Condensate Based Paraffin Treating Eliminates Thermal Treating
An operator in the Permian Basin experienced frequent equipment failures, production declines, and near-wellbore damage due to severe paraffin buildup that worsened after repeated thermal (hot oil) treatments. Coastal Chemical developed a condensate-based solvent and paraffin dispersant blend designed to dissolve and disperse paraffin deposits more effectively. The treatment was initially applied in larger volumes to clean up existing buildup and later maintained through scheduled smaller treatments. As a result, the operator reduced hot oil treatments by 90%, lowered overall failure rates by 30%, and often saw production improvements after treatment.
CHALLENGES
- Paraffin deposition causing production decreases and premature failures.
- Increased melting point of paraffin due to years of thermal treating.
- Desire to reduce thermal treating.
- Specialized paraffin dispersant needed for incompatible fluids.
- Specialized equipment required to meet DOT regulations for hauling condensate.
SOLUTION
- Implementation of condensate based treating solution for paraffin dissolution.
- Fabrication of specialized equipment for transporting and pumping condensate.
- Program monitoring through equipment inspections and paraffin coupons.
RESULTS
- 90% decrease in thermal treating
- Reduction in failure rate
- Increased production after initial clean-up.
CONDENSATE BASED PARAFFIN REMEDIATION
Permian Basin Condensate Treating
An operator in the Permian Basin tasked Coastal Chemical with identifying a solution to reduce thermal treating on their wells in the Midland, TX area. The operator had experienced an increase in failures, decreases in production, near well-bore damage, and failed paraffin remediation. Repeated thermal treatments had increased paraffin melting points from 140°F to >190°F in some cases.
Initial investigation showed the overall field failure rate to be .8 failures/year with most problem wells >2 failures/year. This was primarily attributed to rod coupling breaks as a result of increased loading from paraffin build-up. Many wells had experienced oil production decreases of 2-5 bbl. after each hot oil treatment with no recovery.
Coastal Chemical utilized their Technical Service Team as well as partnerships with industry experts to identify a solution. The goal was to develop a solvent and paraffin dispersant blend that could be applied economically at high volumes in order to provide adequate contact time for paraffin dissolution to take place.
A condensate stream from a gas plant in the area was identified as having superior dissolution capabilities on paraffin recovered from down-hole equipment. An effective paraffin dispersant was also identified to decrease solvency time and provide dispersion of paraffin particles into the condensate to further enhance paraffin remediation. With the chemicals identified, Coastal Chemical fabricated a specialized treating truck capable of applying large volume treatments.
Initially, wells were treated with a 10-30 bbl. condensate/dispersant treatment depending on economics and expected severity of paraffin. Treatments were pumped down the annulus and returned to production with no shut-in time or circulation.
After initial clean-up, wells were put on a scheduled treatment of 3 bbl. EOW to control future paraffin deposition and monitored via paraffin coupons and rod loading. Treatments were applied via Coastal Chemical’s treating truck and pumped down the annulus with the wells running. Corrosion and antifoulant chemistries could also be added to the treatment in order to maintain a normal treating program along with the condensate application.