Paraffin Inhibitors and Pour Point Depressants

PARAFFIN CONTROL PRODUCTS and POUR POINT DEPRESSANTS

 

Westhaven Energy Company Ltd. manufactures a wide variety of Paraffin Inhibitors and Pour Point Depressants that function in either the oil or water phase. These chemicals inhibit, disperse, and dissolve paraffins, asphaltenes, and waxes encountered in crude oils and other hydrocarbons. 

 

 

Westhaven Energy Company Ltd.'s paraffin control products are used by Refineries and Oil And Gas Production companies.

 

SERVICE AND TECHNICAL EXPERTISE

 

Westhaven Energy Company Ltd. will analyze your application to help determine the most effective and economical methodology and product. Your local Westhaven Energy Company Ltd. representative will perform the evaluations necessary to determine the best Paraffin Inhibitor, Dispersant or Solvent to resolve the problem.  The sophisticated test equipment required for proper Paraffin Inhibitor and Pour Point Depressant evaluation may sometimes be necessary instead of field evaluation of these chemicals.   The necessary samples may need to be forwarded to our Technical Laboratory for proper evaluation.

 

 

 

PARAFFIN  CONTROL GENERAL DISCUSSION

 

 

PARAFFIN DISPERSANTS and WETTING AGENTS loosen and wash away paraffin/wax deposits, mainly by disturbing the paraffin or wax matrix thereby allowing the deposit to be broken up.   This residue can then flow or wash away from the point of deposition.

 

Dispersants can be particularly effective in preventing and/or in the cleaning up of paraffin-stabilized tank bottoms.   This is usually accomplished by allowing the paraffin/wax to be oil wetted thereby allowing the release of entrapped water.  Dispersants are available both as oil and water soluble versions for tank or well treating.

 

Dispersants sometimes must be used in dealing with oils that contain high carbon waxes with high pour points.When dealing with pipelines that are plugged, dispersants can be used when either using hot oil or hot water, thus allowing the paraffin/wax to disperse either into the oil or the water, and to not reform.

 

 

PARAFFIN INHIBITORS prevent the deposition of paraffin, waxes and asphaltenes by interfering with the crystallization mechanisms of these high molecular weight molecules.   Their function is to prevent the deposition of paraffin in producing systems.

 

 

The proper use of paraffin inhibitors will eliminate the need of “hot-oiling” to remove paraffin deposits and paraffinic tank bottoms.  Note that it is very important that the inhibitor be injected ahead of the point where crystal formation occurs.  This can be achieved in certain cases by injecting chemical down the annulus of producing wells or by using a “spaghetti string” down the tubing to ensure the chemical reaches the producing area. In producing pipelines, the injection point needs to be at a location where the temperatures are higher than the pour point of the crude oil.

 

 

PARAFFIN SOLVENTS dissolve paraffins, asphaltenes, and waxes already deposited in tubing, lines, equipment, and on the formation face. Their function is to resolvate the higher molecular weight molecules back into the crude oil stream. When using paraffin solvents in pipelines, care must be taken not to dissolve too much paraffin at one time, as portions of the wax or paraffin may break up as “chunks” and may temporarily block production facility components.

 

 

POUR POINT DEPRESSANTS are specific chemicals designed to significantly lower the pour point  (the temperature at which the crude becomes unpumpable) of crude oil to prevent it from plugging flow lines, separators, pipelines, etc., and maintaining fluidity during bulk transporting and handling.   They function mainly by crystal deformation.   Since they function at high concentrations, they are usually used only on crudes having extremely high paraffinic content. Westhaven Energy Company Ltd. has taken great care in the development of Pour Point Depressants so that reversion in the crude is almost nonexistent.

 

APPLICATIONS:

 

Paraffin inhibitors The different types of application include continuous treatment and squeeze treatment or variations thereof. In most applications, continuous treatment is the most effective. The correct method of application is often as important as the proper chemical. Extreme care should always be exercised to avoid treating with too much chemical too quickly, as in some cases an overdosage can be detrimental to the chemicals performance.  Rather, an incremental dosage program should be established to first clean up the system. Then the optimum cost effective treatment program can be determined to maintain control of the paraffin problem.  In some cases where oil volumes are low (e.g. less than 50 bopd) paraffin inhibitors can provide an effective life of 3 to 6 months..

 

 

CONTINUOUS TREATMENT

Pipelines, flowlines, injection wells, and producing wells can be treated continuously by injecting inhibitor directly into the system at a rates determined by the paraffin content and the type of paraffin.  In producing wells the inhibitor can be injected into a line that by-passes a small fraction of the production back into the annulus or down a macaroni string. In pipelines, the use of a quill helps to disperse the chemical effectively into the fluid stream quickly.

 

 

 

SQUEEZE TREATMENT

Depending on the formation type, wells can be squeeze-treated by pumping inhibitor directly into the producing formation. Tests should be conducted on the formation to ensure that the well is not plugged or killed.  Treating rates are usually from once every two to three months to once every  eighteen months.

 

Inhibitor (from 1 to 10 drums) is dissolved in a suitable diluent at 10 to 25% concentration and displaced down the tubing into the formation.   It should be over-flushed with from 25 to 100 barrels of diluent to place the inhibitor back away from the wellbore.

 

Emulsion tendencies of the crude and inhibitor should be checked and , if necessary, 5 to 25 gallons of demulsifier added to the inhibitor solution.   The amount of inhibitor required is based upon the desired concentration in the produced fluid and the production rate of the well.

 

After the well is squeezed it is shut in for 24 hours.   After being put back on production, the inhibitor concentration will be high initially, and drops off quickly to a steady return rate.

The treatment is monitored by testing the pour point of the produced fluid.

 

DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY

The information in this bulletin is believed to be accurate but all recommendations are made without warranty, since the conditions of use are beyond Westhaven Energy Company Ltd. control.  The listed properties are illustrative only and not product specifications.  Westhaven Energy Company Ltd. disclaims any liability connection with the use of the information. The use of these products being beyond the control of the manufacturer, no guarantee, expressed or implied, is made as to the effects of such or the results to be obtained if not used in accordance with directions or established safe practice.  The buyer must assume all responsibility, including injury or damage, resulting from its misuse as such, or in combination with other materials.