17, 2003 11:32:57 AM 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Response 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 Retenti on ti me nC6 Benzene (16) nC8 nC9 nC10 nC11 nC12 iC13 iC14 nC13 iC15 nC14 iC16 nC15 nC16 iC18 nC17 pr nC18 ph nC19 nC20 nC21 nC22 nC23 nC24 nC25 nC26 nC27 nC28 nC29 nC30 nC31 nC32 nC33 nC35 EFFECT OF BIODEGRADATION ON WAX DEPOSITION TENDENCIES OF JETOLET OILS . 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 0 5 10 15 20 PR+PHY/C17+C18 C 1 0 - 1 5 / C 2 0 - 2 7
D1&D2 D3 D8 D9 E3-F2 E3A IMO R. 13L (6,1) defproj ,Instrument3.HRGC i nst 3 03-06-16,6,1 Acqui red Monday, June 16, 2003 3:45:46 PM 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Response 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 Retenti on ti me nC6 nC7 nC8 nC9 nC10 nC11 nC12 iC13 iC14 nC13 iC15 nC14 iC16 nC15 nC16 iC18 nC17 pr nC18 ph nC19 nC20 nC21 nC22 nC23 nC24 nC25 nC26 nC27 nC28 nC29 nC30 nC31 nC32 nC33 nC34 nC35 nC36 nC37 nC38 SLUDGE WAX Pristine /Light IMO R.65S (17,1) defproj ,Instrument3.HRGC i nst 3 03-06-19,17,1 Acqui red Fri day, June 20, 2003 7:04:52 AM 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 Response 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 Retenti on ti me nC6 nC8 nC9 nC10 nC11 nC12 iC13 iC14 nC13 iC15 nC14 iC16 nC15 nC16 iC18 nC17 pr nC18 ph nC19 nC20 nC21 nC22 nC23 nC24 nC25 nC26 nC27 nC28 nC29 nC30 nC31 nC32 nC33 nC34 nC35 nC36 nC37 nC38 IMO R.7L (18,1) defproj ,Instrument3.HRGC i nst 3 03-06-19,18,1 Acqui red Fri day, June 20, 2003 8:50:31 AM 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 Response 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 Retenti on ti me nC6 nC7 Toluene (40) nC8 nC9 nC10 nC11 nC12 iC13 iC14 nC13 iC15 nC14 iC16 nC15 nC16 iC18 nC17 pr nC18 ph nC19 nC20 nC21 nC22 nC23 nC24 nC25 nC26 nC27 nC28 nC29 nC30 nC31 nC32 nC33 nC34 nC35 nC36 nC37 nC38 IMO R.65L (16,1) defproj ,Instrument3.HRGC i nst 3 03-06-19,16,1 Acqui red Fri day, June 20, 2003 5:19:14 AM 0 20 40 60 80 100 Response 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 Retenti on ti me nC6 Benzene (16) nC7 nC8 nC10 nC11 nC12 iC13 iC14 nC13 iC15 nC14 iC16 nC15 nC16 iC18 nC17 pr nC18 ph nC19 nC20 nC21 nC22 nC24 nC25 nC26 nC27 nC28 nC29 nC30 nC31 nC32 nC33 nC34 nC35 nC36 nC37 nC38 E2 IMO R.56L (9,1) defproj ,Instrument3.HRGC i nst 3 03-06-19,9,1 Acqui red Thursday, June 19, 2003 5:38:30 PM 0 20 40 60 80 100 Response 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 Retenti on ti me nC6 Benzene (16) nC7 Toluene (40) nC8 nC9 nC10 nC11 nC12 iC13 iC14 nC13 iC15 nC14 iC16 nC15 nC16 iC18 nC17 pr nC18 ph nC19 nC20 nC21 nC22 nC23 nC24 nC25 nC26 nC27 nC28 nC29 nC30 nC31 nC32 nC33 nC34 nC35 nC36 nC37 nC38 IMO R.45L (4,1) defproj ,Instrument3.HRGC i nst 3 03-06-19,4,1 Acqui red Thursday, June 19, 2003 8:53:47 AM 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 Response 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 Retenti on ti me nC6 Benzene (16) nC7 Toluene (40) nC8 nC9 nC10 nC11 nC12 iC13 iC14 nC13 iC15 nC14 iC16 nC15 nC16 iC18 nC17 pr nC18 ph nC19 nC20 nC21 nC22 nC23 nC24 nC25 nC26 nC27 nC28 nC29 nC30 nC31 nC32 nC33 nC34 nC35 nC36 nC37 nC38 IMO R. 43T (24,1) defproj ,Instrument3.HRGC i nst 3 03-06-16,24,1 Acqui red Tuesday, June 17, 2003 11:49:01 PM 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Response 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 Retenti on ti me nC8 nC9 nC10 nC11 nC12 iC13 iC14 nC13 iC15 nC14 iC16 nC15 nC16 iC18 nC17 pr nC18 ph nC19 nC20 nC21 nC22 nC23 nC24 nC25 nC26 nC27 nC28 nC29 nC30 nC31 nC32 nC33 nC34 nC35 nC36 nC37 nC38 E5 IMO R.44S (27,1) defproj ,Instrument3.HRGC i nst 3 03-06-16,27,1 Acqui red Wednesday, June 18, 2003 5:07:21 AM 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Response 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 Retenti on ti me nC6 nC7 nC8 nC9 nC10 nC11 nC12 iC13 iC14 nC13 iC15 nC14 iC16 nC15 nC16 iC18 nC17 pr nC18 ph nC19 nC20 nC21 nC22 nC23 nC24 nC25 nC26 nC27 nC28 nC29 nC30 nC31 nC32 nC33 nC34 nC35 nC36 nC37 nC38 D8 D2 D6 D3 D6 D6 Biodegradation and Waxy Tendencies of the Different Reservoirs Slide 16 Well Name Reservoir Depth (ft) API Tem o C Pr/ph pr/nc17 ph/C18 C9/C29 C10-15/C20-25 Remark 21S D1 5828 16.40 138.00 1.89 7.40 4.03 0.95 45.98 Moderate biod.level 3 25S D1 5828 16.30 1.96 8.07 4.67 0.94 66.36 All n-alk lost 29s D1 16.36 1.86 12.49 5.20 1.21 76.70 pristane &phytane intact 32S D1 16.40 1.91 12.86 7.47 0.88 50.61 High sludge ,little wax 12S D2 5900 16.50 139.00 1.88 19.46 13.86 0.99 26.96 Moderate biod.level 3 18S D2 18.00 1.96 14.81 7.11 1.01 33.78 All n-alk lost 19S D2 17.00 1.74 16.96 10.76 0.99 48.85 pristane &phytane intact 1T D2 21.90 1.76 17.12 10.46 1.05 54.66 High sludge ,little wax 21L D2 22.00 1.83 13.44 5.67 1.08 46.85 22s D2 21.80 1.89 4.70 1.88 0.75 57.00 23L D2 21.70 1.90 11.69 5.47 1.16 48.00 25L D2 22.00 1.91 12.98 6.15 1.04 58.38 26S D2 21.60 1.96 8.07 4.67 0.94 46.91 32L D2 21.50 1.81 16.87 7.14 3.69 51.96 43T D2 22.00 1.91 11.98 7.50 1.09 63.62 48S D2 21.70 1.84 12.97 6.10 1.26 55.05 4T D2 21.60 1.91 16.06 8.91 1.08 42.89 51L D2 22.00 1.89 17.40 8.88 1.12 41.83 5L D2 21.90 2.03 13.03 5.63 1.17 44.28 60T D2 22.00 1.83 18.28 7.24 1.03 42.89 63T D2 21.80 1.84 12.31 5.89 1.07 61.92 64L D2 22.10 1.99 14.48 6.95 0.99 53.75 64S D2 23.00 1.81 15.38 10.59 1.04 64.29 12L D3 6190 23.40 149.00 1.87 5.16 2.09 0.09 138.22 13S D3 23.67 2.18 1.64 0.62 3.12 207.89 19L D3 24.56 2.04 3.88 1.55 0.40 230.59 Low biod. Level 2 22L D3 24.70 1.87 8.30 3.61 1.40 136.08 .Lost solvent range C8-16 26L D3 24.50 2.01 3.72 1.46 0.83 182.68 48L D3 24.80 1.96 4.69 1.65 0.12 254.99 C6-14<<C17+. 57S D3 25.10 1.75 18.64 7.55 1.03 192.53 Oil is Waxy 59T D3 28.70 2.01 10.23 3.28 0.20 184.78 65S D3 1.98 3.63 1.45 0.11 228.80 48L D3 1.96 4.69 1.65 0.12 245.39 13L D6 6560 156.00 2.31 1.28 0.52 3.60 241.10 Low biod. Level 2 36L D6 2.34 1.51 0.55 3.64 297.65 .Lost solvent range C8-16 44L D6 2.13 0.74 0.40 21.02 476.38 Oil is Waxy 30L D8 6720 33.60 163.00 2.22 2.46 0.93 3.55 380.41 Biod leve1. lightly biod. 7S D8 2.25 0.83 0.42 0.22 332.61 C6-C12 > C19-33,Not waxy 44S D9 6780 162.00 2.25 0.81 0.40 10.20 503.36 Incipient biod. 7L D9 2.28 0.84 0.40 1.47 560.13 Non waxy 65L E2 7132 39.70 170.00 2.36 0.82 0.40 1.70 632.71 Pristine, non degraded 56L E3 7430 38.40 173.00 2.29 0.87 0.43 1.69 661.93 Non waxy 45L E5 8073 39.00 186.00 2.30 0.86 0.42 1.55 661.05 Pristine, non degraded Non waxy Table 2: Summary of hydrocarbon characteristics Slide 17 All the oils have same origin as indicated by similar pristane /phytane ratios. Thus observed changes in crude properties, (API, gravity, viscosity, molecular level distribution ) are post-accumulation such as biodegradation/water washing rather than source related D9 F5 reservoirs oils are not biodegraded: Oils are pristine/unaltered , light ,non degraded with neither sludge nor wax deposition potentials. All the oils in D1 to D8 reservoirs are biodegraded D1and D2 oils are moderately biodegraded (Level 3. Moldowan ,1987). Almost all n-alkanes depleted. Oil has high emulsion formation tendency D3-D6 Oils are at biodegradation level 2. The entire liquid components of the distribution (C 7-12 ) have been severely removed by biodegradation. Waxy components are the dominant hydrocarbons in the distribution (C 17-29 >> C 8-12). Oils have high wax tendency. Wax potential increases with production life of the reservoir due to loss in light hydrocarbons with time D8 reservoir oils are incipiently biodegraded (Level 1- incipient biodegradation, C 7-12 >> C 17-29). Oils are light with neither sludge nor wax potentials. This is the limit of biodegradation in the structure (Depth 6780ft, Temp. 170 0 C (Usually 180 0 C)
Summary Slide 18 Application of Energy Flux for determining Wax Deposition Threshold for a reservoir 1L 31S 38L 43S 35L 19S Gross Production,b/ d 200 400 424 169 2536 2006 Water cut(BSW %)=BSW/ 100 0.42 0.42 0.04 0.1 0.6 0.1 Water production, b/ d= Gross production *Water cut 84 168 17 17 1522 201 Net oil production, (b/ d)= Gross production - Water production 116 232 407 152 1014 1805 Net oil production,(cuft/ d)= 5.6146*Net oil production(b/ d) 651 1303 2285 854 5695 10137 Water production, (cuft/ d)=5.6146*Water production b/ d 472 943 95 95 8543 1126 Oil density, (Ibm/ cuft)= Oil specific gravity * water density 14 14 14 13 13 13 Water density,( Ibm/ cuft) 16.2 16.2 16.2 16.2 16.2 16.2 Oil specific gravity 0.839 0.836 0.834 0.828 0.826 0.827 Oil gravity, degree API=(141.5/ oil specific gravity)-131.5 37.2 37.8 38.2 39.4 39.7 39.6 Surrounding tempeature, degree( F) 77 77 77 77 77 77 Reservoir temperature, degree( F) 180 185 181 200 190 180 Temperature difference at the surface,( F)=Reservoir temp.- Surface temp. 103 108 104 123 113 103 0.52 0.52 0.52 0.54 0.53 0.53 Specific heat of water, (Btu/ Ib. F)=0.25 * Reservoir temp. 45 46.25 45.25 50 47.5 45 ENERGY FLUX BTU=(specific heat capacity of oil * oil density * oil prd.+specific heat capacity of water* 3.59E+07 7.73E+07 8.94E+06 1.02E+07 7.47E+08 9.19E+07 water density*water prd.)temp. diff. N/ B The specific heat capacity of water at 1 F = 0.25Btu/ Ib.F Sp heat cap of oil, (Btu/ Ib. F)=0.68 - (0.31*oil specific gravity) + Res. temp.*(0.00082 - (0.00031*oil sp gr) All offset wells produce wax free above a certain energy flux threshold Slide 19 3.50E+05 3.54E+07 7.04E+07 1.05E+08 1.40E+08 1.75E+08 2.10E+08 2.45E+08 2.80E+08 3.15E+08 3.50E+08 3.85E+08 4.20E+08 4.55E+08 4.90E+08 5.25E+08 O D I D - 3 1 S O D I D - 3 8 L O D I D - 4 3 S O D I D - 4 4 S O D I D - 4 0 S O D I D - 3 4 S U b e f - 4 T O D I D - 2 4 L O D I D - 3 L O D I D - 4 3 L O D I D - 3 7 L E F
( b t u ) Wells Wells without wax history Wells with wax history F1.0M RESERVOIR F7.0M RESERVOIR 5 G6.0/ G8.0 RESERVOIR WAX DEPOSITION CUT OFFS WAX DEPOSITION CUT OFFS Application of Energy Flux for determining Wax Deposition Threshold for a reservoir Slide 20 Many Thanks for Your Attention!