Abstract
One of the main problems in the oil industry is the fallout of asphaltene–resin–paraffin deposits (ARPDs) during oil production and transportation. The formation of organic deposits leads to reduced equipment life and reduced production. Currently, there is no single methodology for the numerical simulation of the ARPD dropout process. The aim of our work was to obtain a correlation dependence characterizing the rate of wax growth over time for oils in the Perm Krai, depending on temperature, pressure, and speed conditions. Experimental data for 20 oil samples were obtained using a Wax Flow Loop installation that simulates fluid movement in tubing. The developed correlation was tested in 154 wells. The results of numerical modeling of the paraffin precipitation process made it possible to correct the inter-treatment period of scraping for 109 wells (71%), indicating the high accuracy of the developed approach.
Highlights
The most common problem in the operation of oil-producing wells is the formation of asphaltene–resin–paraffin deposits (ARPDs) on the inner surface of lift pipes
The formation of organic deposits leads to a decrease in the hydraulic radius and, to an increase in pressure in the lift pipe, which entails the need for cleaning measures in order to remove the formed deposits
Perm National Research Polytechnic University, using a Wax Flow Loop (Joint development with LLC “Dius Lab”, Skolkovo, Moscow, Russia) high-pressure stand, which enables the reproduction of the movement of oil in tubing
Summary
The most common problem in the operation of oil-producing wells is the formation of asphaltene–resin–paraffin deposits (ARPDs) on the inner surface of lift pipes. The time interval between such measures to remove the formed deposits is called the inter-treatment period. This value is an important technological parameter of well operation. A large percentage of the spread of the considered technological problem (more than 70%) from the total oil production fund of Russian enterprises of subsoil users has led to the need to study the mechanisms of ARPD formation and develop methods for predicting the formation of organic deposits.
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