Friday, May 31, 2019

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.

The cost of treating chemical solutions is not easy on the wallet, though it is significantly economically attractive as compared to the cost of leaving paraffin and asphaltene problems unaddressed. These issues can negatively impact the lease and well profitability and cause a myriad of operational concerns. Apart from decreased production, they can also damage formations and cause gas and oil well companies immeasurable losses.

For you to have an in-depth understanding of the issues at hand, the first thing you need to know is the nature of an asphaltene and paraffin problem and what is triggering it. Paraffin contains saturated different hydrocarbons you can find in crude oil as well as different molecular weight alkanes. A branched structure or one that is in its normal form can be about C100 in size. Normal paraffins will even so have higher melting points in comparison to similar sizes of branched paraffins.

Longer structures have more carbon and this gives them molecules that are larger in size and a higher melting point. In return, they are the first to emerge from a solution. The deposits of paraffin at the bottom will have higher molecular weight and for an issue to be addressed, the deposits must first be carefully analyzed.

Deposition can be caused by all manner of issues including temperature-pressure fluctuations. Additionally, a disturbance along the equilibrium can cause a concern. Skilled experts must complete field tests in order to find out whether a certain deposit contains paraffins. Then again asphaltenes contain more complex structures that have O, N, S, have more molecular weight and more heavy metals.

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.

Skilled professionals understand that asphaltenes and paraffins are not globally present in regions that produce oil. This means that they can trigger different problems on fluids, even if they are sourced from one formation. Because of these variations it is necessary for you to get customized solutions for your specific problem. You can get assistance before the formation of buildups and skilled experts can implement preventative measures. You can also get help addressing existing problems if you deem this necessary. A proper service will improve your overall production, enhance tubular and equipment life and assist in preventing costly remediation processes.




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