Wax and gel control for waxy crude from infill wells by using pour point depressant

Abstract

Transportation of Hydrocarbon through pipelines in waxy residue is a challenging task and expensive due mainly to high wax content and gelling formation. The application of Pour Point Depressant (PPD) is one of the mechanisms to improve the flow properties of waxy hydrocarbon at low temperatures which researches has been done worldwide on the thermodynamic changes. This study is done to evaluate the Wax Model for Field REX that is having existing producing wells and new infill wells with fluid characteristics with Pour Point (PP) 30ºC, Wax Appearance Temperature (WAT) 31-33°C and Wax content 12-18 % by weight. The fluid properties of this field are from three producing wells that are routed to Compact Manifold Bulk Header at the topside facility, on which two of the producing wells are the infill wells that recently drilled and completed with both dual strings. The current prevention method of wax and gelling formation is by using heat tracers, insulators, mechanical assistance such as Pigging Operations and other chemical injections. By using Standard Methods, analysis lab involves these parameters in evaluating the effectives of PPD : Pour Point, Wax Appearance Temperature (WAT), Paraffin Wax Content, Density, Kinematic Viscosity and Fluid Composition. The findings from this project is expected to prove the basis on the thermodynamics modifications on the fluid properties by PPD. Simultaneously, to identify the operation scenario susceptible to wax and gel formation and eliminates the problems by looking at other different way than by using only thermal and mechanical methods.