THERMSOL, L.L.C.
THERMSOLSM TECHNOLOGY
Paraffin Deposition Control in Hydrocarbon Systems
Flow Assurance Provided By A New Method of Paraffin Deposition Control
This production technology irreversibly reduces the pour point of the produced crude oil on a continuous basis during production while keeping the wax in a separate phase, as long as the temperature of the produced crude oil is kept above the new irreversibly reduced pour point, there will be no further deposition of the paraffin wax anywhere in the production and/or pipeline systems.
The produced waxy crude oil and associated
gas are produced and utilized in such a manner as to manage the gas/fluid/solid
phase equilibrium in the production system and control paraffin wax deposition
throughout the economic life of the reservoir.
THERMSOLSM technology facilitates accelerated recovery
of the original-oil-in-place. Without THERMSOLSM technology,
paraffin wax deposition and plugging typically creates severe skin damage
resulting in normally less than 10% recovery of the original-oil-in-place.
THERMSOLSM is applicable for control of paraffin deposition
in flowing wells and artificial lift wells where wax deposition is a problem.
We have a patent pending for the production of sub sea wells with extended
flowlines, and a modified downhole jet pump system for wells capable of
producing approximately 25 BoPD
The physically (not chemically altered) paraffin wax remains in solution
due to "micro encapsulation" of the wax molecules, the "micro
fractionation of the waxy crude oil and the "impact mixing"
at the bottom gas lift valve. The physically altered higher molecular
weight molecules will settle out, if not agitated for several hours. In
storage this altered wax will remain in solution; however, the wax can
be separated by filtration, centrifuging, or gravity settlement in a storage
tank.
The physically altered paraffin wax can be separated in the field prior
to reaching the refinery.
Many reservoirs worldwide experience abnormally rapid production rate declines in the first few years of production due to wax deposition in the flow channels and in the near wellbore region of the wellbore. THERMSOLSM has technology available which can clean the perforations, near wellbore region of the reservoir and open up and clean the wax from the flow channels.
SYMPTOMS OF PARAFFIN DEPOSITION IN PRODUCTION SYSTEMS
Rapid abnormal production decline on new wells.
Reservoir and perforation plugging (skin damage) is indicated by abnormal draw down from the static bottom hole pressure.
Early requirement for artificial lift of flowing wells.
High or abnormal GORs of wells in the initial stages of production.
Increase in pipeline pumping pressure.
Surface pressure build up during shut in, but rapid draw down after being put back on production.
Temporary production increase after temporary paraffin removal.
New wells completed in reservoirs where all the parameters (logs, pressures, etc.) indicate that the well should be a good and economical producer but, for some unexplained reason, the well will not produce as expected.
Reservoirs containing waxy high pour point crude oil and where the cumulative
production to date is less than 10% of the original-oil-in-place.
Wax plugging at the gas lift valves, which restricts production.