Wednesday, May 29, 2019

Asphaltene And Paraffin Solution; A Look At Concerns Caused In Oil And Gas Wells

By Jeffrey Myers


It is common for paraffin and asphaltene to be mentioned together, although these are elements that are distinctly diverse in terms of their composition. They also tend to differ in their behavior as well as the conditions that cause deposition. In order to find a permanent asphaltene and paraffin solution and address the concerns causing deposition, it is important to look at each element uniquely.

Treating chemical solutions is not a cheap affair. The costs incurred are even so relatively lower than the cost of proceeding with your operations while ignoring the problem. A concern can affect operational problems and profitability. You would also count massive losses caused by decreased production and damaged formations.

To understand the problem at hand, you need to first get well acquainted with its nature and its triggers. Paraffins contain various molecular weight alkane and waterlogged hydrocarbons present in crude oil. Whether a paraffin structure is in its usual form or it is branched, it can be C100 in size or greater. Normal paraffins are seen to have a higher melting point when compared to their branched equals of similar size.

The longer a structure, the more carbon and this makes normal paraffins bigger in size and also gives then a higher melting point. They will therefore come up as the first ones in a solution. The deposits of parrafins at the bottom have more molecular weight and a keen analysis is crucial before any treatments are offered.

There are various concerns that can cause deposition. Usually, this can be caused by fluctuations in temperature-pressure conditions. It can also be caused by any kind of disturbance within the equilibrium. You need professionals who can carry out field tests and help you establish whether a particular deposit is actually paraffin. On the other hand, asphaltenes have more heavy metals, molecular weight and complex structures that contain O, N, S.

Asphaltenes create the color of crude oil and you will find greater levels of this content in black-oil crudes. Because asphaltene is a polar molecule, it absorbs to formation surfaces and this in return increases water flow. Paraffins are soluble in crude, although asphaltenes are not and in fact, they are a colloidal dispersion. They will therefore not be seen in a grind out by centrifuge.

Deposits of paraffins melt while deposits of asphaltenes decompose and turn into a coke-like deposit. Issues with both of these elements can cause immense problems in the operations of oil and gas well companies. Apart from causing equipment bottlenecks, they also cause restricted flows and increased cost of energy.

The ideal professionals will look at your problem uniquely before deciding on the best way forward. You can get help if you have a looming problem and through preventative measures, the formation of buildups can be prevented. You can also get help addressing an existing concern and this will boost your production levels, enhance equipment and tubular longevity and also cut down the costs of remediation measures.




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